Operating system update necessary to install or upgrade ESET products

Which version of Windows operating system am I running?

What will happen?

Due to Microsoft's deprecation of the cross-signing program, ESET will need to fully transition to using Azure Code Signing. Support for Azure Code Signing is present in all releases of Windows 11 and Windows 10 version 21H2 and later. Previous releases of Windows 10 and other Windows operating systems need to have installed respective KBs, first released in September and October 2021, which introduce the signing.

Windows and Windows Server users need the applicable operating system updates to install or upgrade affected ESET products (listed below) released after the end of July 2023. Without the necessary operating system updates, it will not be possible to install or upgrade ESET products (including security and stability updates) listed below.

Existing installations of ESET products will not be affected and will keep receiving module updates.

What should I do?

Users who receive automatic Windows updates are protected. To update the operating system, follow the Microsoft official guidance: KB5022661—Windows support for the Azure Code Signing program - Microsoft Support. When upgrading to Windows 10 22H2, use the Media Creation tool as recommended.

Users with offline environments or disabled automatic trusted root certificate updates must have the Microsoft Identity Verification Root Certificate Authority 2020 installed.

Affected ESET products

Business products:

•ESET Endpoint Antivirus

•ESET Endpoint Security

•ESET Server Security for Microsoft Windows Server

•ESET Security for Microsoft SharePoint Server

•ESET Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange Server

•ESET Mail Security for IBM Domino

Home products:

•ESET NOD32 Antivirus

•ESET Internet Security

•ESET Smart Security Premium

Affected operating systems

•Windows 7 SP1

•Windows 8

•Windows 8.1

•Windows 10, version 21H1 and all earlier versions

•Windows Server 2008 SP2

•Windows Server 2008 R2

•Windows Server 2012

•Windows Server 2012 R2

•Windows Server 2016

•Windows Server 2019

•Windows Server 2022

Users on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 shall also pay attention to Microsoft's already-ended support for these operating systems.

Are my systems affected?

If you manage your endpoints using ESET PROTECT management console, you can create a report with the list of affected machines.

Timeline of ESET product version compatibility

Without support for Azure Code Signing, it will not be possible to install or upgrade to later product versions starting from a specific version/build number.

* Includes the following products: ESET NOD32 Antivirus, ESET Internet Security, ESET Smart Security Premium, ESET Security Ultimate

Notifications in ESET products

Application statuses in affected endpoint and server products and alerts in ESET PROTECT management console appear from July 10, 2023, displaying the "Your operating system is outdated" message. In the first half of September 2023, this message started displaying "Missing support for Azure Code Signing". The same message will appear also in ESET home products.

It will be possible for administrators to hide the messages in Advanced setup during September 2023. For more information on how to hide application statuses in ESET business products, see the appropriate section in the documentation:

•ESET endpoint products

•ESET server products

•ESET PROTECT

Last updated: April 4, 2024