Microsoft has released a series of updates for Windows 11, aimed at improving user security and accessibility. One of the most significant changes is the introduction of a new popup as part of the Enhanced Phishing Protection in Microsoft Defender SmartScreen that targets potentially unsafe sites that could be used for phishing. This feature is currently available for Canary Channel insiders.
Users who have enabled warnings will now receive a popup for potentially unsafe copied and pasted passwords, rather than only when they have physically typed them in. This change is expected to improve security for users who use school and work passwords.
Windows 11 updates also include support for the SHA-3 family of hash functions, which includes SHA-3 derived functions (SHAKE, cSHAKE, KMAC). A new USB 4 ‘Hubs and Devices’ page has also been added to Settings to help users manage high-performance peripherals, displays, and charging, including docking.
Microsoft has also streamlined its widgets, adding new dedicated widget sections and expanding widgets to display over three columns on large enough devices. The company has also added more animation to widgets and a new shortcut button to the Bing chat experience in Edge will feature in the taskbar.
Microsoft hopes that these updates will help attract more customers to Windows 11, which currently accounts for only 19% of all Windows installations.
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