Microsoft has decided to remove a mandatory "registry key requirement" it introduced in the aftermath of the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerability disclosure.
Microsoft used this registry key to prevent Windows updates from being installed on computers running antivirus software incompatible with the Meltdown and Spectre patches.
Antivirus vendors were supposed to create this registry key on users' computers to signal that they've updated their product and will not interfere with Microsoft's patches. This was a big issue because incompatible antivirus products would crash and BSOD Windows systems.
Registry key requirement removed in Windows 10 last month
Microsoft said in January that Windows computers that use a custom antivirus product that does not add the registry key (hence is compatible with the Meltdown and Spectre patches)
would not receive any Windows security updates.
But as antivirus vendors updated products and Microsoft's Meltdown and Spectre patches received more refinements, Microsoft decided to remove the mandatory registry key requirement.
