6 security and privacy improvements in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update

Microsoft is finally rolling out the highly anticipated Redstone 4 update, dubbed the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. The massive rollout of the update began on May 8th. The April 2018 Update brings some cool new features and functionality like the Timeline. Most importantly, with this update, Microsoft has significantly improved system security.

1. Improvements to Windows Defender Security Center

With this update, Microsoft has made it easier to access core security controls. Users now have access to the main security features of Windows 10 from the context menu in the system tray.

Right-click on the Windows Defender Security Center icon in the notification area and you can quickly scan your device for viruses, update the Windows Defender Antivirus anti-virus database, or open the Windows Defender Security Center.

2. "Enhanced protection" mode and notification settings

The main drawback of Windows Defender is its limited customization options. Therefore, Microsoft has slightly expanded the capabilities of its antivirus. On the Device Security page in Windows Defender, you can not only view the status reports of Windows 10, but also change security features and enable Enhanced Protection mode.

Finally, you can fine-tune the notifications that Security Center shows you so that they don't distract you during busy work or when launching entertainment apps.

3. Account protection

The ways to protect a user account when logging into Windows 10 have become more diverse. You can sign in with a password or Microsoft account, or Windows Hello with facial recognition, fingerprint or PIN code.

In addition, the Windows 10 April 2018 Update has improved the Dynamic Lock feature. It blocks Windows if you are too far away from the computer with your smartphone in your pocket. Dynamic blocking is now integrated with Windows 10 Action Center.

4. Autocomplete web forms in Edge

The security of Microsoft Edge has also improved a lot. The new browser auto-complete feature allows you to safely store addresses, credit card details and passwords, protecting them from being intercepted on suspicious online store sites or fake payment forms. If you haven't used Edge because you doubted its safety, now is the time to start.

5. Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG)

According to Microsoft, Windows Defender Application Guard protects the system from even the most sophisticated browser attacks. Windows Defender Application Guard uses cloud-based virtualization technology to run suspicious sites in an isolated environment. Even if you accidentally open a phishing site in Edge, it won't harm the system.

Windows Defender Application Guard was introduced in a previous update for Windows 10 Enterprise. Now it is included in Windows 10 Professional, so that increased protection against phishing is available not only for corporate users, but also for ordinary users.

6. OneDrive Files Restore

Probably everyone remembers the recent wave of ransomware viruses. They encrypt your files and extort money to get them back. Microsoft has foreseen the likelihood of new attacks from such viruses. The new OneDrive Files Restore feature is now integrated with Windows Defender and Microsoft Office.

Store your important files on OneDrive, and if you get attacked by an ransomware, Windows Defender will remove the ransomware and restore the affected files in OneDrive Files Restore. This feature can restore all changed data in OneDrive in the last 30 days.

If all this is not enough for you and you want to try out even more new features, you can connect to Windows Preview to get updates before the rest of the users.