windows defender

  1. How to Reduce Antimalware Service Executable CPU & Memory Usage on Windows 11

    It starts innocently enough: you sit down at your Windows 11 PC, open up a few browser tabs, perhaps launch a productivity app or two, and suddenly, your once-speedy computer sounds like it’s prepping for lift-off. Fans whirl, windows stall, that spinning wheel taunts you. A quick peek at the...
  2. How to Detect and Stop Unauthorized Remote Access on Windows PC

    Is your mouse pointer waltzing across the screen with the panache of a ghostly marionette, programs launching and closing as if your PC has developed a mind of its own? Or perhaps new user accounts have appeared mysteriously, and your once-pristine desktop now sports a lineup of unfamiliar...
  3. Microsoft Copilot and AI Security: The Future of Federal Agency Work in 2024

    Walk into any federal agency in 2024, and you’ll find something humming in the background, smoothing operations, answering obscure questions, maybe even drafting memos on how best to watch itself: Microsoft’s Copilot. Once, the phrase “AI policing AI” conjured visions of dystopian sci-fi—now...
  4. Understanding the Surprising 'inetpub' Folder in Windows After Recent Security Updates

    In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, Windows users are no strangers to unexpected developments. The latest twist comes in the form of a mysterious folder named "inetpub" that has appeared on many systems following a recent Windows update. This unexpected addition has sparked...
  5. Microsoft’s April 2025 Baseline Public Preview: Revolutionizing Windows Security, Stability, and Ent

    Microsoft’s April 8, 2025 Baseline Public Preview: A New Chapter in Windows Security and Usability On April 8, 2025, Microsoft rolled out a pivotal update for Windows 11 and the broader Windows ecosystem, marking a milestone that IT professionals and users have been anticipating for months. This...
  6. How to Scan Your Windows PC for Viruses and Malware for Free Using Built-In Tools

    How to Scan Your Computer for Viruses and Malware Using Free Windows Tools Is your computer running unusually slow? Are you seeing strange pop-ups or experiencing unexplained crashes? Your system might be infected with viruses or malware, but the good news is you don't have to spend a dime on...
  7. Transforming SecOps: Microsoft's Unified Platform with Multi-Workspace Support

    Microsoft's Unified SecOps Platform is making waves with its latest multi-workspace for multi-tenant support, an evolution designed to simplify and strengthen the management of security operations across modern, hybrid environments. This much-anticipated feature, now available in public preview...
  8. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Enhancing Security with Automatic IP Containment

    Introduction Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is receiving a significant upgrade that aims to tighten security defenses by automatically blocking unwanted traffic from undiscovered endpoints. This innovative feature is designed to stem malicious lateral movement within network environments...
  9. Microsoft Defender Elevates Endpoint Security with Innovative Contain IP Policy

    Microsoft Defender is raising the bar in endpoint security by introducing an innovative capability aimed at neutralizing threats before they spread. At the heart of this update is the powerful isolation of undiscovered endpoints—devices that have not yet been identified or onboarded to Defender...
  10. Enhancing Threat Detection: Microsoft Defender's New Feedback Mechanism

    Advancing Threat Detection with Microsoft Defender Microsoft is ramping up its security game once again by introducing a significant enhancement to Microsoft Defender. The new update allows Security Operations Center (SOC) teams and administrators to refine the threat detection process through...
  11. Boosting Security: Microsoft Defender for Identity Integrates with Top PAM Solutions

    Microsoft Defender for Identity is stepping up its game by integrating with leading Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions—a move that promises significant strides in enhancing security around privileged accounts. In today’s cybersecurity landscape, where threats often target accounts with...
  12. Ransomware Threats Targeting Domain Controllers: Evolving Tactics & Defense Strategies

    Cyberattackers are relentlessly evolving their tactics, and ransomware has become one of their most potent tools. In today’s interconnected network environments, domain controllers—long regarded as the backbone of an on-premises infrastructure—have emerged as a critical vulnerability. Below is...
  13. Understanding CVE-2025-26678: A Threat to Windows Defender Application Control

    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...
  14. Unlocking Value: Best Free Alternatives for Windows Apps

    Free software isn’t just for those on a shoestring budget—it’s a powerhouse of functionality that challenges the notion that paid apps are always superior. In today’s Windows ecosystem, numerous free alternatives exist to match, and often exceed, the features of their commercial rivals. Let’s...
  15. Tax Season Phishing Campaigns: Techniques, Malware, and Defense Strategies

    As Tax Day nears, threat actors are pulling out all the stops by deploying tax-themed phishing campaigns that combine age-old social engineering tricks with modern redirection techniques and sophisticated malware. In recent months, Microsoft’s threat intelligence team has observed several...
  16. Enhancing Cybersecurity with Microsoft Defender's New Advanced Hunting Tables for Teams

    Microsoft is ramping up its cybersecurity toolkit with a strategic enhancement to the Defender platform. The latest announcement confirms that Microsoft will introduce three new Advanced Hunting tables designed to track and analyze Teams messages containing URLs. This initiative not only...
  17. Bypassing Windows Defender Application Control: The Loki C2 Threat

    Bypassing Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) might sound like something reserved for blockbuster spy movies, but in today’s threat landscape, it’s a real, high-stakes game played by red teams and security researchers alike. At the heart of this article is the in-depth exploration of...
  18. Microsoft Defender Expands AI Security to Google Cloud with New Agents

    Microsoft is broadening its cybersecurity arsenal with new integrations that extend Microsoft Defender’s AI capabilities to the Google Cloud Platform. Although Defender started its journey safeguarding Azure, and later expanded to Amazon Web Services with a dedicated connector, Microsoft’s...
  19. Microsoft's AI Agents: Transforming Cybersecurity for Windows Environments

    Microsoft is positioning itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and the implications for Windows environments are profound. In a bid to ease the burden on overworked security teams, Microsoft’s newly announced AI agents are designed to sift through vast streams...
  20. Windows Defender Flags Hardware Monitoring Apps: Security vs. Functionality

    Windows Defender has recently stirred up a storm by flagging some popular hardware monitoring and fan control applications as malware—and it turns out the concern isn’t entirely unfounded. For many Windows users who have relied on tools from vendors like Razer, SteelSeries, and others to keep a...