Application Information service|
A system service that helps start apps that require one or more elevated privileges or user rights to run, such as local administrative tasks, and apps that require higher integrity levels. The Application Information service helps start such apps by creating a new process for the application with an administrative user's full access token when elevation is required and (depending on Group Policy) consent is given by the user to do so.| +|
Application Information service|
A system service that helps start apps that require one or more elevated privileges or user rights to run, such as local administrative tasks, and apps that require higher integrity levels. The Application Information service helps start such apps by creating a new process for the application with an administrative user's full access token when elevation is required. Depending on the configured policies, the user may give consent.| |
Elevating an ActiveX install|
If ActiveX isn't installed, the system checks the UAC slider level. If ActiveX is installed, the **User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation** Group Policy setting is checked.| |
Check UAC slider level|
UAC has a slider to select from four levels of notification.
**Always notify** will:
Recommended if you often install new software or visit unfamiliar websites.
**Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer** will:
Recommended if you don't often install apps or visit unfamiliar websites.
**Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my desktop)** will:
Not recommended. Choose this only if it takes a long time to dim the desktop on your computer.
**Never notify (Disable UAC prompts)** will:
Not recommended due to security concerns.| -|
Secure desktop enabled|
The **User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation** policy setting is checked:
If the secure desktop is enabled, all elevation requests go to the secure desktop regardless of prompt behavior policy settings for administrators and standard users.
If the secure desktop isn't enabled, all elevation requests go to the interactive user's desktop, and the per-user settings for administrators and standard users are used.| +|
Secure desktop enabled|
The **User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation** policy setting is checked:
If the secure desktop is enabled, all elevation requests go to the secure desktop regardless of prompt behavior policy settings for administrators and standard users.
If the secure desktop isn't enabled, all elevation requests go to the interactive user's desktop, and the per-user settings for administrators and standard users are used.| |
CreateProcess|
CreateProcess calls AppCompat, Fusion, and Installer detection to assess if the app requires elevation. The file is then inspected to determine its requested execution level, which is stored in the application manifest for the file. CreateProcess fails if the requested execution level specified in the manifest doesn't match the access token and returns an error (ERROR_ELEVATION_REQUIRED) to ShellExecute.| |
AppCompat|
The AppCompat database stores information in the application compatibility fix entries for an application.| |
Fusion|
The Fusion database stores information from application manifests that describe the applications. The manifest schema is updated to add a new requested execution level field.| -|
Installer detection|
Installer detection detects setup files, which helps prevent installations from being run without the user's knowledge and consent.| +|
Installer detection|
Installer detection detects setup files, which helps prevent installations from being run without the user's knowledge and consent.|
### Kernel
@@ -192,4 +192,4 @@ Before a 32-bit process is created, the following attributes are checked to dete
## Next steps
-Learn more about about [User Account Control settings and configuration](settings-and-configuration.md).
+Learn more about [User Account Control settings and configuration](settings-and-configuration.md).
diff --git a/windows/security/application-security/application-control/user-account-control/index.md b/windows/security/application-security/application-control/user-account-control/index.md
index ea3c81d246..3de85f7b1d 100644
--- a/windows/security/application-security/application-control/user-account-control/index.md
+++ b/windows/security/application-security/application-control/user-account-control/index.md
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ ms.date: 05/24/2023
User Account Control (UAC) is a Windows security feature designed to protect the operating system from unauthorized changes. When changes to the system require administrator-level permission, UAC notifies the user, giving the opportunity to approve or deny the change. UAC improves the security of Windows devices by limiting the access that malicious code has to execute with administrator privileges. UAC empowers users to make informed decisions about actions that may affect the stability and security of their device.
-Unless you disable UAC, malicious software is prevented from disabling or interfering with UAC settings. UAC is enabled by default, and can be configured or disabled by a user with administrative privileges.
+Unless you disable UAC, malicious software is prevented from disabling or interfering with UAC settings. UAC is enabled by default, and you can configure it if you have administrative privileges.
## Benefits of UAC
UAC allows all users to sign in their devices using a *standard user account*. Processes launched using a *standard user token* may perform tasks using access rights granted to a standard user. For instance, Windows Explorer automatically inherits standard user level permissions. Any applications that are started using Windows Explorer (for example, by opening a shortcut) also run with the standard set of user permissions. Most applications, including the ones included with the operating system, are designed to work properly this way.\
-Other applications, especially those that weren't designed with security settings in mind, may require more permissions to run successfully. These applications are referred to as *legacy apps*.
+Other applications, like ones that aren't designed with security settings in mind, may require more permissions to run successfully. These applications are referred to as *legacy apps*.
-When a user attempts to perform an action that requires administrative privileges, such as installing software, changing system settings, or modifying critical files, UAC triggers a *consent prompt*. The prompt notifies the user that a change is about to occur, asking for their permission to proceed:
+When a user tries to perform an action that requires administrative privileges, UAC triggers a *consent prompt*. The prompt notifies the user that a change is about to occur, asking for their permission to proceed:
- If the user approves the change, the action is performed with the highest available privilege
- If the user doesn't approve the change, the action isn't performed and the application that requested the change is prevented from running
diff --git a/windows/security/application-security/application-control/user-account-control/settings-and-configuration.md b/windows/security/application-security/application-control/user-account-control/settings-and-configuration.md
index e813c11819..fe0992452d 100644
--- a/windows/security/application-security/application-control/user-account-control/settings-and-configuration.md
+++ b/windows/security/application-security/application-control/user-account-control/settings-and-configuration.md
@@ -14,25 +14,25 @@ The following table lists the available settings to configure the UAC behavior,
|Setting name| Description|
|-|-|
|Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode|Controls the behavior of all UAC policy settings.
