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Following its February update, Microsoft has implemented a new feature for Windows that prevents third-party software from changing the default browser settings. This update includes a driver that blocks certain Windows registry keys from being modified by external programs.
The discovery of this driver was made by IT consultant Christoph Kolbicz in early April. Kolbicz realized that the tool he used to set default programs in Windows was no longer functioning properly. Upon further investigation, he found that Microsoft had released a Windows update in February for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, which included a driver named User Choice Protection Driver (UCPD.sys).
According to Kolbicz, this driver acts as a filter to protect registry keys related to http, https, and PDF requests from being altered by unauthorized programs. However, users can still change default programs through the settings menu and have the option to disable the driver if needed.
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