Windows 11 to get enhanced phishing protection and more security features

Daniel Sims

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TL;DR: Phishing is as prevalent a problem as ever with scammers recently targeting streaming services, parking meters, and people filing taxes. With that in mind, Microsoft has designed one of Windows 11's latest security features to defend against such attacks. This and other new security features are set to arrive later this year.

When activated, Windows 11's enhanced phishing protection will notify users when they're entering Microsoft account information into websites or programs known for phishing scams. It also protects against deceptive advertising.

You can activate the feature by heading to Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Reputation-based Protection > Phishing Protection. Optionally, phishing protection can also warn users about reused and insecurely stored passwords.

Image: Website for Students

One scheme in February involved impersonating financial service Intuit with false security notices. Another in January used QR codes on parking meters which led to malicious sites. Late last year, Kaspersky noted the rising popularity of streaming accounts as a phishing target.

Thankfully, activating Windows 11's phishing protection doesn't have draconian conditions attached.

Another interesting security feature that Microsoft introduced this week uses cloud-based AI to block untrusted, malicious and unsigned apps, but enabling it requires users to reinstall Windows.

Microsoft also plans to introduce personal data encryption, which will allow Windows Hello for Business to protect users' data on lost or stolen devices. The next Windows 11 release will also enable Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity by default, which will ensure only signed and trusted drivers are loaded. This Microsoft blog post details these and other upcoming security features coming to the operating system.

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To illustrate the scale of the problem something I stumbled upon yesterday still on W10, which should be more flexible. Pipe dream.

Bought new gamepad for 1 of all 2 games I have installed because X4 without a pad is just murder. Old X360 pad was universal without software. I was completely gobsmacked when Xbox control app refused to start because... my W10 version is not latest one. That's right, control software for fine-tuning the pad won't work if your Winblows version in not up to what M$ wants.

How nice...

Phuck that, keeping default pad setup, at least Macrocost can't block this in W10.
 
That's possible candidate for most ignorant comment of the day. First off, it's not an OS feature, it's a Defender feature. Second, phishing happens to everyone, not just novice users.
And this is the most ironic comment of the day. First off, Defender is a part of the operating system. What you've basically said is equivalent to "That's not a Windows feature, that's an Explorer feature!". Second, riddle me this, if phishing "happens to everyone", why do only some fall for it?
 
Bought new gamepad for 1 of all 2 games I have installed because X4 without a pad is just murder. Old X360 pad was universal without software. I was completely gobsmacked when Xbox control app refused to start because... my W10 version is not latest one. That's right, control software for fine-tuning the pad won't work if your Winblows version in not up to what M$ wants.
If Microsoft had their way then Microsoft branded monitor stands, cases and SATA cables would "require" Windows 11... Try the 8bitdo's though (dual wired + wireless + Windows / Android / macOS / Switch / Raspberry Pi compatible, dual X-input / D-input, cross-platform software doesn't care about Windows OS version gating), etc. I originally regretted not grabbing 1-2 cheap XBox 360 controllers when prices were at rock bottom, but after an SN30 Pro+ I haven't looked back at MS's childish control-freakism since.
 
That's possible candidate for most ignorant comment of the day. First off, it's not an OS feature, it's a Defender feature. Second, phishing happens to everyone, not just novice users.

LOL, yikes...

Windows comes with defender so it is part of the OS install. Picking "nits" with that point.

The ultimate decision to click or not on a phishing email, link, ad, etc. is up to a person.
 
We wouldn't need this crap if people would stop clicking on anything and everything that is displayed to them...
 
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