Windows 10: WARNING Malicious Update: January 2021 Windows Update Deleted All Profiles and all Data

Earlier this week one of my Windows 10 machines completed a Windows Update installing KB4598242, KB4586876 and KB890830 this update deleted all data and software configurations on the machine!


The update seemed to delete the contents of ALL Profiles, this included but not limited to deleting everything in:

AppData subfolders

Documents

Downloads

Desktop


As a result all data on the machine was lost and all Applications lost their settings, this included

JRiver Media Library - lost all library databases and all configuration and all backups

Ubiquiti Network Management Software - again lost all configuration settings and all backups


The applications were still installed, though all the shortcuts on the Desktop had also been deleted.


I have now spent the entire day rebuilding the machine - I have 10 more machines to update and am wondering what outcome I will get with them


Come on Microsoft - deleting all data and application configurations as part of a Windows Update is completely UNACCEPTABLE!

:)

 

Microsoft January 2021 Security Updates

January 2021 Security Updates




The January 2021 security release consists of security updates for the following software:

• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML-based)
• Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office Services and Web Apps
• Microsoft Windows Codecs Library
• Visual Studio
• SQL Server
• Microsoft Malware Protection Engine
• .NET Core
• .NET Repository
• ASP .NET
• Azure

Please note the following information regarding the security updates:

• CVE-2020-0689 has been re-released. For further information see Security update for Secure Boot DBX: January 12, 2021.
• For information regarding enabling Windows 10, version 1909 features, please see Windows 10, version 1909 delivery options. Note that Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909 share a common core operating system with an identical set of system files. They will also share the same security update KBs.
• Windows 10 updates are cumulative. The monthly security release includes all security fixes for vulnerabilities that affect Windows 10, in addition to non-security updates. The updates are available via the Microsoft Update Catalog.
• For information on lifecycle and support dates for Windows 10 operating systems, please see Windows Lifecycle Facts Sheet.
• A list of the latest servicing stack updates for each operating system can be found in ADV990001. This list will be updated whenever a new servicing stack update is released. It is important to install the latest servicing stack update.
• Updates for Windows RT 8.1 and Microsoft Office RT software are only available via Windows Update.
• In addition to security changes for the vulnerabilities, updates include defense-in-depth updates to help improve security-related features.
• Customers running Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2008 need to purchase the Extended Security Update to continue receiving security updates. See 4522133 for more information.

The following CVEs have FAQs with additional information. Please note that this is not a complete list of CVEs for this release.

• CVE-2020-26870
• CVE-2021-1636
• CVE-2021-1637
• CVE-2021-1643
• CVE-2021-1644
• CVE-2021-1645
• CVE-2021-1647
• CVE-2021-1648
• CVE-2021-1656
• CVE-2021-1663
• CVE-2021-1669
• CVE-2021-1670
• CVE-2021-1672
• CVE-2021-1676
• CVE-2021-1677
• CVE-2021-1694
• CVE-2021-1696
• CVE-2021-1699
• CVE-2021-1707
• CVE-2021-1708
• CVE-2021-1711
• CVE-2021-1713
• CVE-2021-1714
• CVE-2021-1715
• CVE-2021-1716
• CVE-2021-1725

Known Issues


The following KBs contain information about known issues with the security updates. For a complete list of security update KBs, please see 20210112. For more information about Windows Known Issues, please see Windows message center (links to currently-supported versions of Windows are in the left pane).


KB Article Applies To
4598229 Windows 10, Version 1903, Windows Server, Version 1903, Windows 10, Version 1909, Windows Server, Version 1909
4598230 Windows 10, Version 1809, Windows Server 2019
4598242 Windows 10, Version 2004, Windows Server, Version 2004, Windows 10, Version 20H2, Windows Server, Version 20H2
4598275 Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2 (Security-only update)
4598278 Windows Server 2012 (Monthly Rollup)
4598279 Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 (Monthly Rollup)
4598285 Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2 (Monthly Rollup)
4598287 Windows Server 2008 (Security-only update)
4598288 Windows Server 2008 (Monthly Rollup)
4598289 Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 (Security-only update)
4598297 Windows Server 2012 (Security-only update)


January 2021 Security Updates - Release Notes - Security Update Guide - Microsoft

 

January 2021 Xbox OS Update for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One

Source: Xbox Support

 

Windows Updates failed to instal

I'm not sure how differant XP media center Edition is but you could clear the history \ cache if these folders are there.

Step 1 Register DLL files.

=================

By trying this step, we can check if the update engines are working properly.



1. Close all instances of Internet Explorer.

2. Click Start and Run, type "Regsvr32 atl.dll" (without quotes) in the Open box and click OK.



Note: There is a space between regsvr32 and atl.dll



3. Similarly, one by one, register the files listed below:



Regsvr32 msxml3.dll

Regsvr32 wuapi.dll

Regsvr32 wuaueng.dll

Regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll

Regsvr32 wups2.dll

Regsvr32 wucltui.dll

Regsvr32 wups.dll

Regsvr32 wuweb.dll

Regsvr32 qmgr.dll

Regsvr32 qmgrprxy.dll

Regsvr32 jscript.dll



Note: If you encounter errors while registering any of these files then skip that file and continue with the next one.



If the issue persists, let's move on to the steps below to verify Windows Update services and temporary folders.



Step 2 Verify the relevant Windows Update services.

=========================================

1. Click Start->Run, type "services.msc" (without quotation marks) in the open box and click OK.

2. Double click the service "Automatic Updates".

3. Click on the Log On tab, please ensure the option "Local System account" is selected and the option "Allow service to interact with desktop" is unchecked.

4. Check if this service has been enabled on the listed Hardware Profile. If not, please click the Enable button to enable it.

5. Click on the tab "General "; make sure the "Startup Type" is "Automatic" or "Manual". Then please click the button "Stop" under "Service Status" to stop the service.

6. Then please click the button "Start" under "Service Status" to start the service.

7. Please repeat the above steps with the other services:



Background Intelligent Transfer Service

Event Log

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)



Note: Event log service is enabled on all of the hardware profiles; this service does not have an option to enable or disable on certain hardware profile.



If it still does not help, let's proceed to step 3.



Step 3 Reload the Update temporary folders.

===================================

One possible cause is that the temporary folder for Windows Update is containing corrupted files. Let's erase all the files there to get the system clean.



1. Click Start, Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the following command in the opened window.



Net stop WuAuServ



2. Click Start, Run, type: %windir% and press Enter.

3. In the opened folder, rename the folder SoftwareDistribution to Sdold.

4. Click Start, Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the following command in the opened window.



Net start WuAuServ



Please test the Windows Update website and let me know the result. If the issue persists, to clarify the issue and provide more accurate troubleshooting steps, please assist me in collecting the following information.