Big Changes Coming to Windows 11 Security

Last month, Microsoft announced some exciting updates to make Windows 11 more secure. These changes will help protect computers from hackers and make it easier to fix problems when things go wrong.

One of the biggest updates is the new administrator protection feature. In the past, if you wanted to make big changes to your computer, you had to use something called User Account Control (UAC). It worked OK, but it wasn’t super secure. Now, with this new feature, people can stay on regular accounts and only “borrow” admin privileges when they need them. To do this, you’ll have to use Windows Hello to confirm your identity, like with a fingerprint or a PIN. This makes it much harder for bad software to take over. Plus, these admin actions happen in a special, separate part of the system, so your regular account stays safe.

Microsoft also introduced something called hot patching. This means some security updates can happen without needing to restart your computer. This feature is mainly for businesses using the Enterprise version of Windows 11. It doesn’t work for every update, but it’s a great way to keep systems safe without interrupting work.

Another cool tool is Quick Machine Recovery. Sometimes, updates or software problems can make a computer stop working properly. This new tool lets tech experts fix these issues remotely, even if the computer won’t turn on. It’s a faster and easier way to get computers back up and running.

Microsoft is also working with antivirus companies to improve how their software works with Windows. Right now, most antivirus tools connect deeply to the computer’s core system, called the kernel. While this helps them catch threats, it can also create security risks. Microsoft is building a new system to make antivirus programs safer and more reliable.

Lastly, Microsoft is adding more of a programming language called Rust to Windows. Rust is really good at preventing certain kinds of security problems, so using it more in Windows will make the system even safer.

These updates are a big step forward for Windows 11. They’ll help keep computers safe, reduce downtime, and simplify fixing problems. Even though these changes were announced last month, they’re important for everyone who uses Windows. As these features roll out in 2025, I’ll be watching closely to see how they make a difference.