Security News > 2023 > October > From Windows 9x to 11: Tracing Microsoft’s security evolution

Over its journey from Windows 9x to Windows 11, Microsoft has implemented multiple security overhauls, each addressing the challenges of its time and setting the stage for future developments.

In this Help Net Security interview, we feature security researcher Alex Ionescu, the co-author of Windows Internals, one of the founding employees of CrowdStrike, now running his consulting company, Winsider Seminars & Solutions, where he continues to do security research focusing on platform security.

How would you evaluate the evolution of Microsoft Windows security from the early days to Windows 11?

The introduction of Windows Vista added many new platform security mitigations for the first time since stack canaries and DEP. Innovations such as ASLR, the User Mode Driver Framework, BitLocker, Windows Advanced Firewall, integration of Windows Defender, UAC were all added to Windows Vista.

Given the historical context, how do you think Microsoft has prioritized security in its more recent iterations, particularly Windows 11? Some critics argue that Microsoft has compromised security for innovation and speed.

Microsoft has added several security improvements in Windows 8.1, and Windows 10, and enabling them in Windows 11 by default continues to show their commitment to security.

News URL

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/10/31/alex-ionescu-microsoft-security-evolution/