Security News > 2022 > September > Microsoft says it's boosted phishing protection in Windows 11 22H2

In the latest version of Windows 11, Microsoft is introducing a feature in its Microsoft Defender SmartScreen tool designed to keep passwords safer.

The enhanced phishing protection automatically detects when a user types their password into an app or website and knows immediately whether the app or site has a secure connection to a trusted website.

Microsoft - among the top five most targeted brands, according to Zscaler - found that across Windows, Azure, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Defender for Office, there were more than 35.7 billion phishing attempts and more than 25.6 billion attempts to brute-force into accounts using stolen passwords.

"SmartScreen identifies and protects against corporate password entry on reported phishing sites or apps connecting to phishing sites, password reuse on any app or site, and passwords typed into Notepad, Wordpad, or Microsoft 365 apps," Hamilton wrote.

"When notifications are turned on, SmartScreen displays a blocking dialog warning prompting users to change their password if they type their password into a phishing site in any Chromium browser or into an application connecting to a phishing site," Hamilton wrote.

They'll see warnings if they try to use their Microsoft account, Azure AD, Active Directory, or local password on any other site or application or if they try to store their password locally, such as in Notepad or a Microsoft 365 app.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/09/27/microsoft_phishing_password_protect_windows_11/