Security News

Microsoft announced it will stop all new sales of services and products in Russia in response to Russia's "Unjustified, unprovoked and unlawful invasion" of Ukraine. "We are announcing today that we will suspend all new sales of Microsoft products and services in Russia," Microsoft President and Vice-Chair Brad Smith said.

Microsoft reminded enterprise customers this week that App Assure engineers are ready to help resolve any app compatibility issues encountered after upgrading to Windows 11. The Chief Product Officer for Windows and Devices, Panos Panay, added that customers are switching to the latest Windows version at twice the rate of Windows 10 adoption, and Windows 11 has "The highest quality scores and product satisfaction" of any version ever shipped.

Microsoft's attempt to put its homegrown Pluton security processor architecture into third-party Windows 11 PCs is right now more work-in-progress than the slam dunk its publicity would have you believe. Pluton is the software giant's move to define a level of security that should be baked into microprocessors that run its Windows OS. Pluton implementations are supposed to securely store and safeguard encryption keys, credentials, and other sensitive information, such as biometric data, within the processor package, making it difficult for miscreants to extract this info.

Microsoft says its new endpoint security solution for small and medium-sized businesses known as Microsoft Defender for Business has hit general availability. It has started rolling out to new and existing Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers worldwide starting today, March 1st. Microsoft Defender for Business helps companies with up to 300 employees defend against cybersecurity threats, including malware, phishing, and ransomware in environments with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.

Microsoft on Monday disclosed that it detected a new round of offensive and destructive cyberattacks directed against Ukraine's digital infrastructure hours before Russia launched its first missile strikes last week. The intrusions involved the use of a never-before-seen malware package dubbed FoxBlade, according to the tech giant's Threat Intelligence Center, noting that it added new signatures to its Defender anti-malware service to detect the exploit within three hours of the discovery.

Microsoft shared info on a now-fixed known issue leading to Local Security Authority Subsystem Service crashes and Windows Server domain controller. As Microsoft explains in a new entry added to the Window Health dashboard, unexpected restarts are triggered on Windows Servers domain controllers after installing updates released during the January 2021 Patch Tuesday.

Phishing emails to Microsoft users warning of Moscow-led account hacking have started to make the rounds, looking to lift credentials and other personal details. That's according to Malwarebytes, which uncovered a spate of spam email that name-checks Russian hacking efforts.

Microsoft is decrying what it calls the "Tragic, unlawful and unjustified invasion of Ukraine" by Russia, and vowed to continue protecting the country from cyberattacks and state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. The software giant added it will support humanitarian efforts as Ukrainians try to fend off an invading Russian army and as hundreds of thousands flee Ukraine into such neighbors as Poland, Romania, and Moldova.

Microsoft said that Ukrainian networks were targeted with recently found malware several hours before Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24th. Researchers with the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center observed destructive attacks targeting Ukraine and spotted a malware strain they named FoxBlade. "We immediately advised the Ukrainian government about the situation, including our identification of the use of a new malware package, and provided technical advice on steps to prevent the malware's success."

Microsoft said that Ukrainian networks were targeted with newly found malware several hours before Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24th. Researchers with the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center observed destructive attacks targeting Ukraine and spotted a new malware strain they dubbed FoxBlade. "Several hours before the launch of missiles or movement of tanks on February 24, Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Center detected a new round of offensive and destructive cyberattacks directed against Ukraine's digital infrastructure," Microsoft President and Vice-Chair Brad Smith said.