Windows Server

Entering Cybersecurity Without a Specialized Degree: Sector Rules and Practical Entry Points

The article examines whether a specialized higher education diploma is necessary to start a career in information security. It breaks down three main industry segments—state security structures, regulated government organizations, and private business—and explains the differing formal and practical requirements in each. In government-related roles, candidates must meet strict regulatory standards for education and approved programs. Private companies instead focus on demonstrable technical skills in networks, Windows Server, Linux, and security tools. The piece also covers typical junior engineer expectations, real-world career paths from unrelated backgrounds, and four key ways to prove competence without a diploma. It concludes with advice on building home labs, troubleshooting skills, and accessing open training resources like the CyberED course.

Microsoft Defender Displays False 'Enable Virus Protection' Alerts on Windows Despite Active Real-Time Protection

Microsoft has confirmed a bug in Microsoft Defender that causes Windows to show persistent notifications urging users to enable virus protection even when the antivirus is already running with real-time protection active. The issue emerged after recent Defender updates and affects home users as well as enterprise environments running Windows 11 versions 23H2, 24H2, and 25H2, along with Windows 10 and Windows Server editions. Notifications appear at startup or during normal operation, ignore Do Not Disturb settings, and clicking them only opens the Windows Security app without resolving the alert. Microsoft is developing a fix to be released in a future Defender update but has not provided a timeline. Users are advised not to dismiss all such banners automatically, as similar messages could originate from malware, and should verify protection status through Windows Security or PowerShell commands. The problem stems from configuration errors introduced by the antivirus updates rather than specific Windows builds.