With the Windows 11 24H2 update, Microsoft made a decision that surprised its users and completely removed the Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG) function, which has long been used as a security layer. So why was such a decision made?

Why did Microsoft remove Defender Application Guard from Windows 11?

Actually, this decision is a continuation of an update strategy taken last year. First announced on December 2023, Microsoft announced that MDAG would be completely disabled in 2024, and as of now, the process has been completed.

With the new update of Windows 11, MDAG functionality and the accompanying Windows Isolated Application Launcher APIs are no longer available in the system. So why did Microsoft feel the need to take such a radical decision? In short, the company justified the change by saying that the other layers of security offered by Windows 11 are now stronger.

With new security features, the protection provided by MDAG can be provided more effectively through other systems. For example, Microsoft’s Defender SmartScreen feature, an important innovation in the security world, protects users from phishing and malware.

This feature instantly scans websites that look suspicious while browsing and alerts the user by detecting potential threats. Thus, the new SmartScreen feature takes over the basic security function provided by MDAG.

In addition, the enhanced security mode introduced with Windows 11 24H2 specifically targets memory-related vulnerabilities. This mode improves user safety by disabling potentially dangerous functions such as on-the-fly compiled JavaScript.

Windows 11’s new security features also include web address spell checking to prevent security risks caused by misspelled URLs. In other words, it helps prevent users from accessing dangerous sites by clicking on misspelled or misdirected URLs.

In addition to all these improvements, the data loss prevention system, which protects sensitive data, has been further strengthened with the new update. This system monitors your important data and protects it quickly.