**Enabled (default)**: Admin Approval Mode is enabled. This policy must be enabled and related UAC settings configured. The policy allows the built-in Administrator account and members of the Administrators group to run in Admin Approval Mode.
**Disabled**: Admin Approval Mode and all related UAC policy settings are disabled. Note: If this policy setting is disabled, the Windows Security app notifies you that the overall security of the operating system has been reduced.|
-|Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account|Controls the behavior of Admin Approval Mode for the built-in Administrator account.
**Enabled**: The built-in Administrator account uses Admin Approval Mode. By default, any operation that requires elevation of privilege will prompt the user to approve the operation.
**Disabled (default)** : The built-in Administrator account runs all applications with full administrative privilege.|
+|Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account|Controls the behavior of Admin Approval Mode for the built-in Administrator account.
**Enabled**: The built-in Administrator account uses Admin Approval Mode. By default, any operation that requires elevation of privilege prompts the user to approve the operation.
**Disabled (default)** : The built-in Administrator account runs all applications with full administrative privilege.|
|Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation|This policy setting controls whether the elevation request prompt is displayed on the interactive user's desktop or the secure desktop.
**Enabled (default)**: All elevation requests go to the secure desktop regardless of prompt behavior policy settings for administrators and standard users.
**Disabled**: All elevation requests go to the interactive user's desktop. Prompt behavior policy settings for administrators and standard users are used.|
|Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode|Controls the behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators.
**Elevate without prompting**: Allows privileged accounts to perform an operation that requires elevation without requiring consent or credentials. **Use this option only in the most constrained environments**.
**Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop**: When an operation requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted on the secure desktop to enter a privileged user name and password. If the user enters valid credentials, the operation continues with the user's highest available privilege.
**Prompt for consent on the secure desktop**: When an operation requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted on the secure desktop to select either Permit or Deny. If the user selects Permit, the operation continues with the user's highest available privilege.
**Prompt for credentials**: When an operation requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted to enter an administrative user name and password. If the user enters valid credentials, the operation continues with the applicable privilege.
**Prompt for consent**: When an operation requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted to select either Permit or Deny. If the user selects Permit, the operation continues with the user's highest available privilege.
**Prompt for consent for non-Windows binaries (default)**: When an operation for a non-Microsoft application requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted on the secure desktop to select either Permit or Deny. If the user selects Permit, the operation continues with the user's highest available privilege.|
|Behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users|Controls the behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users.
**Prompt for credentials (default)**: When an operation requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted to enter an administrative user name and password. If the user enters valid credentials, the operation continues with the applicable privilege.
**Automatically deny elevation requests**: When an operation requires elevation of privilege, a configurable access denied error message is displayed. An enterprise that is running desktops as standard user may choose this setting to reduce help desk calls.
**Prompt for credentials on the secure desktop** When an operation requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted on the secure desktop to enter a different user name and password. If the user enters valid credentials, the operation continues with the applicable privilege.|
|Detect application installations and prompt for elevation|Controls the behavior of application installation detection for the computer.
**Enabled (default)**: When an app installation package is detected that requires elevation of privilege, the user is prompted to enter an administrative user name and password. If the user enters valid credentials, the operation continues with the applicable privilege.
**Disabled**: App installation packages aren't detected and prompted for elevation. Enterprises that are running standard user desktops and use delegated installation technologies, such as Microsoft Intune, should disable this policy setting. In this case, installer detection is unnecessary. |
|Only elevate executables that are signed and validated|Enforces signature checks for any interactive applications that request elevation of privilege. IT admins can control which applications are allowed to run by adding certificates to the Trusted Publishers certificate store on local devices.
**Enabled**: Enforces the certificate certification path validation for a given executable file before it's permitted to run.
**Disabled (default)**: Doesn't enforce the certificate certification path validation before a given executable file is permitted to run.|
|Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations|Controls whether applications that request to run with a User Interface Accessibility (UIAccess) integrity level must reside in a secure location in the file system. Secure locations are limited to the following folders:
- `%ProgramFiles%`, including subfolders
- `%SystemRoot%\system32\`
- `%ProgramFiles(x86)%`, including subfolders
**Enabled (default)**: If an app resides in a secure location in the file system, it runs only with UIAccess integrity.
**Disabled**: An app runs with UIAccess integrity even if it doesn't reside in a secure location in the file system.
**Note:** Windows enforces a digital signature check on any interactive apps that requests to run with a UIAccess integrity level regardless of the state of this setting.|
-|Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop|Controls whether User Interface Accessibility (UIAccess or UIA) programs can automatically disable the secure desktop for elevation prompts used by a standard user.
