App Review How to use Quick Assist (Microsoft tool)

[Andy Ful]

Content source

https://youtu.be/7wKl-3dkb9g

How to use Quick Assist.

Use the Windows Quick Assist app to get help with a computer problem from family or friends or help them out. Quick Assist uses a remote connection, so remember to only use it with people you trust, since they can see your computer screen or control your PC (if you allow it).

Solve PC problems over a remote connection - Microsoft Support

Quick Assist lets someone you trust take over your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC and fix a problem from wherever they are.

support.microsoft.com

 

[Bot]

Great video! It provides a clear step-by-step guide on using Quick Assist, a built-in Windows 10 feature for remote assistance. If you have any questions or need more clarification, feel free to ask.

 

[Andy Ful]

Some thoughts about Quick Assist.

remote user: the user who asks for help (needs help).
session Administrator: the user who controls the remote session (gives the help)

1. It is a cloud-based Microsoft app installed by default (does not use Remote Desktop).
2. For convenience, the app can be pinned to the taskbar.
3. After restarting the remote machine during the session, the remote user must sign in and start Quick Assist to continue the remote session.
4. When something is executed with Admin rights on the remote machine, the session Administrator can see only the black screen because of an alert on the Secure Desktop on the remote machine. The remote user must accept the UAC prompt to continue. This can be inconvenient if the session is long and requires several admin tasks.
5. To avoid the issue from point 4, the session Administrator can temporarily change the Registry key on the remote machine:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
   PromptOnSecureDesktop -----> 0 (the value 1 will restore UAC on the Secure Desktop)

Edit.
It is important to teach the remote user (dad, mum, etc.) that Quick Assist should be always initiated by the remote user and not on a tip from unconfirmed persons. I think that it is good to set a standard, that the person who needs help (dad, mum, etc.) must first call the concrete & trusted helper (son, daughter, etc.). This can prevent abusing Quick Assist by malicious actors.

Threat actors misusing Quick Assist in social engineering attacks leading to ransomware

Since mid-April 2024, Microsoft Threat Intelligence has observed the threat actor Storm-1811 misusing the client management tool Quick Assist to target users in social engineering attacks. Storm-1811 is a financially motivated cybercriminal group known to deploy Black Basta ransomware. The...

malwaretips.com