Microsoft Windows security features and vulnerabilities

Windows Security serves as the integrated protection suite for Windows 10 and 11, consolidating Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Microsoft Defender Firewall, and BitLocker device encryption. The suite provides tools for malware removal, firewall configuration, and managing User Account Control (UAC) and SmartScreen settings.

Recent security research identified nine vulnerabilities in the new Administrator Protection feature introduced in Windows 11, version 25H2. This feature was designed to replace UAC by providing a more robust security boundary for granting administrative privileges. While the reported vulnerabilities allowed for silent elevation of privileges, Microsoft has since issued fixes via security bulletins and updates. As of December 1, 2025, Microsoft has temporarily disabled the Administrator Protection feature to address application compatibility issues.