Block or Unblock Potentially Unwanted Apps Protection in Microsoft Edge
By Timothy Tibbettson 07/18/2023 |
The Chromium-based Microsoft Edge continues to improve and see new features added. One such feature you may appreciate is the ability to block or unblock Potentially Unwanted Apps or PUAs.
Potentially Unwanted Apps Protection (also called Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs) is a great concept. However, Microsoft has estimated that there are over 35 million Windows applications with more than 175 million application versions and 16 million unique hardware/driver combinations. So, your favorite security software is using heuristics (guessing) on the majority of the software they scan.
Potentially Unwanted Apps is something used by many web browsers and security software to try to identify programs that might be malicious. If they were honest and told you how many times they were guessing, you'd probably be annoyed, especially if you paid. But, you don't know that and assume your security software has you covered. Not even close.
There isn't a security company out there that can catalog 35 million (and growing daily) apps and guarantee you that each app is safe or not. Because of this, many apps that are designed to protect you from Potentially Unwanted Apps, in fact, have Potentially Unwanted Apps behavior themselves.
Install almost any antivirus or antimalware app out there including some of the largest (Malwarebytes and Avast come to mind) and get ready to be nagged to purchase or in the case of Avast, it's borderline malware and without a doubt a PUA itself. How truly sad. Check out our article on the steps you'd have to take to install Avast safely.
Stepping off our soapbox now, you can decide if you want PUA on, of off.
You must have version Edge 79.0.280.0 or later. Because Microsoft keeps adding, removing, or changing where individual settings are we want to use the flags option.
Type edge://flags/#edge-smartscreen-pua into the search bar.
Click on the dropdown box and change Default to Disabled.
Potentially Unwanted Apps Protection is now off.
Similar:
How to Enable or Disable About:Flags Page in Microsoft Edge
How to Install Avast as a Lightweight Antivirus
How to Delete Your YouTube Watch and Search History
How to Enable and Configure Tracking Prevention in Microsoft Edge
How to Clear Browsing Data When Microsoft Edge is Closed
How to Install Extensions on Microsoft Edge from Chrome Web Store
How to Change the Default Search Engine in the Chromium-Based Microsoft Edge
How to Manage Passwords, Payment Info, and Addresses in Chromium-Based Microsoft Edge
comments powered by Disqus
Potentially Unwanted Apps Protection (also called Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs) is a great concept. However, Microsoft has estimated that there are over 35 million Windows applications with more than 175 million application versions and 16 million unique hardware/driver combinations. So, your favorite security software is using heuristics (guessing) on the majority of the software they scan.
Potentially Unwanted Apps is something used by many web browsers and security software to try to identify programs that might be malicious. If they were honest and told you how many times they were guessing, you'd probably be annoyed, especially if you paid. But, you don't know that and assume your security software has you covered. Not even close.
There isn't a security company out there that can catalog 35 million (and growing daily) apps and guarantee you that each app is safe or not. Because of this, many apps that are designed to protect you from Potentially Unwanted Apps, in fact, have Potentially Unwanted Apps behavior themselves.
Install almost any antivirus or antimalware app out there including some of the largest (Malwarebytes and Avast come to mind) and get ready to be nagged to purchase or in the case of Avast, it's borderline malware and without a doubt a PUA itself. How truly sad. Check out our article on the steps you'd have to take to install Avast safely.
Stepping off our soapbox now, you can decide if you want PUA on, of off.
You must have version Edge 79.0.280.0 or later. Because Microsoft keeps adding, removing, or changing where individual settings are we want to use the flags option.
Type edge://flags/#edge-smartscreen-pua into the search bar.
Click on the dropdown box and change Default to Disabled.
Potentially Unwanted Apps Protection is now off.
Similar:
comments powered by Disqus
