Microsoft has confirmed that it has signed off on the recently discovered "rootkit malware" found on the Windows platform, which is believed to be a potential point of access for threat actors. The rootkit malware is known as "Netfilter," and it is a notorious third-party application popular in the gaming industry as potentially dangerous.
Instead of protecting against it, Microsoft had signed on it to be approved for its existence on Windows. That was an apparent fault of the company that may potentially endanger its users.
Microsoft Confirms Signing off on Rootkit Malware
In the recent release by Microsoft's Security Response Center (MSRC), the Netfilter rootkit malware has passed by its Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) and other data centers in China. Moreover, it also penetrated that of the Windows Defender and other security measures which protect against malware.
However, being signed off means that it is certified as a trusted software or digital entity, giving it a free pass to go around the different systems of Microsoft Windows without triggering alerts and the like. Security researchers could also detect Netfilter on Windows before Microsoft acknowledged that it has indeed signed on it.
If the Netfilter malware were a progressive type of threat, it would have attacked many computers and took over Microsoft's Windows for the time being, but luckily, it remained dormant.
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Rootkit Malware: How Dangerous Are They?
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 29: A Microsoft logo is seen during the 2015 Microsoft Build Conference on April 29, 2015 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. Thousands are expected to attend the annual developer conference which runs through May 1.
Malware is still malware, and it is still intent on bringing potentially malicious threats against the user and their data, along with other elements which the threat is targetting. There is no way of knowing whether what it is that malware targets it, but surely, it is of utmost importance like identity, sensitive information, and money.
Rootkit malware may sometimes masquerade itself and appear as though it is an innocent service. It poses a massive security risk to be having on one's systems, let alone allowed by the software developer.
The good thing is that Microsoft said that the Netfilter had not done any profound damages to users yet, or else they would have a massive scandal to face for these recent revelations.
Is Netfilter Gone on Windows?
The Netfilter rootkit malware is currently being removed from the Windows interface, as spearheaded by Microsoft, together with several security research agencies. The detection of rootkit malware within Windows is potentially alarming, but Microsoft assures people they have it under control.
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Written by Isaiah Richard
