malware prevention

  1. PowerPoint Use-After-Free Risks (2025): Verification Gaps, Mitigations, and Defender Playbook

    Microsoft’s advisory link for CVE-2025-54908 points to a PowerPoint use‑after‑free that “allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally,” but that specific CVE number could not be corroborated in public vulnerability trackers at the time of verification; when attempting to load the...
  2. CVE-2025-53131: Windows Media Heap Overflow RCE — Patch Now

    Title: CVE-2025-53131 — What Windows admins need to know about the new Windows Media RCE (heap-based buffer overflow) Summary (TL;DR) CVE-2025-53131 is a heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Media components that can allow remote, unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code over a...
  3. Microsoft Excel’s New Security Policies: Blocking High-Risk External Links to Combat Malware

    Excel is on the verge of a significant security evolution as Microsoft introduces new policy changes designed to clamp down on the enduring threat of malware attacks via external links. Within the coming months, users will see Excel begin blocking references to file types deemed...
  4. How Cybercriminals Are Using Trusted Email Security to Bypass Microsoft 365 Defenses

    Cybercriminals are once again redefining the threat landscape, this time by exploiting trusted email security mechanisms to compromise Microsoft 365 accounts. In a sophisticated new campaign, threat actors have weaponized link-wrapping services—previously considered pillars of safe email...
  5. Comparing Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and ICES Solutions for Enhanced Email Security

    In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, email remains a primary vector for attacks such as phishing, malware, and business email compromise (BEC). To bolster defenses, organizations often deploy a combination of native security solutions and third-party tools. Microsoft Defender for...
  6. Microsoft’s Security Evolution: Blocking External Workbook Links in Excel for Enhanced Windows Protection

    Microsoft continues to reshape the security landscape for Windows users and administrators with a series of strategic changes to how its flagship productivity apps handle potentially risky content. A landmark update is scheduled to roll out between October 2025 and July 2026: Excel will disable...
  7. Why Showing File Extensions in Windows Enhances Security and Stops Malware Tricks

    When navigating the digital world, especially within the Windows ecosystem, it's easy to take for granted the many default settings designed to simplify the user experience. Yet, behind Windows’ clean and uncluttered File Explorer interface lies a subtle, yet significant, risk: by default, file...
  8. Mastering Windows File Extensions: The Essential Guide for Security and Productivity

    File name extensions play a crucial role in the world of Windows computing, acting as a digital shorthand that tells both users and the operating system what kind of data a file contains and how it should be handled. While these little period-separated letter clusters, like .docx or .jpg, often...
  9. Streamline Windows 11 App Reinstallation with Ninite’s Automation Tool

    Reinstalling applications after a Windows 11 reset can be a time-consuming and error-prone task. Ninite offers a streamlined solution to this challenge, enabling users to install multiple applications simultaneously with minimal effort. What is Ninite? Ninite is a free, automated software...
  10. Golden dMSA Attack: Critical Windows Server 2025 Identity Security Vulnerability

    Semperis, a leader in identity security, has recently unveiled a critical vulnerability in Windows Server 2025's delegated Managed Service Accounts (dMSAs), termed the "Golden dMSA" attack. This flaw enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and generate passwords for all dMSAs and...
  11. Unlocking Windows Sandbox: The Ultimate Guide to Secure, Fast, and Ephemeral Testing

    Windows Sandbox remains one of the most underrated features in the Microsoft ecosystem, quietly offering tremendous utility to power users, developers, security-conscious individuals, and IT professionals alike. Introduced by Microsoft in 2019, Windows Sandbox provides a lightweight, disposable...
  12. Microsoft Leads Transparency in Email Security Benchmarking and Threat Defense

    Microsoft’s recent move toward greater transparency in email security effectiveness offers a timely and much-needed step forward for organizations seeking to stay a step ahead of relentless and evolving cyber threats. Over the past decade, the threat landscape has shifted dramatically...
  13. Windows 11 Administrator Protection: The Future of Secure Privilege Management

    Windows 11’s relentless march toward robust security just took a decisive leap forward with the introduction of the innovative Administrator Protection feature. Announced in a recent Windows Insider blog post and detailed on the Windows IT Pro blog, this capability landed with the latest preview...
  14. Understanding Microsoft Defender's VulnerableDriver WinRing0 Alert and How to Respond

    Microsoft Defender Antivirus has long been at the forefront of protecting Windows users from an ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, but even well-intentioned drivers can harbor latent risks. One recent security event—flagged as VulnerableDriver:WinNT/Winring0—highlights how trusted system...
  15. Unlocking Windows' Hidden Security Features to Protect Your PC

    Windows operating systems have evolved far beyond their original form, growing into sophisticated ecosystems that balance usability, performance, and a robust set of built-in security features. However, while many users obsess over their antivirus subscriptions or install a dizzying array of...
  16. 7 Essential Windows Security Settings to Protect Your Digital Life

    When it comes to protecting your digital life, the security settings on your Windows PC should never be an afterthought. From sensitive documents and irreplaceable photos to your credentials and banking details, our computers hold far more than just data—they can be keys to our identities and...
  17. Critical Secure Boot Vulnerability in Windows 11 Exposes Systems to Stealthy Malware Attacks

    For users continuing to rely on Windows 11, a critical new vulnerability affecting Secure Boot casts fresh doubts over the operating system's security posture. Secure Boot has long been marketed as a foundational defense—ensuring that a device loads only trusted, signed code during the initial...
  18. Microsoft Teams Vulnerability CVE-2025-49737: How to Protect Your System from Privilege Escalation

    Microsoft Teams, a widely adopted collaboration platform, has recently been identified as vulnerable to a significant security flaw, designated as CVE-2025-49737. This vulnerability arises from a race condition due to improper synchronization when accessing shared resources, potentially allowing...
  19. Critical Windows Vulnerability CVE-2025-49730: How to Protect Your System from Privilege Escalation

    A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-49730, has been discovered in the Microsoft Windows Quality of Service (QoS) Scheduler Driver. This flaw, stemming from a time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition, allows authorized attackers to escalate their privileges on...
  20. Critical CVE-2025-49705 PowerPoint Vulnerability: Protect Your Systems Now

    A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-49705, has been discovered in Microsoft PowerPoint, posing significant risks to users worldwide. This heap-based buffer overflow flaw allows unauthorized attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially leading to data...