> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.guardware.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.guardware.com/product-updates/protect/protect-agent-release-notes.md). # PROTECT Agent Release Notes See what’s new and improved in each PROTECT release. {% updates format="full" %} {% update date="2026-08-22" %} ## PROTECT v1.2.65.3 #### Improvements * Enhanced handling of Unicode characters in **Locate Protected Files** and **Secure HTML** operations. * Improved right-click performance for non-encrypted files and MIP-protected files. * PROTECT now sends complete location information to the server during endpoint handshake and registration. * Added filename and file path information to event reports where this information was previously unavailable. * Added encryption details and username information for MIP-protected files in the **File Information** right-click context menu. * Improved right-click performance when working with a large number of files. * **Updated file icons for restricted files**: Files that users do not have permission to access now display a black lock icon instead of the previously used red icon. * **Added Do Not Encrypt protection mode**: A new protection mode, **Do Not Encrypt,** is added alongside MIP Only, PROTECT Only, and MIP + PROTECT. When users change the protection of an encrypted file and select a classification configured with the **Do Not Encrypt** protection mode, the file is automatically decrypted. This option is not available while adding the protection. * **Improved classification-based access control:** Users can only perform protection actions on files classified at or below the maximum classification level permitted by their policy. Actions that the user does not have permission to perform are hidden from the right-click context menu. \ For example, **Public** is lower than **Internal**, while **Confidential** is higher than **Internal**. If a user is permitted to remove protection from files classified as **Internal or lower**, they can remove protection from files classified as **Public** and **Internal**, but cannot remove protection from files classified as **Confidential**. * PROTECT can now protect files containing UTF-16 Unicode characters in their filenames. * Added an option to disable the PROTECT feature from the system tray (GuardWare PROTECT Monitor). * Updated the GuardWare Add-in with extended logging to improve troubleshooting and diagnostics. #### Fixes * Fixed exception handling issues in File Information. * Fixed issues affecting Change Protection operations. * Fixed an issue where folder-based encryption rules were not being applied correctly. * Fixed an issue where files containing Unicode characters were not encrypted correctly in MIP + PROTECT mode. * Fixed an issue where default classifications were not applied when a file remained open for an extended period. * Fixed an issue where local Scan and Decrypt operations continued running after completion. * Improved folder traversal performance to prevent slow processing. * Fixed issues affecting Expiry and Restrict Circulation functionality. * Fixed an issue where folder-based decryption could result in files becoming 0 KB. * Fixed an issue where PROTECT protection could be removed when editing MIP + PROTECT protected files. * Fixed additional issues affecting Change Protection operations. * Fixed issues related to Do Not Encrypt functionality. * Fixed an issue where changing file protection between different encryption types did not work correctly. * Resolved permission issues affecting MIP-protected files. * Fixed an issue where Create ZIP Package failed for files with Unicode characters in their filenames. * Fixed a white screen issue in the system tray (GuardWare PROTECT Monitor). * Fixed an issue preventing decryption of files matching file path expression rules. * Fixed an issue where right-click folder operations did not work correctly on network paths. * Fixed an issue where private security groups were incorrectly displayed in the Change Protection dialog. * Fixed an issue where `mip_cache.json` could be encrypted during folder operations. * Fixed an issue where restricted files could be decrypted through folder operations or file name expression rules. * Added MIP cache revalidation when files are modified, renamed, or deleted. * Fixed an issue where the right-click context menu for PROTECT + MIP protected files was unavailable while the file was open. * Fixed an issue that could allow restricted files to be decrypted during file name expression and folder-based operations. {% endupdate %} {% update date="2026-07-19" %} ## PROTECT v1.2.56.0 #### New feature Added support for classification-based encryption for Microsoft Office files. Based on the file classification selected by users while adding or changing the file protection, the protection mode is applied, determining whether the file is protected using only MIP or both MIP and GuardWare PROTECT. Read more [here](https://docs.guardware.com/protect/encryption-and-policies/protect-and-mip). #### Improvements * Added **Send To** event tracking for **Share with MIP** and **Secure HTML** actions in the Event Database. * **File Information** (right-click option) now displays the user who encrypted the file, the encryption method, and applicable data type rules for PROTECT and PROTECT + MIP protected files. * Enhanced PROTECT file handling to support header management for files associated with multiple security groups. * Added support for multiple sub-internal domains under a main domain for Azure login. * Added support for **Create Zip package** and **Create Secure HTML** operations for files protected with both MIP and PROTECT. * Refactored the context menu implementation to launch dialogs outside of Windows Explorer, improving stability and user experience. * For MIP-protected files, members of the assigned security group now become file users rather than file owners. * Improved **Share with MIP** behaviour in MIP-only protected files to streamline file sharing without creating unnecessary duplicate files. Previously, a new file was created while sharing the file with MIP. * Added support for the SolidWorks Global Add-in, enabling enhanced protection for SolidWorks workflows. * Refined cache management to improve overall performance and stability. * Improved seamless download functionality to ensure reliable file downloads. * Enhanced reporting capabilities to support ITAR compliance requirements. * Added validation for existing MIP labels and security groups. Content-based encryption is skipped when the resulting classification matches existing protection. * Added registry-write support in GWPHS to block sharing and printing for Autodesk, Revit, and Inventor. * Increased timeout thresholds to reduce server load. Re-registered the icon handler for improved reliability. * Updated Detours Sync behavior to disable automatically when MIP is enabled. It enables when MIP is disabled. * Updated the browser extension to version 4.2. * Updated FESF to version 2.1.2 and integrated the latest drivers. * Expanded the right-click support extension list to include PDF and additional MIP file types. * Added MIP SDK-based service support to retrieve security groups and classification labels in MIP-only deployments. * Updated the default classification label retrieval process to fetch values from the database instead of internal defaults. * Added MIP token refresh logic while fetching MIP labels and classifications for icon handlers and the right-click menu. * Updated the Share with MIP functionality to retain previously assigned security groups. * Improved text extraction to support metadata-driven, content-based encryption. Sensitive information can now be identified and encrypted more effectively. * Files containing sensitive words now encrypt automatically on **Save** or **Save As**. No manual action is required. {% endupdate %} {% endupdates %} --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.guardware.com/product-updates/protect/protect-agent-release-notes.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. 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