**Enabled**: UIA programs, including Remote Assistance, automatically disable the secure desktop for elevation prompts. If you don't disable the **Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation** policy setting, the prompts appear on the interactive user's desktop instead of the secure desktop. This allows the remote administrator to provide the appropriate credentials for elevation. This policy setting does not change the behavior of the UAC elevation prompt for administrators. If you plan to enable this policy setting, you should also review the effect of the **Behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users** policy setting: if it's' configured as **Automatically deny elevation requests**, elevation requests are not presented to the user.
**Disabled (default)**: The secure desktop can be disabled only by the user of the interactive desktop or by disabling the **Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation** policy setting.|
+|Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop|Controls whether User Interface Accessibility (UIAccess or UIA) programs can automatically disable the secure desktop for elevation prompts used by a standard user.
**Enabled**: UIA programs, including Remote Assistance, automatically disable the secure desktop for elevation prompts. If you don't disable the **Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation** policy setting, the prompts appear on the interactive user's desktop instead of the secure desktop. This setting allows the remote administrator to provide the appropriate credentials for elevation. This policy setting doesn't change the behavior of the UAC elevation prompt for administrators. If you plan to enable this policy setting, you should also review the effect of the **Behavior of the elevation prompt for standard users** policy setting: if it's' configured as **Automatically deny elevation requests**, elevation requests aren't presented to the user.
**Disabled (default)**: The secure desktop can be disabled only by the user of the interactive desktop or by disabling the **Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation** policy setting.|
|Virtualize File And Registry Write Failures To Per User Locations|Controls whether application write failures are redirected to defined registry and file system locations. This setting mitigates applications that run as administrator and write run-time application data to `%ProgramFiles%`, `%Windir%`, `%Windir%\system32`, or `HKLM\Software`.
**Enabled (default)**: App write failures are redirected at run time to defined user locations for both the file system and registry.
**Disabled**: Apps that write data to protected locations fail.|
## User Account Control configuration
-To configure UAC you can use:
+To configure UAC, you can use:
- Microsoft Intune/MDM
- Group policy
- Registry
-Follow the instructions below to configure your devices, selecting the option that best suits your needs.
+The following instructions provide details how to configure your devices. Select the option that best suits your needs.
#### [:::image type="icon" source="../../../images/icons/intune.svg" border="false"::: **Intune/MDM**](#tab/intune)
diff --git a/windows/security/cloud-security/index.md b/windows/security/cloud-security/index.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 3580590098..0000000000
--- a/windows/security/cloud-security/index.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
----
-title: Windows and cloud security
-description: Learn about the cloud services supported in Windows
-author: paolomatarazzo
-ms.author: paoloma
-ms.topic: conceptual
-ms.date: 05/24/2023
----
-
-# Windows and cloud security
-
-Today's workforce has more freedom and mobility than ever before. With the growth of enterprise cloud adoption, increased personal app usage, and increased use of third-party apps, the risk of data exposure is at its highest. Enabling Zero-Trust protection, Windows 11 works with Microsoft cloud services. Windows and cloud services together help organizations strengthen their multi-cloud security infrastructure, protect hybrid cloud workloads, and safeguard sensitive information while controlling access and mitigating threats.
-
-Windows 11 includes the cloud services that are listed in the following table:
-
-| Service type | Description |
-|:---|:---|
-| Mobile device management (MDM) and Microsoft Intune | Windows 11 supports MDM, an enterprise management solution to help you manage your organization's security policies and business applications. MDM enables your security team to manage devices without compromising people's privacy on their personal devices.
Non-Microsoft servers can be used to manage Windows 11 by using industry standard protocols.
To learn more, see [Mobile device management](/windows/client-management/mdm/). |
-| Microsoft account | When users add their Microsoft account to Windows 11, they can bring their Windows, Microsoft Edge, Xbox settings, web page favorites, files, photos, and more across their devices.
The Microsoft account enables people to manage everything in one place. They can keep tabs on their subscriptions and order history, organize their family's digital life, update their privacy and security settings, track the health and safety of their devices, and even get rewards.
To learn more, see [Microsoft Accounts](/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/understand-microsoft-accounts).|
-| OneDrive | OneDrive is your online storage for your files, photos, and data. OneDrive provides extra security, backup, and restore options for important files and photos. With options for both personal and business, people can use OneDrive to store and protect files in the cloud, allowing users to them on their laptops, desktops, and mobile devices. If a device is lost or stolen, people can quickly recover all their important files, photos, and data.
The OneDrive Personal Vault also provides protection for your most sensitive files without losing the convenience of anywhere access. Files are secured by identity verification, yet easily accessible to users across their devices. [Learn how to set up your Personal Vault](https://support.microsoft.com/office/protect-your-onedrive-files-in-personal-vault-6540ef37-e9bf-4121-a773-56f98dce78c4).
If there's a ransomware attack, OneDrive can enable recovery. And if you've configured backups in OneDrive, you have more options to mitigate and recover from a ransomware attack. [Learn more about how to recover from a ransomware attack using Office 365](/microsoft-365/security/office-365-security/recover-from-ransomware). |
-| Access to Azure Active Directory | Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a complete cloud identity and access management solution for managing identities and directories, enabling access to applications, and protecting identities from security threats.
With Azure AD, you can manage and secure identities for your employees, partners, and customers to access the applications and services they need. Windows 11 works seamlessly with Azure Active Directory to provide secure access, identity management, and single sign-on to apps and services from anywhere.
