After all these years, why is it still possible for a virus or ransomware to effectively gain Windows permissions that enable encryption of all files on a drive or access to low level areas of the OS through the opening of an email attachment?

Ransomware infections typically exploit Windows permissions by leveraging social engineering tactics to trick users into opening malicious email attachments or downloading infected files from the internet. Once opened, the ransomware gains access to a user’s system through the user’s permissions, allowing it to encrypt files system-wide. This process often takes advantage of vulnerabilities in the operating system or third-party software to bypass security measures and spread the infection.