Microsoft awarded $17 million to 344 security researchers in the past year through its bug bounty programs, marking the highest annual payout since the programs began in 2018. The total amount distributed across all years now reaches $92.5 million, with ongoing updates to enhance program coverage and align with emerging security challenges.

Senator Ron Wyden has criticized Microsoft for delivering "dangerous, insecure software" that contributed to a ransomware attack on Ascension, a major hospital network, and has urged the FTC to investigate the company's cybersecurity practices. Wyden highlighted longstanding vulnerabilities, particularly the use of the outdated RC4 encryption algorithm, and accused Microsoft of prioritizing profits over security while failing to provide adequate protections for its users. He argues that Microsoft's dominance in the enterprise operating system market poses a significant national security risk due to its negligence in addressing these issues.

Microsoft is actively revamping its security culture as part of its "Secure Future Initiative," emphasizing security as a core employee priority during performance reviews. The company has reported significant advancements in areas such as multi-factor authentication, threat detection, and user experience design to enhance protection against attacks.

Microsoft has announced significant upgrades to its Azure security protocols, including the purging of dormant tenants and the rotation of keys to prevent future breaches, particularly following a nation-state hack. The company claims to have made substantial progress on its Secure Future Initiative, focusing on enhanced authentication and defenses against potential attack vectors.

Recent attacks linked to Chinese hacking groups have exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint, breaching numerous organizations globally. The vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2025-49706 and CVE-2025-49704, were actively targeted by multiple threat actors, prompting Microsoft and CISA to release emergency patches and recommend immediate action for affected entities.

Amazon has taken action to block an APT29 campaign that was targeting Microsoft device code authentication. This intervention is part of ongoing efforts to thwart sophisticated cyber threats and protect user data against malicious actors exploiting vulnerabilities.

Microsoft is developing an AI prototype called Project Ire, designed to autonomously reverse-engineer malware without human intervention. This initiative aims to enhance cybersecurity by quickly analyzing and understanding malicious software to improve defenses against cyber threats.

Microsoft is introducing a new capability in Defender for Endpoint that automatically blocks communication with undiscovered devices to prevent lateral movement by attackers. This feature isolates the IP addresses of unboarded devices, ensuring they cannot communicate with other devices on the network. Admins can easily manage the containment through the Action Center whenever necessary.

The article discusses the strategic partnership between Huntress and Microsoft, highlighting how their collaboration enhances cybersecurity solutions for businesses. It emphasizes the integration of Huntress's threat detection capabilities with Microsoft's security platforms to provide a more robust defense against cyber threats. The partnership aims to offer customers improved tools and resources to safeguard their digital environments.

Microsoft has introduced an autonomous AI system named Project Ire that can reverse-engineer and identify malware without human intervention. This innovative approach marks a significant advancement in cybersecurity, automating processes traditionally performed by security experts. The company continues to prioritize security, launching initiatives like the Zero Day Quest to enhance its defenses.

Microsoft has acknowledged the contributions of a hacker known as Encrypthub for their role in improving the security of a vulnerability in its systems. This recognition highlights the growing trend of tech companies collaborating with ethical hackers to enhance cybersecurity measures.

Microsoft and CrowdStrike are leading a collaborative initiative to standardize the naming of threat actors in cybersecurity. This project aims to enhance intelligence sharing and improve the identification of threat groups without enforcing a single naming standard. Google and Palo Alto Networks are also participating in this effort.

Huntress has partnered with Microsoft to enhance cybersecurity for businesses, especially those with limited resources. The integration allows organizations to better utilize Microsoft’s security features while benefiting from Huntress’ advanced threat detection solutions and 24/7 security support.

Microsoft issued an emergency security update for a critical vulnerability in SharePoint Server, known as CVE-2025-53770, which is actively being exploited by hackers to breach various organizations, including U.S. federal agencies. The flaw allows attackers to access and control compromised servers using a backdoor tool named "ToolShell," prompting urgent recommendations for organizations to take immediate protective measures beyond just patching.