To learn more, see [What is Azure AD?](/azure/active-directory/fundamentals/active-directory-whatis) |
-
-## Next steps
-
-- [Learn about Mobile Device Management in Windows](/windows/client-management/mdm/)
-- [Learn about Windows security](../index.yml)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/windows/security/identity-protection/configure-s-mime.md b/windows/security/identity-protection/configure-s-mime.md
index 510e690593..b363e74eac 100644
--- a/windows/security/identity-protection/configure-s-mime.md
+++ b/windows/security/identity-protection/configure-s-mime.md
@@ -1,83 +1,73 @@
---
title: Configure S/MIME for Windows
-description: S/MIME lets users encrypt outgoing messages and attachments so that only intended recipients with a digital ID, also known as a certificate, can read them.
-ms.topic: article
-ms.date: 07/27/2017
+description: S/MIME lets users encrypt outgoing messages and attachments so that only intended recipients with a digital ID, also known as a certificate, can read them. Learn how to configure S/MIME for Windows.
+ms.topic: how-to
+ms.date: 05/30/2023
---
# Configure S/MIME for Windows
-S/MIME stands for Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, and provides an added layer of security for email sent to and from an Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) account. S/MIME lets users encrypt outgoing messages and attachments so that only intended recipients who have a digital identification (ID), also known as a certificate, can read them. Users can digitally sign a message, which provides the recipients with a way to verify the identity of the sender and that the message hasn't been tampered with.
+Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) provides an added layer of security for email sent to and from an Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) account. S/MIME enables users to encrypt outgoing messages and attachments so that only intended recipients can read them. To read the messages, recipients must have a digital identification (ID), also known as a certificate.\
+Users can digitally sign a message, which provides the recipients with a way to verify the identity of the sender and that the message hasn't been tampered with.
-## About message encryption
+## Message encryption
-Users can send encrypted message to people in their organization and people outside their organization if they have their encryption certificates. However, users using Windows Mail app can only read encrypted messages if the message is received on their Exchange account and they have corresponding decryption keys.
+Users can send encrypted message to recipients that have an encryption certificate.\
+Users can only read encrypted messages if the message is received on their Exchange account, and they have corresponding decryption keys.
-Encrypted messages can be read only by recipients who have a certificate. If you try to send an encrypted message to recipients whose encryption certificate is not available, the app will prompt you to remove these recipients before sending the email.
+Encrypted messages can be read only by recipients who have a certificate. If you try to send an encrypted message to recipients whose encryption certificate isn't available, the app prompts you to remove these recipients before sending the email.
-## About digital signatures
+## Digital signatures
-A digitally signed message reassures the recipient that the message hasn't been tampered with and verifies the identity of the sender. Recipients can only verify the digital signature if they're using an email client that supports S/MIME.
+A digitally signed message reassures the recipient that the message hasn't been tampered with, and verifies the identity of the sender. Recipients can only verify the digital signature if they're using an email client that supports S/MIME.
[!INCLUDE [email-encryption-smime](../../../includes/licensing/email-encryption-smime.md)]
## Prerequisites
-- [S/MIME is enabled for Exchange accounts](/microsoft-365/security/office-365-security/s-mime-for-message-signing-and-encryption) (on-premises and Office 365). Users can't use S/MIME signing and encryption with a personal account such as Outlook.com.
-- Valid Personal Information Exchange (PFX) certificates are installed on the device.
-
- - [How to Create PFX Certificate Profiles in Configuration Manager](/previous-versions/system-center/system-center-2012-R2/mt131410(v=technet.10))
- - [Enable access to company resources using certificate profiles with Microsoft Intune](/mem/intune/protect/certificates-configure)
+- [S/MIME is enabled for Exchange accounts](/exchange/security-and-compliance/smime-exo/smime-exo) (on-premises and Exchange Online). Users can't use S/MIME signing and encryption with a personal account such as Outlook.com
+- Valid Personal Information Exchange (PFX) certificates are installed on the device
+ - [How to Create PFX Certificate Profiles in Configuration Manager](/previous-versions/system-center/system-center-2012-R2/mt131410(v=technet.10))
+ - [Use certificates for authentication in Microsoft Intune](/mem/intune/protect/certificates-configure)
## Choose S/MIME settings
On the device, perform the following steps: (add select certificate)
-1. Open the Mail app.
-
-2. Open **Settings** by tapping the gear icon on a PC, or the ellipsis (...) and then the gear icon on a phone.
-
+1. Open the Mail app
+1. Open **Settings**
:::image type="content" alt-text="settings icon in mail app." source="images/mailsettings.png":::
-
-3. Tap **Email security**.
-
+1. Select **Email security**
:::image type="content" alt-text="email security settings." source="images/emailsecurity.png":::
-
-4. In **Select an account**, select the account for which you want to configure S/MIME options.
-
-5. Make a certificate selection for digital signature and encryption.
-
- - Select **Automatically** to let the app choose the certificate.
- - Select **Manually** to specify the certificate yourself from the list of valid certificates on the device.
-6. (Optional) Select **Always sign with S/MIME**, **Always encrypt with S/MIME**, or both, to automatically digitally sign or encrypt all outgoing messages.
+1. In **Select an account**, select the account for which you want to configure S/MIME options.
+1. Make a certificate selection for digital signature and encryption.
