Windows 10: Windows 10 blocks Potentially Unwanted Apps by default now

Microsoft has started to turn on the Potentially Unwanted Apps (PUA) protection of Windows Defender in the company's Windows 10 operating system.

Potentially unwanted apps "can cause your device to run slowly, display unexpected ads, or at worst, install other software which may be more harmful or annoying" according to Microsoft. Microsoft notes that these programs are not malware, but that it is usually software that is not needed or wanted.

The company introduced support for blocking PUA on Windows 10 in 2018, but users had to enable the feature using PowerShell; an option to enable or configure the protection under Windows Security was introduced in the May 2020 update for Windows 10. Still disabled at the time, users could now configure the protection under Windows Security on Windows 10 devices.

The Potentially Unwanted Apps protection will be turned on by default from August 2021 on, but only for Windows 10 users who use Windows Defender and not a third-party security solution.

Configure Potentially Unwanted Apps blocking




If you are using Windows Defender, you may check and configure the PUA protection in the following way:

1. Select Start > Settings.
2. Go to Update & Security.
3. Select Windows Security.
4. Activate the "Open Windows Security" button.
5. Select App & Browser Control > Reputation-based Protection.
6. Toggle Potentially unwanted app blocking to turn the feature on or off.

If turned on, select whether you want apps and downloads blocked, or just one of the two.

The same page links to the protection history. You may use it to see protection actions, including apps or downloads that were blocked by Windows' PUA protection.

Third-party programs like Configure Defender may also be used to manage the protection and other Windows Defender features.

Windows Defender is not the only program that may protect against unwanted programs. Microsoft added PUA protection in its new Edge browser some time ago.

Closing Words

Potentially Unwanted Apps protection blocks certain programs from being downloaded or installed. Users may still unblock the programs to complete the download or installation. False positives are a common occurrence, similarly to how false positives are common in antivirus solutions, especially when it comes to new programs.

Experienced users may not get much out of PUA protections, but the same cannot be said for inexperienced users.

Now You: do you have PUA protections enabled on your devices? (via Deskmodder)

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Protection History Warning - Potentially unwanted app found

This just popped up, potentially unwanted app found. Detected MiniTool_Partition_Wizard_Bundleinstaller?? Tried Remove, Quarantine - does not remove the Yellow Triangle. Anybody else seen this?? False positive?? Had 2 instances, blocked the first one.

 

Windows 10 forgets default apps

I have noticed like not 5mins ago that Winamp just got kicked out of my default apps list in Windows 10 Pro.
I installed this installation not max 3 weeks ago with fresh downloaded Windows 10 Pro using Microsoft Media Creation Tool, is there a way to fix this bcs I using sfc /scannow don't do a lot for me and I have run it before on this installation.

Before u ask, I have fully updated my Windows 10 with all non-insider/beta updates.

The only thing I have disabled is the uac prompt that popup when u need admin for applications to run bcs it's simply annoying.

I don't remember having all these problems with Windows 8.1 Pro when i was using that and I am really thinking about going back so I can have "fully control" over Windows again with like disabling all the admin crap bcs I feel like it's messing more up and makes things less useful in Windows 10 with all these small problems I have and I read a lot of ppl having problems with various things time and time again where they needed to reinstall Win10 over and over to get it to work fully.

Any advice on how I can get Windows 10 to just work as a "daily driver" without all these small annoying things? *Frown

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.