Security News > 2023 > January > Microsoft Defender ASR rules strip icons, app shortcuts from Taskbar, Start Menu

Techies are reporting that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint attack surface reduction rules have gone haywire and are removing icons and applications shortcuts from the Taskbar and Start Menu.

"The ASR rule is removing icons on the taskbar and Start Menu and in some cases uninstalling Microsoft Office as well."

"We suspected it was a KB - a patch from Tuesday - that went wrong but I've spoken to plenty of others this morning and we think it is definitely related to the ASR rules."

"We recently onboarded our estate to Defender for Endpoint and we've had a number of reports this morning that their program shortcuts. They said it then appears"all shortcuts located ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms will be deleted instantly.

Deleting ASR rules worked for one IT pro, and another said it changed the rule to Audit "and it appears to work.

In agreement, a poster said: "Set defender ASR rule 92e97fa1-2edf-4476-bdd6-9dd0b4dddc7b to audit only.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/01/13/happy_friday_13th_microsoft_defender/