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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

2 clusters · 6 sources · 2 days · First seen · Last updated

Microsoft Windows authentication security transition

Overview

Microsoft is transitioning Windows 11 users away from legacy authentication methods toward more secure, enterprise-grade protocols. The company has begun deprecating the picture password feature, disabling the ability for users to enroll in new picture passwords while allowing existing users to continue using them for the time being.

This move is intended to reduce security vulnerabilities, such as those caused by predictable gesture patterns or screen smudges, and to decrease the attack surface of the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS).

To mitigate risks associated with traditional password reliance in corporate environments—including credential theft and unauthorized access to cloud services—Microsoft is promoting Windows Hello. This biometric system utilizes facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, or PINs as more secure alternatives to manual password entry.

Entities

Microsoft · Windows · Windows 11

Timeline

  1. about 1 month ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Windows security: Managing passwords and biometric authentication

    Windows security in corporate environments is increasingly threatened by password mismanagement, prompting the use of biometric tools like Windows Hello and password managers to protect sensitive data.

  2. about 1 month ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
    Microsoft deprecates picture passwords in Windows 11

    Microsoft is deprecating picture passwords in Windows 11, preventing new enrollments while encouraging users to adopt more secure authentication like Windows Hello biometrics and PINs.

Sources

gamemag.it · softzone.es · windows-faq.de · windowscentral.com · windowspower.de · world-today-news.com