credential theft protection

Credential theft protection in Windows 10 and Windows 11 focuses on safeguarding stored sign-in secrets like NTLM password hashes and Kerberos tickets. A key built-in feature is Windows Defender Credential Guard, which uses virtualization-based security to isolate credentials from the operating system, making them harder for malware or attackers to extract from memory. This protection is especially relevant for users who sign into domains, use remote access, or want stronger security against credential theft. Enabling Credential Guard is an intermediate-level task that can significantly reduce the risk of credential theft attacks.