Microsoft published a new Defender update for Windows 11/10/Server installation images last month. This update package is necessary as a Windows installation image may contain old, outdated anti-malware definitions and software binaries. Aside from better security, these updates can also provide improved performance benefits in some cases.
Microsoft delivered the latest security definitions for Windows images via security intelligence update version 1.423.160.0. The Defender package version is also the same.
In the support document describing the new update, Microsoft explains:
The first hours of a newly installed Windows deployment can leave the system vulnerable because of a Microsoft Defender protection gap. This is because the OS installation images may contain outdated antimalware software binaries.
[..] Devices using either the Windows built-in antivirus or another security solution can benefit from these updates. Defender updates also contain critical performance fixes that will improve the user experience.
[..] This article describes antimalware update package for Microsoft Defender in the OS installation images (WIM and VHD files). This feature supports the following OS installation images:
- Windows 11
- Windows 10 (Enterprise, Pro, and Home editions)
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2016
Version information
Defender package version: 1.423.160.0
This package updates the anti-malware client, anti-malware engine, and signature versions in the OS installation images to following versions:
Platform version: 4.18.25010.11
Engine version: 1.1.25010.7
Security intelligence version: 1.423.160.0
From Microsoft's security bulletin, we learn that the security intelligence update version 1.423.160.0 was released last month. It adds threat detections for various backdoor exploits, trojans, and ransomware, among others. For those wondering, the latest intelligence update is version 1.423.337.0 at the time of writing.
On the topic of security, Microsoft thinks you will be better off updating from Windows 10 to 11 via a clean install so you can avoid unwanted and potentially malicious apps.
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