
It requires a PC that’s capable of Secure Boot, which prevents malware from attacking the boot process. After that, the installation proceeded without a hitch. And I found it, “Access Control: Not encrypted.” I clicked to encrypt the disk and nearly whooped with excitement to see that I could now add a virtual TPM 2.0 chip. The VMware screen explained, “The virtual machine must be encrypted and using UEFI firmware.” I gave installation a try but encountered the same warning about not meeting the requirements.Īfter some more flailing, I started examining every virtual machine setting, looking for something about encryption. In the last step, customizing hardware, I tried to add a TPM. This let me choose UEFI firmware with Secure Boot, a good start. I took another run at the problem, choosing to create a virtual machine with custom settings. The biggest tweaks I had to make involved security. We’ve covered the basics of how to create a Windows 11 virtual machine, but I found I had to go beyond what our article suggested. It only made sense for me to install Windows 11 in a virtual machine-especially the prerelease version, which is what was a available when I started testing. That way I can release real-world ransomware without worrying about real-world damage if the antivirus fails its defensive task.

I do almost all testing of security products using virtual machines. To get started, I needed to install Windows 11.

Installing Windows 11 on a Virtual Machine The TL DR? The new OS may not look like a major update, but when it comes to security, it's a sea change-unless you deactivate it. For those who prefer a broader view, here’s a simple rundown of what I learned-and what I found when I installed the new OS. Just how does this added security work? Microsoft will happily supply endless pages of detailed descriptions. With the boot process shielded and cryptographic routines running in protected memory, this Windows edition would seem to be completely invulnerable against a wide range of attacks.

Microsoft has taken the bold step of requiring essential security hardware, even though it means some PCs won’t be able to upgrade. Once Windows 11 achieves wide usage, that may change. How to Set Up Two-Factor AuthenticationĪsked why he robbed banks, the notorious Willie Sutton allegedly answered, “Because that’s where the money is.” By the same token, most malware coders hit Windows or Android because that’s where the security holes are.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.

