Windows 11 24H2 update is not friendly with the infamous CrowdStrike antivirus - Microsoft Office programs are affected

Microsoft Office users have encountered disruptions in the software on systems with the Windows 11 24H2 update and utilizing the CrowdStrike antivirus. Both of these solutions have previously caused widespread failures, so it remains unclear which of them is responsible for the new issue.

This unfortunate situation affects Office applications like Word and Excel, which become completely unusable after upgrading to Windows 11 24H2. This issue occurs solely on systems running CrowdStrike antivirus. Yes, this is the same CrowdStrike that caused global IT disruptions back in July. However, the Windows 11 24H2 update has already introduced network connectivity problems, "blue screen of death" errors, and unsuccessful patches that cannot be installed.

The problem arises with the CrowdStrike Falcon antivirus, which has several advanced cybersecurity mechanisms. Issues with Windows 11 24H2 occur if the Enhanced Exploitation Visibility Prevention Policy is enabled in the host protection policy settings.

It is not yet known if this affects other antivirus programs. Currently, the issue has only manifested on devices that have upgraded to Windows 11 24H2 and are protected by CrowdStrike's solution.

Microsoft has added such devices to a blocked list for the Windows 11 24H2 update and has stated that it is working with CrowdStrike to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, CrowdStrike has temporarily disabled the Enhanced Exploitation Visibility Prevention Policy settings for affected users. This has partially alleviated the situation until a full fix is released.

Source: pcworld