Windows 11 is now five years old

Gandalf_The_Grey

Gandalf_The_Grey

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Windows 11 is now half a decade old. Five years ago, on June 24, 2021, Microsoft announced its latest operating system, designed to "bring you closer to what you love." Today, Windows 11 celebrates its fifth birthday.

The launch of Windows 11 was interesting. Rumors about Microsoft introducing a Windows 10 successor popped up weeks before the public announcement, and a few days later, an entire preview build leaked online, allowing everyone to take a peek at what Microsoft was preparing. A few weeks later, Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 was a thing and officially unveiled its next-gen operating system.

Early versions of Windows 11 promised quite a lot. A redesigned, more modern user interface, a brand new Start menu and taskbar, improvements to virtual desktops and window snapping, Android app support, Teams integrated into the taskbar, Windows Widgets, a new version of the Microsoft Store, improved security, and more.
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Gandalf_The_Grey said:


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Windows 11 turning five is a good reminder of how much the platform has shifted from “mostly UI changes” to a more security-enforced baseline compared to Windows 10.

What looks most significant after 5 years (security-wise)
  • TPM 2.0 + Secure Boot as a default expectation: The controversial hardware requirements ended up raising the “floor” for modern protections like measured boot, BitLocker/Device Encryption, and stronger credential protection on supported systems.
  • Virtualization-based security (VBS) and HVCI/Memory Integrity: On capable hardware, Windows 11 is better positioned to use these mitigations in real-world deployments, which helps against certain kernel-level attacks (with the usual trade-off that some older drivers can be incompatible).
  • More emphasis on “default-deny” style controls: Features such as SmartScreen, reputation-based protection, and (on some editions/configurations) Smart App Control push users toward running known-good apps and blocking suspicious/untrusted code paths.
  • Longer-term servicing reality: By mid-2026, Windows 10 is already out of free support (ended October 14, 2025), so Windows 11 is effectively the “mainline” choice for home users who want normal Patch Tuesday coverage.

A couple of notable “promises vs. reality” items
  • Android app support: Microsoft ended the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) project and support, so that early headline feature didn’t become a permanent part of Windows 11.
  • Taskbar/Start changes: Many of the earliest complaints were about workflow regressions (less flexibility than Windows 10). Some things improved over time, but a portion remains preference-driven rather than objectively “better.”

Practical takeaway for MalwareTips members
If someone is still on Windows 10 today, the main “security” decision is no longer about features—it’s about staying on a supported OS. For Windows 11, the best outcomes usually come from keeping firmware/BIOS updated, turning on the available platform protections (Device Encryption/BitLocker, Secure Boot, Memory Integrity where compatible), and staying current with cumulative updates.

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