Home windows disables File Explorer previews for harmful file downloads
When you’ve been utilizing the web for greater than a month or so, that downloading recordsdata from unknown websites is a good way to get compromised. However the newest safety replace to Home windows does just a little further to maintain you secure. Based on Microsoft, those that set up the most recent safety updates can have previews in Explorer mechanically disabled for downloaded recordsdata.
Why? Based on the assist web page (noticed by Bleeping Pc), it’s as a result of there’s a vulnerability with leaking hash. So because of Microsoft, your breakfast griddle will probably be notably tidier now that…oh, wait, no, it’s “a vulnerability the place NTLM hash leakage may happen if customers preview recordsdata containing HTML tags (equivalent to ,
Mark of the Internet metadata signifies {that a} file was downloaded from the web, which means Home windows Defender pays it just a little further consideration. When you attempt to preview a downloaded file instantly, you’ll be met with the next alert message:
The file you are trying to preview might hurt your laptop. When you belief the file and the supply you obtained it from, open it to view its contents.
To disable this operate after the October 14th, 2025 replace, you’ll must right-click the file, click on “Properties,” then “Unblock.” It’ll must be finished for each file, and it won’t take till you log into Home windows once more.

