It has been made clear and a problem has been detected with the recent Windows 11 update (version 24H2). After its application on the system, several individuals discovered that well-known Office apps such as Excel and Word began to malfunction or simply stopped operation.
Currently, this problem is more common among people who are using a specific type of antivirus program in their computers.
What Causes the Problem?
A micromodule interacts with the antivirus program, which is why the problem arises. More specifically, devices equipped with CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor software are dealing with these problems.
The problem seems to occur where a feature called ‘Enhanced Exploitation Visibility Prevention Policy’ is configured to be on in the security policy set on a specific device.
Who Is Impacted?
Such problem is commonly associated with companies and organizations, more so in cases where they embrace managed IT environments. Managed IT environments are systems that belong to a company or organization and are managed by an IT department.
If you own a personal device that has a Windows 11 Home or Pro version, you are not likely to experience such issues.
What is the cause of the problem?
Microsoft stated that the issue was first observed after users upgraded or installed Windows 11 version 24H2. It appears to be a problem confined to the most recent version, at least as of now but Microsoft is looking into whether the bug may be present in earlier versions of Windows as well as in other security applications. Information on how the problem started can be found in this document.
Temporary Fix by CrowdStrike
The silver lining is that CrowdStrike has already taken steps to assist. They have temporarily disabled the setting, which is “Enhanced Exploitation Visibility Prevention Policy”, which is the one creating the problem.
This should minimize the frequency with which applications in the Office suite like Excel and Word freeze.
Working on a Permanent Fix
A permanent resolution is vigorously being sought by both Microsoft and CrowdStrike. Unfortunately, a broad estimate of when this resolution will be available has not been made.
Microsoft has made a clear commitment to users that they will receive updates on the matter as new information is obtained and as there is progress in resolving the issue.
What to Do In Case You Are Affected
In case you are a business or an IT administrator affected by these factors, Microsoft has offered plenty of in-depth materials on the subject for the general public on its official صفحة.
You can refer to these resources to check for developments regarding this issue and how best to deal with the problem.
The Response of CrowdStrike
As an additional response, CrowdStrike has made it known that their software is not the source of the concern.
The problem is the Windows 11 version 24H2 update which is rendering Office applications unresponsive or making them freeze.
To conclude, it seems that if the gadget is yours, you will likely not experience this issue. However, if you are within a company’s corporate framework with an IT apparatus, you may encounter some difficulties with Office applications once the Windows 11 version 24H2 update is installed.
Fortunately, CrowdStrike has resorted to a temporary workaround and is working on the permanent one. Microsoft assures of giving further updates at the earliest when they are in possession of the updates.