+ - Select **Automatically** to let the app choose the certificate.
+ - Select **Manually** to specify the certificate yourself from the list of valid certificates on the device.
+1. (Optional) Select **Always sign with S/MIME**, **Always encrypt with S/MIME**, or both, to automatically digitally sign or encrypt all outgoing messages.
> [!NOTE]
> The option to sign or encrypt can be changed for individual messages, unless EAS policies prevent it.
-
-7. Tap the back arrow.
+
+1. Select the back arrow.
## Encrypt or sign individual messages
-1. While composing a message, choose **Options** from the ribbon. On phone, **Options** can be accessed by tapping the ellipsis (...).
-
-2. Use **Sign** and **Encrypt** icons to turn on digital signature and encryption for this message.
+1. While composing a message, select **Options** from the ribbon
+1. Use **Sign** and **Encrypt** icons to turn on digital signature and encryption for this message
:::image type="content" alt-text="sign or encrypt message." source="images/signencrypt.png":::
## Read signed or encrypted messages
-When you receive an encrypted message, the mail app will check whether there is a certificate available on your computer. If there is a certificate available, the message will be decrypted when you open it. If your certificate is stored on a smartcard, you will be prompted to insert the smartcard to read the message. Your smartcard may also require a PIN to access the certificate.
+When you receive an encrypted message, the mail app checks whether there's a certificate available on your computer. If there's a certificate available, the message is decrypted when you open it. If your certificate is stored on a smartcard, you'll be prompted to insert the smartcard to read the message. Your smartcard may also require a PIN to access the certificate.
## Install certificates from a received message
When you receive a signed email, the app provides a feature to install corresponding encryption certificate on your device if the certificate is available. This certificate can then be used to send encrypted email to this person.
-1. Open a signed email.
+1. Open a signed email
+1. Select the digital signature icon in the reading pane
+1. Select **Install.**
-2. Tap or click the digital signature icon in the reading pane.
-
-3. Tap **Install.**
-
- :::image type="content" alt-text="message security information." source="images/installcert.png":::
-
+ :::image type="content" alt-text="message security information." source="images/installcert.png":::
diff --git a/windows/security/identity-protection/enterprise-certificate-pinning.md b/windows/security/identity-protection/enterprise-certificate-pinning.md
index bd04cfb415..023283376d 100644
--- a/windows/security/identity-protection/enterprise-certificate-pinning.md
+++ b/windows/security/identity-protection/enterprise-certificate-pinning.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ms.date: 05/24/2023
# Enterprise certificate pinning overview
Enterprise certificate pinning is a Windows feature for remembering (pinning), a root issuing certificate authority, or end-entity certificate, to a domain name.\
-Enterprise certificate pinning helps reducing man-in-the-middle attacks, by protecting internal domain names from chaining to unwanted or fraudulently issued certificates.
+The feature helps to reduce man-in-the-middle attacks by protecting internal domain names from chaining to unwanted or fraudulently issued certificates.
> [!NOTE]
> External domain names, where the certificate issued to these domains is issued by a public certificate authority, are not ideal for enterprise certificate pinning.
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ The **PinRule** element can have the following attributes.
| Attribute | Description | Required |
|-----------|-------------|----------|
-| **Name** | Uniquely identifies the **PinRule**. Windows uses this attribute to identify the element for a parsing error or for verbose output. The attribute isn't included in the generated certificate trust list (CTL). | Yes.|
-| **Error** | Describes the action Windows performs when it encounters a PIN mismatch. You can choose from the following string values:
- **Revoked** - Windows reports the certificate protecting the site as if it was revoked. This typically prevents the user from accessing the site.
- **InvalidName** - Windows reports the certificate protecting the site as if the name on the certificate doesn't match the name of the site. This typically results in prompting the user before accessing the site.
- **None** - The default value. No error is returned. You can use this setting to audit the pin rules without introducing any user friction. | No. |
+| **Name** | Uniquely identifies the **PinRule**. Windows uses the attribute to identify the element for a parsing error or for verbose output. The attribute isn't included in the generated certificate trust list (CTL). | Yes.|
+| **Error** | Describes the action Windows performs when it encounters a PIN mismatch. You can choose from the following string values:
- **Revoked** - Windows reports the certificate protecting the site as if it was revoked. This typically prevents the user from accessing the site.
- **InvalidName** - Windows reports the certificate protecting the site as if the name on the certificate doesn't match the name of the site. This typically results in prompting the user before accessing the site.
- **None** - The default value. No error is returned. You can use the setting to audit the pin rules without introducing any user friction. | No. |
| **Log** | A Boolean value represents a string that equals **true** or **false**. By default, logging is enabled (**true**). | No. |
#### Certificate element
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ The **Certificate** element can have the following attributes.
| **File** | Path to a file containing one or more certificates. Where the certificate(s) can be encoded as:
- single certificate
- p7b
- sst
These files can also be Base64 formatted. All **Site** elements included in the same **PinRule** element can match any of these certificates. | Yes (File, Directory, or Base64 must be present). |
| **Directory** | Path to a directory containing one or more of the above certificate files. Skips any files not containing any certificates. | Yes (File, Directory, or Base64 must be present). |
| **Base64** | Base64 encoded certificate(s). Where the certificate(s) can be encoded as:
- single certificate
- p7b
- sst
This allows the certificates to be included in the XML file without a file directory dependency.
