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Microsoft starts removing WMIC tool used by cybercriminals
August 17, 2026
Back to all postsMicrosoft has announced that it will be gradually phasing out the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool due to its misuse by cybercriminals for malicious activities such as lateral movement and reconnaissance in networks. This move comes after reports of hackers exploiting WMIC's vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems, causing potential data breaches and financial losses for businesses. The removal of WMIC is expected to enhance security measures and reduce the attack surface for Canadian businesses, making it less vulnerable to cyber threats. To ensure a smooth transition, Microsoft has provided a timeline for the deprecation of WMIC and recommends businesses to either migrate to alternatives like PowerShell or secure their networks against potential attacks during this period.
Source: BleepingComputer
cybersecuritymicrosoftwmiccyberattackssmall businesses
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