Microsoft’s Strategic Shift in Security Features
In a significant move that reflects its evolving security strategy, Microsoft has officially confirmed the deprecation of Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG) in the latest Windows 11 24H2 update. This decision follows an announcement made in December of the previous year, where the tech giant first hinted at the impending changes. By April 2024, Microsoft had provided further clarity, indicating that the feature would be phased out by June 2024.
The removal of MDAG, which was previously known as Windows Defender Application Guard, is primarily aimed at enterprise users and will not impact home users significantly. This feature was designed to enhance security by isolating potentially harmful websites within a secure virtual machine environment. As part of this transition, the associated Windows Isolated app launcher APIs have also been eliminated.
On its official website, Microsoft elaborated on the removal, stating:
Microsoft Defender Application Guard, including the Windows Isolated App Launcher APIs, is deprecated for Microsoft Edge for Business and is no longer available starting with Windows 11, version 24H2.
For those unfamiliar with MDAG, the feature operated by comparing visited URLs against a pre-approved list of trusted sites. If a URL was deemed untrustworthy, Edge would automatically launch it in a secure, isolated environment, thereby safeguarding users from potential threats.
Alongside the announcement of removed features, Microsoft updated its deprecation list to include:
[Update – October 2024]: Starting with Windows 11, version 24H2, Microsoft Defender Application Guard, including the Windows Isolated App Launcher APIs, is no longer available.
Microsoft’s rationale for this change is rooted in the belief that the latest version of Windows 11 already encompasses robust security measures that render MDAG unnecessary. The company highlighted that the enhanced security features integrated into Microsoft Edge effectively protect users from phishing attacks, typosquatting, and data loss.
The additional security features in Edge make it very secure without needing Application Guard. The growing list of security features includes:
In a related development, it is worth noting that Microsoft has also opted to remove WordPad in the Windows 11 24H2 update, signaling a broader shift in its approach to software offerings.