Note:
You can use **certutil -encode** to convert a .cer file into base64. You can then use Notepad to copy and paste the base64 encoded certificate into the pin rule. | Yes (File, Directory, or Base64 must be present). |
-| **EndDate** | Enables you to configure an expiration date for when the certificate is no longer valid in the pin rule.
If you are in the process of switching to a new root or CA, you can set the **EndDate** to allow matching of this element's certificates.
If the current time is past the **EndDate**, then, when creating the certificate trust list (CTL), the parser outputs a warning message and excludes the certificate(s) from the Pin Rule in the generated CTL.
For help with formatting Pin Rules, see [Represent a date in XML](#represent-a-date-in-xml).| No.|
+| **EndDate** | Enables you to configure an expiration date for when the certificate is no longer valid in the pin rule.
If you are in the process of switching to a new root or CA, you can set the **EndDate** to allow matching of this element's certificates.
If the current time is past the **EndDate**, when creating the certificate trust list (CTL) the parser outputs a warning message and excludes the certificate(s) from the Pin Rule in the generated CTL.
For help with formatting Pin Rules, see [Represent a date in XML](#represent-a-date-in-xml).| No.|
#### Site element
@@ -96,13 +96,13 @@ The **Site** element can have the following attributes.
| Attribute | Description | Required |
|-----------|-------------|----------|
-| **Domain** | Contains the DNS name to be matched for this pin rule. When creating the certificate trust list, the parser normalizes the input name string value as follows:
- If the DNS name has a leading "*", it's removed.
- Non-ASCII DNS name is converted to ASCII Puny Code.
- Upper case ASCII characters are converted to lower case.
If the normalized name has a leading ".", then wildcard left-hand label matching is enabled. For example, ".xyz.com" would match "abc.xyz.com". | Yes.|
+| **Domain** | Contains the DNS name to be matched for this pin rule. When you create the certificate trust list, the parser normalizes the input name string value as follows:
- If the DNS name has a leading "*", it's removed.
- Non-ASCII DNS name is converted to ASCII Puny Code.
- Upper case ASCII characters are converted to lower case.
If the normalized name has a leading ".", then wildcard left-hand label matching is enabled. For example, ".xyz.com" would match "abc.xyz.com". | Yes.|
| **AllSubdomains** | By default, wildcard left-hand label matching is restricted to a single left-hand label. This attribute can be set to "true" to enable wildcard matching of all of the left-hand labels.
For example, setting this attribute would also match "123.abc.xyz.com" for the ".xyz.com" domain value.| No.|
### Create a pin rules certificate trust list
-The command line utility, *Certutil.exe*, includes the *generatePinRulesCTL* argument to parse the XML file and generate the encoded certificate trust list (CTL) that you add to your reference Windows 10 version 1703 computer and subsequently deploy.
-The usage syntax is:
+The *Certutil.exe* command includes the *generatePinRulesCTL* argument. The argument parses the XML file and generates the encoded certificate trust list (CTL) that you add to your reference Windows device and then deploy.
+The syntax is:
```cmd
CertUtil [Options] -generatePinRulesCTL XMLFile CTLFile [SSTFile]
@@ -141,17 +141,19 @@ certutil -generatePinRulesCTL certPinRules.xml pinrules.stl
Now that your certificate pinning rules are in the certificate trust list format, you need to apply the settings to a reference computer as a prerequisite to deploying the setting to your enterprise.
To simplify the deployment configuration, it's best to apply your certificate pinning rules to a computer that has the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) included in the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT).
-Use **certutil.exe** to apply your certificate pinning rules to your reference computer using the **setreg** argument.
-The **setreg** argument takes a secondary argument that determines the location of where certutil writes the certificate pining rules.
-This secondary argument is **chain\PinRules**.
-The last argument you provide is the name of file that contains your certificate pinning rules in certificate trust list format (.stl).
-You'll pass the name of the file as the last argument; however, you need to prefix the file name with the '@' symbol as shown in the following example.
-You need to perform this command from an elevated command prompt.
+Use *certutil.exe* to apply your certificate pinning rules to your reference computer using the *setreg* argument.\
+The *setreg* argument takes a secondary argument that determines the location of where certutil writes the certificate pining rules.\
+The secondary argument is *chain\PinRules*.\
+The last argument you provide is the name of file that contains your certificate pinning rules in certificate trust list format (`.stl`).\
+You pass the name of the file as the last argument. You must prefix the file name with the `@` symbol as in the following example:
-```code
+```cmd
Certutil -setreg chain\PinRules @pinrules.stl
```
+> [!NOTE]
+> You must execute the command from an elevated command prompt.
+
Certutil writes the binary information to the following registration location:
| Name | Value |
@@ -165,9 +167,9 @@ Certutil writes the binary information to the following registration location:
### Deploy enterprise pin rule settings using group policy
-You've successfully created a certificate pinning rules XML file.
-From the XML file you've created a certificate pinning trust list file, and you've applied the contents of that file to your reference computer from which you can run the Group Policy Management Console.
-Now you need to configure a Group Policy object to include the applied certificate pin rule settings and deploy it to your environment.
+From the XML file, you've created a certificate pinning trust list file. Then, you've applied the content of the file to your reference device from which you can run the Group Policy Management Console.
