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How does the Credential Manager differ between Windows 7 and Windows 8+ from a penetration testing perspective?

Starting from Windows 8, the Credential Manager interface was redesigned and added a separate 'Web Credentials' vault for credentials saved by Internet Explorer. Windows 7 does not have this distinction and instead has a 'Prompt for permission' option that can block automated extraction. Testers should be aware that the Get‑VaultCredential.ps1 script works on Win8+ for IE‑stored credentials, while on Windows 7, other methods like mimikatz or Invoke‑WCMDump may be needed. Understanding these differences is crucial during information retrieval from Windows Credential Manager.
Windows 7Windows 8Credential ManagerWeb Credentialspenetration testing differences

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