In March 2024, security researchers at Kaspersky identified a strain of malware called CVE-2023-29360 embedded in "compressed Windows 11 ISOs" distributed via Telegram. Over 50,000 users were infected.
| Component | Status in 500MB "Build" | Consequence | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Windows Defender | Removed | No antivirus protection | | Windows Update | Broken | No security patches; vulnerable to EternalBlue, PrintNightmare, etc. | | Firewall | Disabled | Open door for remote access trojans (RATs) | | System Restore | Removed | No recovery from crashes | | UAC (User Account Control) | Disabled | Any program runs as admin automatically | windows 11 highly compressed 500mb
A: No. Microsoft discontinued Windows 10 IoT Core and Windows Nano Server (for containers only). Consumer Windows 11 has no official lite edition. In March 2024, security researchers at Kaspersky identified
Have you encountered a "highly compressed" Windows download? Share your experience (or horror story) in the comments below. | | Firewall | Disabled | Open door