+
+The next step consists of configuring a group policy object that includes the applied certificate pin rule settings, and deploy it in your environment.
Sign-in to the reference computer using domain administrator equivalent credentials.
@@ -184,7 +186,7 @@ Sign-in to the reference computer using domain administrator equivalent credenti
`HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\OID\EncodingType0\CertDllCreateCertificateChainEngine\Config`
- Click **Select** to close the **Registry Item Browser**.
+ Select **Select** to close the **Registry Item Browser**.
1. The **Key Path** should contain the selected registry key. The **Value name** configuration should contain the registry value name **_PinRules_**. **Value type** should read **_REG\_BINARY_** and **Value data** should contain a long series of numbers from 0-9 and letters ranging from A-F (hexadecimal). Select **OK** to save your settings and close the dialog box.
@@ -195,7 +197,7 @@ Sign-in to the reference computer using domain administrator equivalent credenti
## Additional pin rules logging
-To assist in constructing certificate pinning rules, you can configure the **PinRulesLogDir** setting under the certificate chain configuration registry key to include a parent directory to log pin rules.
+To help constructing certificate pinning rules, you can configure the **PinRulesLogDir** setting under the certificate chain configuration registry key to include a parent directory to log pin rules.
| Name | Value |
|------|-------|
@@ -209,7 +211,7 @@ To assist in constructing certificate pinning rules, you can configure the **Pin
The folder in which Windows writes the additional pin rule logs must have permissions so that all users and applications have full access.
You can run the following commands from an elevated command prompt to achieve the proper permissions.
-```code
+```cmd
set PinRulesLogDir=c:\PinRulesLog
mkdir %PinRulesLogDir%
icacls %PinRulesLogDir% /grant *S-1-15-2-1:(OI)(CI)(F)
@@ -218,16 +220,13 @@ icacls %PinRulesLogDir% /grant *S-1-5-12:(OI)(CI)(F)
icacls %PinRulesLogDir% /inheritance:e /setintegritylevel (OI)(CI)L
```
-Whenever an application verifies a TLS/SSL certificate chain that contains a server name matching a DNS name in the server certificate, Windows writes a .p7b file consisting of all the certificates in the server's chain to one of three child folders:
+When an application verifies a TLS/SSL certificate chain that contains a server name matching a DNS name in the server certificate, Windows writes a .p7b file consisting of all the certificates in the server's chain to one of three child folders:
-- AdminPinRules
- Matched a site in the enterprise certificate pinning rules.
-- AutoUpdatePinRules
- Matched a site in the certificate pinning rules managed by Microsoft.
-- NoPinRules
- Didn't match any site in the certificate pin rules.
+- `AdminPinRules`: Matched a site in the enterprise certificate pinning rules.
+- `AutoUpdatePinRules`: Matched a site in the certificate pinning rules managed by Microsoft.
+- `NoPinRules`: Didn't match any site in the certificate pin rules.
-The output file name consists of the leading eight ASCII hex digits of the root's SHA1 thumbprint followed by the server name.
+The output file name consists of the leading eight ASCII hex digits of the root's SHA1 thumbprint followed by the server name.
For example:
- `D4DE20D0_xsi.outlook.com.p7b`
@@ -248,7 +247,7 @@ You can then copy and paste the output of the cmdlet into the XML file.
For simplicity, you can truncate decimal point (.) and the numbers after it.
However, be certain to append the uppercase "Z" to the end of the XML date string.
-```code
+```cmd
2015-05-11T07:00:00.2655691Z
2015-05-11T07:00:00Z
```
diff --git a/windows/security/identity-protection/index.md b/windows/security/identity-protection/index.md
index 5396d09d1c..f5b9993740 100644
--- a/windows/security/identity-protection/index.md
+++ b/windows/security/identity-protection/index.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
title: Identity and access management
description: Learn more about identity and access protection technologies in Windows.
ms.topic: article
-ms.date: 02/05/2018
+ms.date: 05/23/2023
---
# Identity and access management
@@ -13,15 +13,15 @@ Learn more about identity and access management technologies in Windows.
| Section | Description |
|-|-|
-| [Local Administrator Password Solution](/defender-for-identity/cas-isp-laps) | Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) provides management of local account passwords of domain-joined computers. Passwords are stored in Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and protected by an access control list (ACL), so only eligible users can read them or request a reset.
+| [Windows Hello for Business](hello-for-business/index.yml) | Windows Hello replaces passwords with strong two-factor authentication on client devices. The authentication consists of a type of user credential that is tied to a device and a biometric or PIN. |
+| [Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS)](/windows-server/identity/laps/laps-overview) | Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (Windows LAPS) is a Windows feature that automatically manages and backs up the password of a local administrator account on your Azure Active Directory-joined or Windows Server Active Directory-joined devices.
