Many modern attacks don’t rely on exotic malware—they abuse normal application behavior. Office macros spawning PowerShell, scripts launching from temporary folders, or executables delivered through email are all techniques attackers use because they blend in with legitimate activity.
Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules are designed to stop these behaviors before they turn into a breach. Think of ASR as a security guard who doesn’t just check IDs at the door, but actively watches for suspicious behavior once someone is inside the building—and steps in immediately when something doesn’t look right.