In response to all of the recent cyber attacks, Microsoft is doing everything that it can to fight back. The ransomware WannaCry started wreaking havoc in May and has since shut down hospitals, Honda plants, and Fed-Ex. The reason behind it? A small vulnerability in the Windows software that was discovered by the NSA which was then found and sold by another group of hackers. Microsoft has officially brought out the big guns by including malware fighting artificial intelligence into their newest Windows update.
The AI in the Windows Fall Creator Update will be able to detect the early signs of an unknown malware infection. While the AI will not only immediately start working on an antivirus to fight the infection, but Microsoft will also receive the information. Then, Microsoft can then document and quarantine the malware in the cloud so other computers will not fall prey to the same virus. A blog post from Microsoft earlier this week had this to say:
The Windows Fall Creators Update represents a new chapter in our product evolution as we offer a set of new prevention capabilities designed to stop attacks as they happen and before they have impact. This means that our service will expand beyond detection, investigation, and response, and will now allow companies to use the full power of the Windows security stack for preventative protection. The stack will be powered by our cloud-based security intelligence, which moves us from a world of isolated defenses to a smart, interconnected, and coordinated defense grid that is more intelligent, simple to manage, and ever-evolving.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDGMNFwyUg8
As of right now, these security features are only available for enterprise computers at the time being. However, Microsoft plans to eventually roll this AI update out to residential users as well. The Fall Creator’s Update will be available sometime in September or October.
