Windows 11: Launched | Secure and Due in 2022?

Microsoft finally announced windows 11 on the 24 of June the long awaited update and upgrade from Microsoft. We might take the time to go through all the changes this new OS brings to the table but let’s touch on security for a second or two and the fact the next version brings more to the table.

I was going to put this together with a different title and mention the fact that it was leaked and its hack-able but soon after I remembered that I was writing this a few hours after the new Operation System was officially launched. So I thought “why talk about a leak after an official announcement?” None the less Windows 11 is officially out, and about.

But, it’s not really out yet although available to use in its beta version the stable release is due later this year.

Significant changes have been made the new OS and Microsoft promises even more in a future update of Windows 11 but I couldn’t help noticing people ask whether or not Windows 11 was more secure and why such a question should be made only a few hours after its release. With this I decided to put this together and make sure its in plain English.

Why Windows 11 is as vulnerable as Windows 10

Let’s make one thing clear, unless we’re talking about bugs and possible back-doors or any other problem that comes with the OS every system is secure and/or isn’t at the same time. In the end a lot here is influenced by us, the users.

In short Windows 11 is as vulnerable as Windows 10 most of the programs you used on your previous operating system are compatible with this new release. And, it is also fair that things are kept this way maybe not so much from a security point of view but useful still. Not every program or file is free not every program is up to date. Some things are not even available yet for this new OS yet still compatible because Windows 10 happened.

Android apps on Windows 11

Windows 11 is said to support apk files. With no emulators like blue-stacks or anything of that kind. This time around these apps are compatible with the system and are made available through the amazon app store. The following video shares a thing or two about this.

On Windows 11 the task bar buttons are by default center aligned and widgets are back! The start menu has been redesigned as well and a lot more. Windows 11 works on devices with a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 security coprocessor. According to Microsoft, the TPM 2.0 coprocessor is a “critical building block” for protection against firmware and hardware attacks.

In addition, Microsoft now requires Windows 11 devices to include virtualization-based security (VBS), hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI), and built-in secure boot enabled by default.

The operating system also has hardware-enforced stack protection for supported Intel and AMD processors to protect against zero-day exploits.

It’s no joke Windows 11 won’t run on just any machine, here are the basic requirements:

Processor:

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)

RAM:

4 gigabyte (GB)

Storage:

64 GB or larger storage device

System firmware:

UEFI, Secure Boot capable

TPM:

Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0

Graphics card:

Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver

Display:

High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel

But, unfortunately that isn’t all … When will you get your hands on Windows 11?

The announcement was made on the 24th of june and its release is due later this year but the above screenshot says a thing or two about this and probably when most of us might be getting the opportunity to try this out officially.

The developer beta version is already out, the public beta version is expected in mid summer and the full public release in fall. All this before the end of 2021. But, unfortunately the quickest way to get your hands on the official release once that time comes is getting your hands on a new PC because unfortunately Windows 11 will be installed on new devices for sale during the holidays and everyone else will have to wait at least until the first half of 2022.

But hey, you can also wait until 2022, after all Windows 10 will officially only lose support in 2025 ‘till then we’re all safe! This post was previously published on Medium https://samwritessecurity.medium.com/windows-11-launched-secure-and-due-in-2022-556b52718e0