A recent Fox News article titled “Hackers find a way around built-in Windows protections” delivers yet another wake-up call to business owners: relying on traditional, built-in security features simply isn’t enough anymore.
According to the article, threat actors are now bypassing Microsoft’s flagship security feature, SmartScreen, using a crafty combination of malicious .URL files and scripts. This method effectively renders SmartScreen—which is meant to block malicious links and files—useless in certain scenarios, leaving endpoints completely exposed. And the scariest part? These exploits are being circulated in underground forums and used in real-world attacks right now.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a flaw in configuration. It’s not a missed patch or a mismanaged setting. These hackers are finding and exploiting design-level gaps in security features many businesses mistakenly believe will keep them safe. And while Microsoft scrambles to issue fixes, the damage is already being done.
Too many small and mid-sized businesses operate under the assumption that standard endpoint protection is "good enough." They rely heavily on built-in tools like SmartScreen, antivirus software, and even Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) platforms to alert them when something goes wrong.
But here's the problem: by the time you’ve detected the breach, it’s already too late.
Detection-based security models are reactive by nature. They rely on identifying a threat after it has made it onto the system. Even EDR tools and behavioral analysis platforms are part of this reactive cycle. That’s why attackers are increasingly focused on staying under the radar—leveraging legitimate Windows components and trusted certificates to slip past defenses.
The SmartScreen bypass detailed in this report is a textbook example of how attackers are evolving faster than defenders. If they can routinely bypass one of the most widely used protections in Windows, what's stopping them from bypassing yours?
At CHIPS, we’ve been sounding the alarm on this shift in cybersecurity tactics. Reactive models like “Detect and Respond” are no longer sufficient against modern-day threats, especially those that move silently and swiftly.
That’s why we advocate for a proactive approach: “Isolation and Containment.”
This model assumes that something will get in—but ensures it cannot execute or cause harm.
And that’s exactly where AppGuard comes in.
AppGuard is a proven endpoint protection platform with a 10-year track record of success. It doesn’t try to detect malware. It doesn’t chase signatures or patterns. Instead, it prevents unauthorized processes from launching in the first place, even if the system is technically “infected.”
Using patented isolation and containment technology, AppGuard stops malicious code—whether known or unknown—from executing or spreading. It protects endpoints without relying on constant updates, threat intel feeds, or user behavior analytics.
In short, AppGuard neutralizes threats before they become incidents.
If hackers can bypass Microsoft’s own security layers, what does that mean for your business?
It means it’s time to rethink your cybersecurity strategy.
You need endpoint protection that doesn’t wait for detection. You need something that prevents breaches before they begin. You need a proven, battle-tested solution like AppGuard.
Let’s Talk.
At CHIPS, we help businesses of all sizes adopt better security strategies. If you want to protect your organization from the kind of attack described in this article, talk with us today about how AppGuard can safeguard your endpoints and your peace of mind.
Don’t wait until after the breach.
Make the shift from “Detect and Respond” to “Isolation and Containment.”
Let’s future-proof your business—starting now.
👉 Contact CHIPS to learn how AppGuard can prevent these attacks
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