Microsoft wants to improve Windows Defender with AI acquisition

Microsoft is further bolstering its defences against cyber-attacks with the announcement that it has acquired an innovative Israeli security startup.

Hexadite is a firm which specialises in using artificial intelligence and machine learning to help detect and protect against attacks, delivering automated incident investigation and remediation capabilities.

The software giant said that acquiring Hexadite will help to boost the capabilities of Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (WDATP), enabling Windows 10 customers to better detect and respond to sophisticated threats and attacks on their networks.

Microsoft noted: “With Hexadite, WDATP will include endpoint security automated remediation, while continuing the incredible growth in activations of WDATP, which now protects almost 2 million devices.”

While Microsoft didn’t reveal any of the terms of the acquisition, TechCrunch reports that the move allegedly cost the company around $100 million (about £80 million, AU$135 million).

Ongoing investment

Of course, in its press statement, Microsoft didn’t fail to take the opportunity to remind us that Windows 10 is the most secure version of its desktop operating system ever, and that the company intends to make ongoing investments in terms of the automated detection of threats.

So we can doubtless expect more acquisitions on the security front when it comes to AI-powered detection.

We saw recently that Windows 10 was immune to the ravages of the WannaCry ransomware, in one definite highlight of the operating system’s boosted levels of security. Although users should never be too complacent, as white hat hackers have already demonstrated that the exploit which powered WannaCry can be adapted to affect Windows 10 (or at least older versions of it).

Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - 'I Know What You Did Last Supper' - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).

Latest in Security
Data leak
Top home hardware firm data leak could see millions of customers affected
Representational image depecting cybersecurity protection
Third-party security issues could be the biggest threat facing your business
A stylized depiction of a padlocked WiFi symbol sitting in the centre of an interlocking vault.
Broadcom warns of worrying security flaws affecting VMware tools
Android Logo
Devious new Android malware uses a Microsoft tool to avoid being spotted
URL phishing
HaveIBeenPwned owner suffers phishing attack that stole his Mailchimp mailing list
Ransomware
Cl0p resurgence drives ransomware attacks to new highs in 2025
Latest in News
An image of Pro-Ject's Flatten it closed and opened
Pro-Ject’s new vinyl flattener will fix any warped LPs you inadvertently buy on Record Store Day
EA Sports F1 25 promotional image featuring drivers Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz and Oliver Bearman.
F1 25 has been officially announced, with this year's entry marking a return for Braking Point and a 'significant overhaul' for My Team mode
Garmin clippd integration
Garmin's golf watches just got a big software integration upgrade to help you improve your game
Robert Downey Jr reveals himself as Doctor Doom to a delighted crowd at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
Marvel is currently revealing the full cast for Avengers: Doomsday, and I think it's going to be a long-winded announcement
Samsung QN90F on yellow background
Samsung announces US prices for its 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, and it’s good and bad news
Nintendo Switch Lite
Forget the Nintendo Switch 2, the original Switch is getting one last hurrah in a surprise Nintendo Direct tomorrow