## 4 Experimental Results
### Hive
#### 4.4.2 Hardened Environment Outcome  
In the hardened configuration, the behavior observed was consistent with that of the default environment. Once again, Hive could not complete its download process due to Windows Defender's intervention. This outcome reinforces the robustness of the hardened configuration and its ability to block known threats even before they land on the system.  
Key Observations:  
Hive seems to be distinct in its immediate detection during download, unlike some other ransomware. This could be attributed to its signature or behavioral patterns being prominently recognized as malicious.  
The utilization of a different browser, Chrome, resulted in a different user experience. Chrome presented a warning but still gave an option to proceed, suggesting that the blocking mechanism in Edge (Figure S13) is more rigid, possibly due to tighter integration with Windows Defender or the OS's inherent security features. This variation highlights the importance of browser-level security and its coordination with the OS.  
The detection source being \"Internet\" in both logs implies that the ransomware was detected during its transit from the web server to the local machine, halting its download.  
Hive's detection by Windows Defender during the download phase, irrespective of the configuration, is a testament to the potency of modern anti-malware solutions. Several factors could be contributing to this agile response:  
Prominence: Hive's prominence in the cyber threat landscape might have led to its prioritization. Being a known ransomware variant, it is plausible that security solutions have been fine-tuned to detect it with heightened sensitivity.  
Signature Recognition: Every piece of malware has a signature--a unique set of characteristics that define it. Hive's signature might be particularly distinct or overtly malicious, making it an easy target for real-time scanning engines like Windows Defender.  
Behavioral Patterns: Modern cybersecurity solutions have evolved beyond mere signature-based detections. Behavioral analysis plays a significant role in identifying threats. There is a possibility that even during its initial download stages, Hive exhibits certain behaviors or patterns that act as red flags for detection systems.  
Cloud-backed Analysis: The integration of cloud-backed analysis in security solutions like Windows Defender provides an additional layer of rapid threat detection. If Hive has been flagged, analyzed, and documented in a cloud repository recently, its details would be fresh in the database. This can lead to an almost instantaneous detection as soon as it begins downloading, given the real-time synchronization between the local machine and the cloud database. The prompt detection of Hive underscores the importance of keeping security solutions updated. As ransomware variants evolve, so do detection mechanisms, and the tussle continues. The immediate recognition of Hive serves as a reassuring indicator of Windows Defender's capabilities, especially when configured for maximum security. Table 5 below shows the testing results for the three said ransomware variants.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Mental/Nonbank Environment**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Corber Kanomomomomomomom**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Hive Kanomomomomom**} \\ \hline \hline \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Default**} & **Hardened** & **Default** & **Hardened** & **Default** & **Default** & **Hardened** \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{c}{_After unapplying the Mer Mer Mer Mer