Popular Windows 11 bypass tool hit by malware copycat | Flyoobe hijacked putting Windows 10 users at risk

by

Many Windows 10 users are trying to find ways around the hardware requirements for Windows 11, and unfortunately, criminals are taking advantage of this. A fake copy of Flyoobe – a tool that lets people install Windows 11 on computers it shouldn’t normally run on – is spreading around, and it could contain harmful software. The tool’s creator has warned people to only download Flyoobe from its official GitHub page and avoid any unofficial sources.

Although Microsoft wants people to switch to Windows 11, it’s unlikely many will, particularly those with fairly new computers that now feel outdated because Windows 10 is no longer supported. Some users believe Microsoft intentionally ended support to force upgrades, calling it a planned obsolescence tactic.

More and more people who aren’t upgrading to Windows 11 are turning to operating systems like Linux and ChromeOS. This is largely because Windows 11 requires specific, and sometimes expensive, hardware, and some users find its design frustrating. The fact that these alternative platforms don’t have ads or track user data is also a big draw.

More people are using tools to simplify upgrading to Windows 11. For example, Flyoobe helps Windows 10 users get around the usual hardware checks – things like needing 4GB of RAM, a TPM 2.0 chip, and Secure Boot – so they can install Windows 11 on older computers.

This software lets you simplify Windows 11 by getting rid of features and apps you don’t need. However, criminals are taking advantage of its increasing popularity – especially now that Windows 10 support has ended – to deceive Windows 10 users who are trying to upgrade.

Tom’s Hardware recently discovered that hackers are distributing a harmful software update through a website that looks legitimate. The creators of Flyoobe have warned users about this fake update and confirmed they have no connection to the suspicious website.

According to the security warning on Flyoobe’s official GitHub page:

A copy of Flyoobe is available at [URL], but we strongly advise against visiting it. This copy may contain harmful software or a modified, potentially unsafe, version of the program.

The developer recommends downloading the tool only from its official GitHub page. Using tools from other sources can cause problems, potentially even damaging your device, so it’s important to be cautious.

So, if you really want to keep using Windows 10 after support ends, Microsoft offers something called Extended Security Updates, or ESUs. But there’s a catch! You either need to be signed in with a Microsoft account and have your settings synced to the cloud, or pay around $30, or use 1,000 Microsoft Reward points. Luckily, if you’re in Europe, you can get these updates for free without needing to do any of that! It’s a nice perk for us Europeans, honestly.

Organizations like the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and The Restart Project criticize Microsoft’s Extended Security Update (ESU) program as a temporary fix that doesn’t address the underlying problems. They see it as simply delaying the inevitable rather than providing a real solution.

The company is encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 11 PCs with Copilot+ by highlighting significant performance improvements – they claim these new PCs can be up to 2.3 times faster than older Windows 10 models. This push is largely driven by the advanced AI capabilities offered by the new generation of PCs.

This news follows the unexplained removal of videos by a tech creator on YouTube. The videos showed viewers how to install Windows 11 using a local account. YouTube offered a brief explanation, stating the videos violated their community rules, but didn’t provide specifics. Here’s what YouTube said:

We’re contacting you again about the warning you received. It was issued because your content violated our policy against harmful or dangerous content. Specifically, it included material that promotes activities that could cause serious physical harm or even death, or encourages dangerous or illegal behavior.

Many people online thought Microsoft might be behind the issue, but the video creator didn’t think so. He believed YouTube was likely using artificial intelligence to review videos, and this AI mistakenly flagged his content as inaccurate. This also made it harder to get help from YouTube’s support team.

With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10, programs like Flyoobe are becoming more common, but that also means increased risks. Always double-check where you’re downloading software from, and keep in mind that getting a quick way to Windows 11 isn’t worth potentially damaging your computer.

FAQ

Is Flyoobe safe to use?

Sure, but make sure you download it from the official GitHub page. Other sources might have harmful software or altered code.

What’s the danger with the fake Flyoobe tool?

A harmful fake is spreading through a deceptive website. It could install dangerous software or leave your computer vulnerable.

What does Flyoobe do?

Flyoobe (previously known as Flyby11) is a tool that lets people install Windows 11 on computers that don’t officially meet the system requirements. It removes the need for features like TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and a certain amount of RAM.

Why are people using tools like Flyoobe?

A lot of people with Windows 10 are being pushed to upgrade, even though their computers don’t have the necessary specs. While tools like Flyoobe can help bypass this, doing so isn’t without potential problems.

Why Is Microsoft struggling to get users to upgrade to Windows 11?

Most Windows 10 users haven’t upgraded because the new operating system demands powerful hardware. This has led some to accuse Microsoft of intentionally making Windows 10 outdated to push users toward newer versions or even different operating systems like Linux and ChromeOS.

What’s Microsoft’s official alternative?

As an analyst, I’ve been looking into Windows 10’s end of life, and it’s important to know that Microsoft is offering Extended Security Updates, or ESUs. However, these aren’t free. You’ll need to pay for them, or have a Microsoft Account to access them – unless you’re located in the European Union, where the rules are different.

Read More

2025-11-08 20:40