A new Windows 11 update fixes a work VPN problem, and a report shows constant password guessing on Remote Desktop. Here is what to do.
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Microsoft is rolling out a new Windows 11 update. It fixes a work VPN problem and adds a way to reinstall Windows from the cloud. A new report also shows that attackers keep trying to guess passwords for Remote Desktop. Today's advice is simple: update your PC, back up your files, and turn off remote access you do not use.
What changed this week
Ars Technica reports that Microsoft has started a preview update called KB5127936. It is for Windows 11 versions 26H2 and 25H2. A preview update is an early version that comes out before the normal release. It will reach PCs slowly at first, then roll out more broadly once it reaches general availability.
Here is what the update brings:
- A button to customize the right-click menu, so you choose which commands show up.
- A new tool called Cloud Rebuild can reinstall Windows 11 from the internet, even when a PC will not start.
- A fix for Always On VPN, a work tool that connects a laptop back to the office network, according to BleepingComputer.
- A fix that lets non-admin users connect with Remote Desktop again when a setting called Administrator protection is turned on.
There is one important detail about Cloud Rebuild. Ars Technica says it acts more like a fresh install than a repair. Your apps and files are not kept.
Separately, Help Net Security covered a Bitdefender report. It looked at about 10.4 million home routers from January to September. It counted about 466.6 million password guessing attempts. About 455 million of them targeted Remote Desktop Protocol, a tool used to control Windows computers from far away. The report also counted about 4.85 billion automated scans. A scan is a computer checking which doors are open on a network. The report says these numbers show attempts, not proof that anyone broke in.
Tips for your home computer
- Check for updates today. Open Windows Update in Settings and install what is waiting. If the preview update is not there yet, that is normal. It is rolling out slowly.
- Back up your important files. Copy photos, papers and school work to an external drive or a cloud account. If you ever need Cloud Rebuild, it will not bring those files back.
- Turn off Remote Desktop if you do not use it. Most home users never need it. A closed door cannot be guessed open.
- Use a long, unique password for your Windows account. Password guessing tools try many common passwords very fast. A long phrase that you use nowhere else is much harder to guess.
- Check your home router for remote access settings. If you see options that let people reach your computers from the internet, and you did not set them up, ask someone you trust to review them.
Tips for small businesses
- Ask about the VPN fix. BleepingComputer reports that September updates caused Always On VPN connections to get stuck or fail. Some users saw the error "The specified port is already in use." The preview update fixes it. If you would rather wait for next month's regular update, Microsoft says admins can set the VPN profile to one protocol, either SSTP only or IKEv2 only. A protocol is the set of rules the connection uses.
- Test Remote Desktop for your staff. If staff without admin rights could not connect after recent updates, the preview update fixes that problem when Administrator protection is turned on.
- Plan before you rebuild a work PC. Cloud Rebuild does not keep apps or files. Ars Technica notes that people worried about data security can wipe the whole drive before reinstalling. Save business records first, then decide.
Tips for travelers
- Test your work VPN before you leave. Connect from home a day or two before your trip. If it gets stuck on "Connecting," tell your IT contact now, not at the airport.
- Back up your laptop before the trip. Cloud Rebuild does not need a recovery USB drive or a special recovery image. But it does not save your files. A fresh backup means a broken laptop on the road is only an annoyance.
None of these steps take long. Updating, backing up and closing unused remote access are small habits. Together, they make your computer a harder target and an easier fix.
Have a question about anything here? Email me at sales@appwt.com or call (888) 565-0171, and I will answer it.
Sources
- Microsoft fixes a Windows 11 annoyance as PC revenue declines, Ars Technica, 2026-10-29
- Microsoft finally fixes VPN issues caused by September updates, BleepingComputer, 2026-10-30
- Smart TVs can harbor unpatched security flaws and track what you watch, Help Net Security, 2026-10-30
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is KB5127936?
It is a Windows 11 preview update for versions 26H2 and 25H2. It adds a customizable right-click menu and Cloud Rebuild. It also fixes Always On VPN and Remote Desktop problems.
Will Cloud Rebuild keep my files?
No. Ars Technica reports that it acts more like a fresh install, and existing apps and files are not included. Back up your files first.
Do the Bitdefender numbers mean millions of homes were hacked?
No. The report counts scans and login attempts that were seen and blocked. It says these numbers do not show how many homes had a successful break-in.
What if my business does not want the preview update yet?
Microsoft says admins can set the Always On VPN profile to a single protocol, SSTP only or IKEv2 only. They can then wait for next month's regular update.
Why should I care about Remote Desktop if I never use it?
The Bitdefender report counted about 455 million password guessing attempts aimed at Remote Desktop Protocol. If you do not use it, turning it off removes one target.
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