security hardening

  1. KB5064010 Hotpatch for Windows 11 LTSC 2024 - Security, No-Restart Update (26100.4851)

    August 12, 2025, saw Microsoft publish KB5064010 — a hotpatch for Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 that advances the OS to OS Build 26100.4851, delivering targeted security hardening without the broad-feature changes or mandatory restarts that administrators dread. This release is part of...
  2. CVE-2025-25007: Exchange Server Spoofing - Quick Mitigation Guide

    Microsoft’s security portal lists CVE-2025-25007 as a Microsoft Exchange Server spoofing vulnerability caused by improper validation of syntactic correctness of input, but public technical detail and third‑party analysis for this specific CVE remain sparse at the time of publication —...
  3. CVE-2025-53730: Visio Use-After-Free RCE and Patch Guide

    Microsoft has published a security advisory for CVE-2025-53730, a use‑after‑free vulnerability in Microsoft Office Visio that Microsoft describes as allowing an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally when a specially crafted Visio file is opened. Background Microsoft Visio is a widely...
  4. Qualcomm Image Processing AI Update 1.2507.797.0 for Windows 11 Copilot+ (KB5065499)

    Microsoft has released KB5065499, an Image Processing AI component update that advances the component to version 1.2507.797.0 for Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11, version 24H2. The patch is targeted specifically at the on-device imaging AI stack that Windows uses to scale...
  5. KB5065500 Image Processing AI Update: 1.2507.797.0 for Intel Copilot+ on Windows 11 24H2

    Microsoft has pushed a targeted component update — KB5065500, which advances the Image Processing AI component to version 1.2507.797.0 for Intel‑powered Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 version 24H2, delivering a modest set of improvements to on‑device image scaling and foreground/background...
  6. Upgrade Windows 11 on Unsupported PCs with Rufus: Keep Apps & Data

    The end of free security updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025 is forcing millions of perfectly serviceable PCs to make a decision: pay for Extended Security Updates, retire the hardware, or find a way to install Windows 11 on devices Microsoft no longer “supports.” The good news is that...
  7. Critical Security Update for Hybrid Exchange Server: Protect Against CVE-2025-53786

    A critical security update has emerged for organizations leveraging Microsoft Exchange Server in hybrid cloud environments, as CVE-2025-53786 exposes a significant elevation of privilege vulnerability. On April 18th, 2025, Microsoft not only published important security changes for hybrid...
  8. Exposing the Hidden Threat of Microsoft 365's Direct Send Abuse in Internal Phishing Campaigns

    Leveraging trusted internal channels has long been a gold standard for cybercriminals seeking to evade organizational defenses, but a recent campaign uncovered by Proofpoint signals a new level of ingenuity in exploiting a familiar Microsoft 365 feature: Direct Send. This functionality, designed...
  9. Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit: Essential Guide for Windows Security & Hardening

    Striking the right balance between security and operational efficiency is a persistent challenge for enterprise IT administrators. As cyberthreats accelerate in sophistication, a misstep in configuring security policies can open windows of vulnerability, resulting in costly breaches, regulatory...
  10. How to Launch a Successful Cybersecurity Career in 2025: Expert Strategies & Tips

    The surging tide of cybersecurity threats throughout government, business, and the public sector is driving what many experts call the “talent crisis” of the digital era. From high-profile data breaches hitting multinational corporations to the relentless onslaught of ransomware attacks...
  11. Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Vulnerability CVE-2025-6788: Risks & Critical Security Updates

    Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure platform is at the cutting edge of smart energy, building, and infrastructure management, underpinning critical operations at facilities ranging from industrial plants and data centers to commercial buildings. Designed with layered digital intelligence and...
  12. 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...
  13. Windows 11 24H2: Microsoft Enforces Secure JScript9Legacy Engine by Default

    In a decisive step toward shoring up the security foundations of the Windows operating system, Microsoft has enabled the JScript9Legacy scripting engine by default in Windows 11, specifically starting with version 24H2. This move marks a significant chapter in Microsoft’s ongoing campaign...
  14. Windows Server 2019: The Ultimate Guide to Features, Security, and Hybrid Cloud Integration

    With a legacy built on powering enterprises, datacenters, and mission-critical workloads, each release of Windows Server transforms expectations in IT infrastructure. Windows Server 2019, next in this proud lineage, generated intense anticipation leading up to its general availability. Marked by...
  15. Azure Arc Security Risks: Protecting Hybrid Clouds from Script Extension Abuse

    Azure Arc, Microsoft’s hybrid cloud management solution, promises flexibility and visibility across environments, but security researchers are increasingly sounding alarms about abuse vectors ripe for attackers. Amid a thriving landscape of distributed workloads, endpoints, and diverse...
  16. Windows 11 June 2025 Update: Security, AI, and Seamless Upgrades for Enterprises

    As the countdown to the official end of support for Windows 10 ticks away, Windows 11 continues to evolve at a rapid pace, underscoring Microsoft’s drive to offer both innovation and stability across the modern Windows ecosystem. The June 2025 improvements encapsulate this philosophy, delivering...
  17. How Microsoft 365's Direct Send Feature Is Being Exploited in Sophisticated Phishing Attacks

    A new wave of phishing attacks has cast a harsh spotlight on the security assumptions underlying Microsoft 365, as cybercriminals adapt with alarming speed to exploit lesser-known features. Over the past two months, a sophisticated campaign has targeted more than 70 organizations across critical...
  18. Windows Hello Face Unlock in Darkness: Security Update & User Impact Explained

    For users who have integrated Windows Hello Face Unlock into their daily routine, a foundational change in its lighting requirements has prompted widespread confusion and frustration. Owners of modern Windows devices—Surface Laptops, Dell XPSes, and other flagship PCs—have long enjoyed the...
  19. CVE-2025-33073 Exploited: The New Reflective Kerberos Relay Threat to Windows Security

    A critical new vulnerability has rocked the Windows security landscape, exposing enterprises worldwide to a sophisticated privilege escalation threat unlike any previously documented. The flaw—now cataloged as CVE-2025-33073—lays bare the potential for attackers to subvert fundamental...
  20. 2025 Guide: Protecting Enterprise Data from Windows Authentication Coercion Attacks

    Few developments in enterprise cybersecurity have proved as persistent—and as adaptive—as Windows authentication coercion attacks. Despite years of steady security investments by Microsoft and mounting awareness within the IT community, these sophisticated offensive techniques continue to...