October 10, 2023 at 12:46PM
Microsoft plans to phase out VBScript in future Windows releases, after 30 years of use. VBScript will be available as an on-demand feature before being removed from the operating system. This move is likely due to the discontinuation of Internet Explorer and is part of Microsoft’s strategy to mitigate malware campaigns exploiting Windows and Office features.
Based on the meeting notes, the main takeaway is that Microsoft is planning to phase out VBScript in future Windows releases. VBScript, a programming language similar to Visual Basic, has been in use for almost 30 years and is currently bundled with Internet Explorer. However, with the discontinuation of Internet Explorer, Microsoft is deprecating VBScript and making it an on-demand feature before its removal from the operating system.
This decision is likely aimed at mitigating the prevalence of malware campaigns that exploit various Windows and Office features. Malicious actors have used VBScript to distribute malware, including well-known strains like Lokibot, Emotet, Qbot, and DarkGate malware. Microsoft has been taking steps to enhance security, such as extending support for AMSI to Office 365 applications and implementing various protections against VBA macros, Excel 4.0 macros, and untrusted XLL add-ins.
It is important to note that with the disabling of VBScript and the discontinuation of Internet Explorer, one prevalent infection vector utilized by threat actors to infect Windows systems with malicious payloads has been eliminated.
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