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...
application whitelisting
block history
controlled folder access
enterprise cfa management
get-mppreference
group policy cfa
powershell
protectedfolders
ransomware
real-time protection
set-mppreference
windows 10 cfa
windows 11 cfa
windows defender
windows security
Windows 11 continues to surprise its users. The latest April 2025 cumulative update—KB5055523—has introduced an unexpected twist: the creation of an empty "inetpub" folder in the root of the C: drive, even on systems where Internet Information Services (IIS) is not installed. While the folder’s...
24h2 update
administration
automatic updates
best practices
business strategy
community
community reaction
computer safety
configuration requirements
cumulative update
cve vulnerabilities
cve-2025-21204
cybersecurity
data security
developer tools
digital safety
digital security
directory junctions
enterprise security
extended security updates
file management
folder permissions
folder restoration
folders
iis
iis folder
inetpub
inetpub folder
internet information services
it admin guide
it administration
it management
it professionals
it tips
junction points
kb5055523
local privilege exploit
local threats
local user exploits
maintenance
malicious actors
malware prevention
microsoft
microsoft patch
microsoft security
ntfs permissions
operating system
optimization
patch
patch management
permission lockdown
permissions
privilege escalation
protectedfolders
remote exploits
security
security best practices
security bypass
security enhancements
security hardening
security mitigation
security patch
security tips
security updates
software anomaly
software security
software update
symbolic link exploit
symbolic links
symlink exploits
sysadmin tips
system administration
system files
system hardening
system integrity
system protection
system stability
system update
tech community
tech support
tech updates
technical analysis
troubleshooting
update
update best practices
update documentation
update issues
update kb5055523
user awareness
user communication
user concerns
user experience
user guide
vulnerabilities
vulnerability
web server
windows 10
windows 11
windows customization
windows exploit protection
windows features
windows folder
windows folder structure
windows quirks
windows security
windows servicing
windows system folder
windows tips
windows troubleshooting
windows update
windows update policy
windows update risks
windows updates 2025
windows vulnerabilities
I thought protection history and offline scan would have improved since ten . I find protected folders hard to use. I don't understand either.
I also cannot fine offline scan in event viewer. I asked a friend who is very good at these issues and he said neither do I so I do not use them.
Am I...
Hello
I understood the way this was set up in the Fall creator update but am having trouble understanding what to do with the spring 1903 feature. I can leave it enabled and just allow those files I think are OK but I don't know what to do regarding settings. Do I keep them as low? I did not...
I did not have much luck with a VM so am trying to place a Linux distribution in a pen drive using the installers like USB.
I kep hgetting popups from protected folders but more importantly I get sdiffrent error messages while the process is under way which say this won't be able to boot etc...
Hello:
I have a Simpletech Network Attached Storage 250gb Link Removed due to 404 Error.
It uses a web-page style configuration application that allows me to put a password on a folder. The folder can then be opened from a Windows XP machine on the the same LAN just by entering the...