topic Re: Windows 10 Issue Today? in Electronics

Windows 10 Issue Today?

Deree — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 22:39:21 GMT

On another forum that I'm on, someone posted the following about an issue of concern with Windows 10:

"Our IT Department sent out a notice today that something invasive is going on with Windows 10. We were advised to update today and when we return on Tuesday. I just updated my personal computer. Make sure to update Windows 10 if you use it."

Does anyone know anything about this? When I asked for clarification, the poster said she's not a tech person and doesn't know exactly.

I did notice that my laptop has been quite slow today.

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

SilleeMee — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 22:41:15 GMT

No problems with mine. I check everyday for updates and today there were none.

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

Deree — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 22:47:10 GMT

@SilleeMee I also googled and wasn't able to find any issues or alerts. I'm thinking this woman's company was hacked and she didn't understand when she posted to all Win10 users.

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

Caffeina — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 03:49:11 GMT

Do a search for PrintNightmare. That's the name of the vulnerability.

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

Deree — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 21:12:20 GMT

@Caffeina Thanks. I googled and read an article on PrintNightmare by PC Mag, but being a non-tech person, I didn't understand much of it or what the consequences would be to me as a home user and what I'm supposed to do about it. I'll keep reading. Perhaps other articles will make more sense to me.

ETA: According to another article, all Win10 users should disable Windows Print Spooler (have no idea what this is) to avoid being hacked until Microsoft comes up with a patch in the near future. It involves running Powershell, accessed from the Win Start button, then disabling. I tried following the steps, but the steps don't coincide on my laptop at all. Don't really know what to do now.

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

Deree — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 21:16:48 GMT

Okay, here are easy instructions on how to disable Windows Print Spoolers until Microsoft comes up with a patch for PrintNightmare. I went ahead and did it. Not really sure why no one else is talking about this. It sounds pretty important to me.

1: How to Enable or Disable Print Spooler Service - Services

Press the Windows Key + R, type in services.msc, and press Enter. Double-click on Print Spooler. Click on Start or Stop.

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

CatsyCline — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 21:23:10 GMT

@Deree wrote:
Okay, here are easy instructions on how to disable Windows Print Spoolers until Microsoft comes up with a patch for PrintNightmare. I went ahead and did it. Not really sure why no one else is talking about this. It sounds pretty important to me.

1: How to Enable or Disable Print Spooler Service - Services
Press the Windows Key + R, type in services.msc, and press Enter. Double-click on Print Spooler. Click on Start or Stop.

@Deree Start Or Stop? which one? mine was running. i hit STOP

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

Deree — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 21:44:08 GMT

@CatsyCline wrote:
@Deree wrote:
Okay, here are easy instructions on how to disable Windows Print Spoolers until Microsoft comes up with a patch for PrintNightmare. I went ahead and did it. Not really sure why no one else is talking about this. It sounds pretty important to me.

1: How to Enable or Disable Print Spooler Service - Services
Press the Windows Key + R, type in services.msc, and press Enter. Double-click on Print Spooler. Click on Start or Stop.
@Deree Start Or Stop? which one? mine was running. i hit STOP

@MIMOSA Yes, I hit STOP. That disables the Win Print Spoolers according to the instructions.

Now I'm not advising anyone to do this. I did it, but I'm not a tech person. Also, these instructions may not hold after a Restart of your computer, so next time you Restart, go through the instructions again to make sure you're still on STOP.

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

chickenbutt — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 23:19:30 GMT

I tried searching the computer for this print spooler and nothing matches.

Never mind. I found it doing it another way. But it says if you disable it then your printers won't work.

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

Deree — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 23:26:03 GMT

@chickenbutt Did you follow these instructions:

1: How to Enable or Disable Print Spooler Service - Services

Press the Windows Key + R

Type in services.msc

Press Enter

Double-click on Print Spooler

Click on Start or Stop.

If you still don't find it, google "how to disable Windows Print Spooler". I think there's more than one way.

@chickenbutt Yes, you will not be able to use your printers. I use mine infrequently. Hopefully, Microsoft is supposed to create a patch for this vulnerability in the next few days. I'm going to check for one every day. After they do, you can enable your Print Spooler again.

Re: Windows 10 Issue Today?

chickenbutt — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 23:33:23 GMT

Thank You for all that info, Deree!

I went ahead and left it running. I figure that if I go to use the printer and it doesn't work I will have forgotten this part and it will become a nightmare.

I keep things clean and pretty well protected so, so far so good.