Windows is finally fixing a years-old security hole in April

Microsoft is tightening security in Windows 11. Starting April 2026, outdated kernel drivers will be phased out—the company’s response to a well-known security issue that has plagued Windows for years.

In a Windows IT Pro blog post, Microsoft announced that it will cease to trust drivers signed via the deprecated “cross-signed root program.” This procedure dates back to the early 2000s and was long considered the standard for allowing third-party drivers in the Windows kernel.

The problem?