application whitelisting

Enable Controlled Folder Access & Whitelist Apps to Protect Against Ransomware (Win10/11) Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 15 minutes Introduction Ransomware encrypts or locks your files and demands payment to restore them. Controlled Folder Access (CFA) is a built‑in Windows Defender...

Windows' built‑in security toolbox is larger and more capable than it has ever been, but several of its most visible safeguards can — paradoxically — reduce real‑world security when design and deployment interact with human behavior and system performance. Four features in particular — User...

Siemens ProductCERT has published SSA‑493396 — a deserialization vulnerability (CVE‑2025‑40759) that affects a broad swath of TIA‑Portal engineering components, including SIMATIC S7‑PLCSIM V17, STEP 7, and WinCC variants; Siemens assigns a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 and a CVSS v4 base score of...

A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-49698, has been discovered in Microsoft Word, posing significant risks to users worldwide. This flaw, classified as a "use-after-free" vulnerability, allows unauthorized attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially...

In a pivotal update for enterprise environments, Windows has rolled out new certificate authority (CA) handling logic for Application Control for Business, formerly known as Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC). As announced in Microsoft’s official support documentation, this adjustment...

Microsoft's introduction of Smart App Control (SAC) in Windows 11 marks a significant advancement in the operating system's security framework. This feature is designed to proactively block untrusted or potentially harmful applications, thereby enhancing system protection and optimizing...

Windows 11 has continuously evolved since its initial release, responding to both end-user demands and the changing threat landscape in the world of cybersecurity. Among the recent headline features, Smart App Control stands out as a bold step forward in Microsoft's effort to block malicious or...

With the release of Windows 11 22H2, Microsoft has dramatically shifted its security playbook by introducing Smart App Control (SAC), a proactive, cloud-backed security layer that blocks untrusted software before it ever gets a chance to execute. It’s a bold new defense in the Windows security...

The latest evolution of Windows support for Application Control for Business introduces a significant and controversial overhaul: a new Certificate Authority (CA) handling logic designed to bolster software trust and compliance in modern enterprise environments. Users and administrators who rely...

Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) stands as a critical gatekeeper in the Windows security ecosystem, ensuring that only trusted applications execute on your system. However, CVE-2025-26678 has emerged as a notable threat—a local security bypass vulnerability rooted in improper access...

Original release date: June 12, 2017 Systems Affected Industrial Controls Systems Overview The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) is aware of public reports from ESET and Dragos outlining a new, highly capable Industrial Controls Systems (ICS) attack...