Check Your Windows Computer Now: Important Security Certificate Expires in June

Windows computers use digital certificates to verify that software and updates are safe and legitimate. One of these critical certificates is expiring in June

2024. If your computer is not ready for this change, it could have trouble installing important security updates or verifying safe software. This affects more than a billion Windows PCs worldwide. Some Linux computers are also impacted by this change. This issue affects anyone using a Windows PC, especially older systems that have not been updated recently. If your computer is not prepared for this certificate expiration, you might see error messages when trying to install updates. Your computer could also have difficulty confirming that downloaded programs are safe. The good news is that most regularly updated computers will handle this automatically. Here is what you should do right now.
2025. Make sure Windows Update is turned on and your computer is getting regular updates. Go to Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update.
2026. Install any pending updates immediately. Click "Check for updates" and install everything available.
2027. If you have an older PC that you rarely update, consider doing a manual check this month to make sure it gets the necessary certificate update before June.
2028. Restart your computer after updates finish installing. To stay protected long term, set your computer to install updates automatically. Check for updates at least once a month, even if automatic updates are enabled. Keeping your system current is the single best way to protect against security problems. Regular updates ensure your computer can properly verify safe software and reject dangerous programs.