Windows 10 will block “potentially unwanted applications” by default

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windows defender 1000x600.png
windows defender 1000x600.png

Microsoft has announced an important change in the behavior of Windows 10 (and surely Windows 11) against the so-called “Potentially unwanted applications” (PUA), defined as those with a bad reputation that can cause unexpected behavior in the system.

If until the configuration of this type of applications was deactivated, as of this month “To make it easier for you to maintain optimal performance of your systems”says Microsoft, will come enabled by default in Windows 10, both by the Microsoft Defender security service and by the Microsoft Edge web browser. However, users will be able to modify this behavior.

Microsoft explains the change in the support page: “Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) are a category of software that can slow down your device, display unexpected advertisements, or, in the worst case, install other software that may be more harmful or annoying. PUA is not malware, but it is software that you often don’t need and probably don’t want ».

What is considered as “Potentially unwanted applications” and who decides what they are? Microsoft has set criteria for its security service to classify these types of applications, ranging from adware to crypto mining, through which it actively tries to evade the detection of security products. It also includes others such as .torrent clients although these only usually apply it in business versions and in general those with «bad reputation in the industry«.

Obviously, within all these groups a good amount of legitimate software can be included that detected by Defender would be blocked. And we who test many applications can assure that this happens.

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For these cases and although this type of software is blocked by default, users will be able to modify the management of this type of software In “Settings> Update and security> Windows security> Application and browser control”. There you will see a specific section on “reputation-based protection” where you can manage the management of Defender, Edge and the Microsoft Store.

Windows 10 apps

Microsoft should lead by example and ‘clean’ Windows 10

We have been crying out in the desert for decades about the need to free Windows from Bloatware. And Android, which is the same or worse for this. If Microsoft itself defines PAUs as «Software that may cause your device to slow down, display unexpected advertisements, or software you don’t often need and probably don’t want ”, I should give an example with the copies of Windows that it delivers, full of junk software.

To the usual Windows applications and services (which are not few and not all necessary), Microsoft has added in Windows 10 another lot of universal applications for the Modern UI interface, in addition to third-party applications and games that have nothing to do with it. that we might consider necessary for the operation of the operating system.

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And if you buy a new PC you have to add those of the manufacturers. Like those of Microsoft, the vast majority are of little use (to put it mildly) and among all penalize user experience, the performance of the equipment and its stability. Or they even seriously compromise security as we saw in Lenovo’s Superfish case, a section of security that Microsoft says it wants to strengthen by blocking potentially unwanted applications by default.

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It would be more customer friendly to offer all such software (Microsoft’s and manufacturers’) as an additional, separate, and transparent download. If you are as fed up as we are with junk software, you can review this guide to remove Windows 10 Bloatware where we include cleaning both internal system functions and third-party applications. And we insist: a clean operating system would improve the user experience, the performance of the equipment and probably its degree of adoption.