Security

Deploying and configuring uBlock Origin Lite with PowerShell and Microsoft Intune

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Introduction

Ad blocking is often dismissed as a convenience feature for users tired of intrusive banners and pop-ups. But in 2025 – almost 2026 – it’s time to reframe the conversation: ad blocking is a fundamental security control every organization should implement.

Malvertising has become an extremely effective attack vector. Threat actors exploit legitimate ad networks to deliver malware, phishing sites, and exploit kits – even on trusted websites. Tracking scripts in ads also collect sensitive data, creating privacy and compliance risks.

The good news? Ad blocking is free, proven security you can deploy today. Installing uBlock Origin Lite is easy. Configuring it at scale for an enterprise? That’s the challenging part. In this post, I’ll show you how I solved that challenge with a comprehensive PowerShell script that centrally configures uBlock Origin Lite across managed browsers using Microsoft Intune.

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Building a Break-Glass Local Admin Solution for Windows 11 using Intune and Defender for Endpoint

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Introduction

I’ve been in situations where I needed local admin access to a device, and I needed it *now*. Users couldn’t log in, LAPS wouldn’t retrieve passwords, or domain connectivity and trust had failed. You’re staring at a locked device with no way in, and waiting isn’t an option.

Modern endpoint management is fantastic until it isn’t. We’ve eliminated persistent local admin accounts, embraced cloud authentication, and deployed LAPS – all best practices. But what happens when all of those fail simultaneously?

This post documents the break-glass solution I built for those “need it now” scenarios: a remotely deployable emergency local administrator account using Intune Remediations, with monitoring through Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

💡 By default, remediations run on a schedule. However, you can run remediations on-demand in Intune, which triggers the scripts to execute instantly (almost) on targeted devices via Windows Notification Service (WNS). This is critical for true emergencies when you can’t wait.

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Automating ‘Have I Been Pwned’ Breach Checks for Entra ID Groups using PowerShell

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Introduction

In today’s digital landscape, data breaches are unfortunately common. As security-conscious professionals, we need to be proactive about monitoring whether our users’ credentials have been compromised. That’s why I built an automated PowerShell tool that checks Entra ID (Azure AD) group members against the Have I Been Pwned database.

The tool generates professional HTML and PDF reports that are perfect for security audits, compliance documentation, and executive briefings – making it easy to communicate breach findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Also, it was Friday evening, and I needed a fun project to wrap up the week – turns out automating security checks is a pretty good way to spend it! 😀

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Auditing Password Reuse in On-Premises Active Directory with PowerShell and DSInternals

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Introduction

Password reuse among privileged accounts represents one of the most critical security vulnerabilities in on-premises Active Directory environments.

When multiple privileged accounts share the same password, a single compromise can cascade across your entire infrastructure.

In this post, I’ll demonstrate how to audit your Active Directory environment for shared passwords using PowerShell and the DSInternals module.

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Blocking SSH binaries with AppLocker and Port 22 in Windows Firewall Using Microsoft Intune

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Introduction

Outbound SSH can be a serious blind spot. Attackers can use SSH tunnels to bypass firewalls, EDR, and even AppLocker — proxying malicious activity without running tools directly on the host. This enables lateral movement and internal compromise.

To mitigate this, I block outbound SSH connections and enforce application control on SSH binaries using Microsoft Intune, combining Windows Firewall and AppLocker for layered protection.

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Windows Protected Print: Securing Printing on Windows 11 with Microsoft Intune

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Introduction

Windows Protected Print (WPP) is a new feature in Windows 11 24H2 designed to enhance print security by addressing vulnerabilities such as PrintNightmare. No more dodgy third-party drivers! WPP uses the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) and Mopria-certified printers to keep things secure and simple. Let’s break down how it works with Windows 11, how to manage it with Microsoft Intune, and what to do when things go south. Buckle up!

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Automating Sysmon installation and configuration with PowerShell

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Introduction

In today’s fast-paced digital world, quick response to security incidents is crucial. Sysmon (System Monitor) from Microsoft’s Sysinternals suite is an essential tool for detailed system monitoring and security analysis. However, traditional installation can be time-consuming, especially in urgent situations.

This blog post introduces a PowerShell script that automates the download, extraction, and installation of Sysmon, along with applying a pre-configured setup. This rapid deployment ensures your systems are monitored and protected within minutes, enhancing your incident response capabilities and maintaining a strong security posture.

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Encrypt your files located in Desktop, Documents and Photos in Windows 11 24H2 using Personal Data Encryption and Microsoft Intune

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Introduction

In an era where data breaches and cyber threats are increasingly common, protecting your personal files has never been more important.

With the release of Windows 11 24H2, Microsoft has introduced enhanced features for personal data encryption, making it easier than ever to secure your sensitive information.

This blog post will guide you through the process of encrypting your files located in Desktop, Documents, and Photos using Personal Data Encryption and Microsoft Intune.

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Using Microsoft Intune to safeguard Windows: Associate certain file types to open in Notepad

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Introduction

In today’s digital landscape, safeguarding your organization’s IT infrastructure is more critical than ever. One effective strategy to enhance security is by configuring certain file types to open in Notepad, preventing potentially malicious code from executing.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps to use Microsoft Intune to associate specific file types with Notepad, ensuring that risky files are opened safely in plain text. This proactive measure can reduce the risk of malware infections and enhance your overall cybersecurity posture.

Note: While this approach can reduce the risk of malware infections, it’s important to consider the potential impact on users who may need to open these file types for legitimate purposes. Associating files like scripts or executables with Notepad might disrupt normal workflows for developers or IT professionals. Therefore, it’s crucial to evaluate the needs of different user groups within your organization and implement this strategy accordingly.

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Remove Quick Assist (and other built-in apps) across your enterprise automatically using PowerShell and Microsoft Intune

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Introduction

Disclaimer! Following introduction has been written using Copilot, because time is of the essence and AI is or will be an inevitable thing – also in regard to writing blogs. The script and the rest of the post is written by me. 🙂

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, staying one step ahead is crucial. Today, we delve into a PowerShell script designed to enhance your system’s security by removing the Quick Assist app from Windows 11.

As highlighted in this Microsoft Security Blog, threat actors have been misusing Quick Assist in social engineering attacks leading to ransomware. Quick Assist, a built-in remote control app in Windows 11, has been exploited by cybercriminals, notably the financially motivated group Storm-1811, known for deploying Black Basta ransomware.

To counter this threat, our featured PowerShell script, removes the Quick Assist app from your system. This script is a proactive measure to mitigate the risk of such attacks, especially for environments where Quick Assist is not in use.

In the following sections, we’ll walk you through the script and its usage with Microsoft Intune. Let’s get started!

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