Microsoft may claim its latest version of Windows boasts no ransomware vulnerabilities, but it only took a security researcher three hours to hack the operating system, according to ZDNet.
Robert Lefferts, director of program management for Windows Enterprise and Security, called called Windows 10 S the company's "most hardened operating system" in a June 8 post on the Microsoft blog.
"No known ransomware works against Windows 10 S," he wrote. "What's more, no Windows 10 customers were known to be compromised by the recent WannaCrypt (also known as WannaCry) global cyberattack."
To test this claim, ZDNet asked cybersecurity researcher Matthew Hickey, co-founder of Hacker House, to attempt to hack into Windows 10 S. After three hours with a new laptop running on Windows 10 S, Mr. Hickey injected malicious code into system and gained privileges to remotely access and control the computer, ZDNet reports.
"From here we can start turning things on and off — antimalware, firewalls and override sensitive Windows files," he told ZDNet. "If I wanted to install ransomware, that could be loaded on."
ZDNet informed Microsoft of Mr. Hickey's hack, however, the company rejected the claim.
"In early June we stated that Windows 10 S was not vulnerable to any known ransomware, and based on the information we received from ZDNet that statement holds true," a Microsoft spokesperson told ZDNet. "We recognize that new attacks and malware emerge continually, which is why [we] are committed to monitoring the threat landscape and working with responsible researchers to ensure that Windows 10 continues to provide the most secure experience possible for our customers."
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