In order to fix the “aCropalypse” security hole discovered in its built-in Windows 10 and 11 screenshot editing programs, Microsoft has published two urgent updates. As noted by Bleeping Computer, the organisation started testing a patch for the vulnerability earlier this week, soon after Chris Blume, a retired software engineer, found it.
Microsoft started releasing Snipping Tool for Windows 11 and Snip & Sketch for Windows 10 to the general public on Friday night. By accessing the Microsoft Store, selecting “Library,” then “Get Updates,” you can manually request that Windows update the software you use. Microsoft advises everyone to install the updates.
The aCropalypse vulnerability was first identified on Pixel smartphones, and Google then fixed it in the most current March security update for Android. It turns out that the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 wasn’t properly overwriting clipped PNG data. Although not all PNG files were impacted, it was feared that malicious actors would use the flaw to partially recover modified photos, especially those that had been cropped to exclude crucial information. Microsoft’s fixes won’t shield photographs that were previously taken with its screenshot capabilities, similar to Google’s March update to Android.
