Microsoft says it disarmed malware targeting Ukraine in just 3 hours

Microsoft’s efforts to strengthen the security of its services and Windows 11
bear fruit in a particularly tense cyber context following the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. We learn that the firm succeeded in disarming malware targeting Ukraine in just three hours. A real feat in terms of cybersecurity.

This is sometimes talked about, especially when it comes to the required configuration of Windows 11 to improve security, but Microsoft’s initiatives to strengthen the security of its software offer seem more beneficial than ever. On February 28, Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, explained in a post how the company was responding to the invasion of Ukraine by the armies of Vladimir Putin. We learned in particular that Microsoft succeeded in identifying a new malware and rendering it inoperative in record time.

Malware defused in just three hours

As explained Ars Technica, this malware was of the “Wiper” type. Nicknamed “FoxBlade”, it was intended to erase data from servers or more simply from previously infected computers, and was intended to impact Ukrainian systems. Microsoft managed to identify it, but also and above all to provide mitigation strategies and Microsoft Defender updates to the Ukrainian government ” within three hours only after its discovery, it reads.

This efficiency is also due to the new way in which Microsoft collaborates with the American government. A reinforced collaboration which made it possible to distribute a patch in record time to Ukraine, but also to other European countries. ” I’ve never seen [des efforts de mitigation] work this way, or as fast “Explained the vice president of Microsoft in charge of security. ” We now do in hours what a few years ago would have taken weeks or months “, he continued to the New York TimesQuoted by Ars-Technica.

Microsoft is also attacking Russian propaganda online

At the same time, we learn that Microsoft is also waging a meticulous fight against the Russian propaganda media RT and Sputnik, in particular. As a reminder, both were banned from the European Union a few hours ago.

The Redmond giant has taken a number of steps to remove from MSN.com and Windows 11 Widgets (among others) the content published by these state media. Microsoft also announced that it has removed RT’s apps from the Windows Store. Finally, the firm drastically reduced the ability of RT and Sputnik to appear in Bing search results.

Sources: Ars Technica
, Microsoft