If you've been using the Internet for more than a month or so, you know that downloading files from unknown sites is a great way to put yourself at risk. But the latest security update for Windows does a little more to keep you safe. According to Microsoft, those who install the latest security updates will have Explorer previews automatically disabled for downloaded files.
Why? According to support page (noted Computer beeping), this is because there is a hash leak vulnerability. Well, thanks to Microsoft, your breakfast pan will now be noticeably tidier because… oh wait, no, it's a “vulnerability that could cause NTLM hash leakage if users view files that contain HTML tags (such as , etc.) referencing external paths.” Supposedly, this could be used to capture “sensitive credentials.”
The Internet metadata sign indicates that the file was downloaded from the Internet, which means Windows Defender will give it a little more attention. If you try to view the downloaded file immediately, you will see the following warning message:
The file you are trying to view may harm your computer. If you trust the file and the source you got it from, open it to view its contents.
To disable this feature after the October 14, 2025 update, you will need to right-click the file, select Properties, and then Unblock. This will need to be done for each file, and it may take some time until you are logged back into Windows.