| [Technical support policy for lost or forgotten passwords](password-support-policy.md)| Outlines the ways in which Microsoft can help you reset a lost or forgotten password, and provides links to instructions for doing so. |
| [Access control](access-control/access-control.md) | Describes access control in Windows, which is the process of authorizing users, groups, and computers to access objects on the network or computer. Key concepts that make up access control are permissions, ownership of objects, inheritance of permissions, user rights, and object auditing. |
-| [Configure S/MIME for Windows 10](configure-s-mime.md) | In Windows 10, S/MIME lets users encrypt outgoing messages and attachments so that only intended recipients who have a digital identification (ID), also known as a certificate, can read them. Users can digitally sign a message, which provides the recipients with a way to verify the identity of the sender and that the message hasn't been tampered with. |
-| [Protect derived domain credentials with Credential Guard](credential-guard/credential-guard.md) | Introduced in Windows 10 Enterprise, Credential Guard uses virtualization-based security to isolate secrets so that only privileged system software can access them. Unauthorized access to these secrets can lead to credential theft attacks, such as Pass-the-Hash or Pass-The-Ticket. Credential Guard helps prevent these attacks by protecting NTLM password hashes and Kerberos Ticket Granting Tickets. |
+| [Configure S/MIME for Windows](configure-s-mime.md) | S/MIME lets users encrypt outgoing messages and attachments so that only intended recipients who have a digital identification (ID), also known as a certificate, can read them. Users can digitally sign a message, which provides the recipients with a way to verify the identity of the sender and that the message hasn't been tampered with. |
+| [Protect derived domain credentials with Credential Guard](credential-guard/credential-guard.md) | Introduced in Windows 10 Enterprise, Credential Guard uses Virtualization-based security to isolate secrets so that only privileged system software can access them. Unauthorized access to these secrets can lead to credential theft attacks, such as Pass-the-Hash or Pass-The-Ticket. Credential Guard helps prevent these attacks by protecting NTLM password hashes and Kerberos Ticket Granting Tickets. |
| [Protect Remote Desktop credentials with Remote Credential Guard](remote-credential-guard.md) | Remote Credential Guard helps you protect your credentials over a Remote Desktop connection by redirecting the Kerberos requests back to the device that's requesting the connection. |
| [User Account Control](../application-security/application-control/user-account-control/index.md)| Provides information about User Account Control (UAC), which helps prevent malware from damaging a PC and helps organizations deploy a better-managed desktop. UAC can help block the automatic installation of unauthorized apps and prevent inadvertent changes to system settings.|
-| [Virtual Smart Cards](virtual-smart-cards/virtual-smart-card-overview.md) | Provides information about deploying and managing virtual smart cards, which are functionally similar to physical smart cards and appear in Windows as smart cards that are always-inserted. Virtual smart cards use the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip that is available on computers in many organizations, rather than requiring the use of a separate physical smart card and reader. |
| [VPN technical guide](vpn/vpn-guide.md) | Virtual private networks (VPN) let you give your users secure remote access to your company network. Windows 10 adds useful new VPN profile options to help you manage how users connect. |
| [Smart Cards](smart-cards/smart-card-windows-smart-card-technical-reference.md) | Provides a collection of references topics about smart cards, which are tamper-resistant portable storage devices that can enhance the security of tasks such as authenticating clients, signing code, securing e-mail, and signing in with a Windows domain account. |
-| [Windows Hello for Business](hello-for-business/index.yml) | In Windows 10, Windows Hello replaces passwords with strong two-factor authentication on client devices. This authentication consists of a new type of user credential that is tied to a device and a biometric or PIN. |
-| [Windows 10 Credential Theft Mitigation Guide Abstract](windows-credential-theft-mitigation-guide-abstract.md) | Learn more about credential theft mitigation in Windows 10. |
+| [Windows Credential Theft Mitigation Guide Abstract](windows-credential-theft-mitigation-guide-abstract.md) | Learn more about credential theft mitigation in Windows. |
+| [Virtual Smart Cards](virtual-smart-cards/virtual-smart-card-overview.md) | Provides information about deploying and managing virtual smart cards. Virtual smart cards use the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip that is available on computers in many organizations, rather than requiring the use of a separate physical smart card and reader. |
diff --git a/windows/security/identity-protection/windows-credential-theft-mitigation-guide-abstract.md b/windows/security/identity-protection/windows-credential-theft-mitigation-guide-abstract.md
index 5cbde2e21f..c90399660a 100644
--- a/windows/security/identity-protection/windows-credential-theft-mitigation-guide-abstract.md
+++ b/windows/security/identity-protection/windows-credential-theft-mitigation-guide-abstract.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ ms.date: 03/31/2023
# Windows Credential Theft Mitigation Guide Abstract
-This topic provides a summary of the Windows credential theft mitigation guide, which can be downloaded from the [Microsoft Download Center](https://download.microsoft.com/download/C/1/4/C14579CA-E564-4743-8B51-61C0882662AC/Windows%2010%20credential%20theft%20mitigation%20guide.docx).
+This article provides a summary of the Windows credential theft mitigation guide, which can be downloaded from the [Microsoft Download Center](https://download.microsoft.com/download/C/1/4/C14579CA-E564-4743-8B51-61C0882662AC/Windows%2010%20credential%20theft%20mitigation%20guide.docx).
This guide explains how credential theft attacks occur and the strategies and countermeasures you can implement to mitigate them, following these security stages:
- Identify high-value assets
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ Many other countermeasures are also covered, such as using Microsoft Passport an
## Detecting credential attacks
-This sections covers how to detect the use of stolen credentials and how to collect computer events to help you detect credential theft.
+This section covers how to detect the use of stolen credentials and how to collect computer events to help you detect credential theft.
## Responding to suspicious activity