Microsoft is ending a security issue that has plagued Windows for years, with the company ending its use of outdated kernel drivers in April 2026. The move is part of a gradual process to remove these drivers from the "cross-signed root program," which was used to provide limited security checks and allowed abuse and misuse of signature keys. The new policy will only allow kernel drivers certified via the official Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP), which are checked by Microsoft for malware and compatibility. The change is designed to make it harder for malicious code to be injected into the kernel, the most sensitive part of the operating system. However, Microsoft may face unexpected problems if very old hardware relies on drivers that are no longer supported. The policy will be implemented gradually and will continue to be permanent feature of new Windows versions.