Strengthening IT System Security: Analyzing Microsoft’s App Blocking Feature

The rapid evolution of IT systems and the increasing number of cyber-attacks have made it critical for technology companies to ensure the security of their products. This post will discuss the benefits of Microsoft’s app blocking feature and how it is likely to improve the security of its IT system.

Microsoft is a giant in the technology field and leads the way in development of new innovative software programs designed to make every aspect of life easier.

Because it manufactures so many popular applications, Microsoft software programs have become a lucrative target for computer hackers who target Microsoft users in order to gain access to millions of computers (unbeknownst to computer users worldwide) that hold a plethora of valuable personal and confidential information.

In an effort to curb the nefarious hacking that has plagued Microsoft users worldwide and in an attempt to get customers to use options offered in its “Windows Store” more often, Microsoft is currently evaluating an innovative function for Windows 10 that prevents installation of desktop apps unless they come directly from the official Microsoft Windows Store.

The move by Microsoft to evaluate and implement a new feature for Windows 10 that prevents the installation of desktop apps unless they come from the official Microsoft Windows Store is a significant step towards improving IT system security.

When enabled this option will prevent computer users from installing classic Win32 applications, which include many popularly used programs like Google Chrome and Adobe Photoshop. Win32 is the programming interface used for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows Operating Systems, starting with Windows 95.

Enhancing App Security: Microsoft’s New Feature for Windows 10

This new feature limits the scope of apps users can install and may be very useful to newbies since they are much less likely to install malware on their electronic devices. The Windows Store offers apps to meet most of their needs and newbies can also get a variety of Win32 apps from the Windows Store using Microsoft’s Desktop App Converter.

The new feature is disabled by default in Windows 10, but users can easily enable it if they choose by going to the Apps and Features category and selecting Settings. Users will have the option of allowing or blocking installation of Win32 apps altogether as well as an alternative that gives priority to apps from the Windows Store without blocking standard desktop applications (which will result in a prompt asking for approval of the installation anytime you run a non-Windows Store app).

Users who enable the feature and then attempt to install a Win32 app will get a warning in the form of a dialog box that reminds them that the Windows Store is the only “safe and reliable” place to obtain software.

Microsoft is expected to release the Windows 10 Update in April, 2017 which will include a variety of other new features for use in Windows 10.

Microsoft is also developing an update for its IT system, specifically for Windows 10, which aims to create a truly universal operating system for electronic devices by prohibiting users from installing any Win32 apps. The move is aimed at improving the security of its IT system by restricting access to potentially harmful software that could compromise the system’s integrity.

 

Introduction to Windows 10 and Windows history

Before Microsoft introduced its Windows Operating System operators had to access data on computers using Microsoft MS-DOS which was a “command-line” operating system that required knowledge of multiple codes and was very different from and much more complicated than the latest icon laden operating system known as Windows 10.

In this article you will learn the following tips

• Signing in with a Local Account
• Revert to the Classic “Start” Menu
• Pin Internet Explorer to your “Start” Menu or Task Bar
• Unpin Microsoft Edge from Start Menu and Task Bar
• Make Internet Explorer Your Default Web Browser
• Have File Explorer Open to Your Personal Computer
• Disable Cortana
• Removing Cortana from the Task Bar
• Removing the Task View Option from the Task Bar
• Removing the Action Center Option from the Task Bar
• Changing the Color of Title Bars

 

MS-DOS contained no graphics or windows and users would see a “DOS prompt” when they booted up their computers. You had to know the commands necessary to launch certain computer programs or run utilities that were built into the system.

This complicated operating system required various commands for operating the computer that included typing “A:” at the prompt to switch between a floppy drive and drive “A.” To change directories you would use the “CD” command; to view files in a directory you would use the “DIR” command and to run a particular computer program you would have to type in the name of the program’s “executable file” at the prompt.

MS-DOS did only one thing at a time so that multitasking with which we are so familiar today was impossible. If you were in a program and wanted to use another, you’d have to close the current program and enter the command to open the other program. If you wanted to add a new program from a floppy disk, you would have to insert the floppy disk into your computer’s “floppy” drive and wait for the computer to read the contents on the disk. Then you would have to follow a series of commands to actually be able to access and use the new program.

The old DOS system didn’t support electronic hardware devices that are needed to run various programs. For example if you purchased and installed a new game onto your computer, that game had to include options for supporting every type of sound card that computer users may use and you would have to use a SETUP program to configure settings for every computer program you added to your computer.

Thankfully, Microsoft developed its Windows technology that simplified computer use and increased the demand for personal computers. Multiple software applications have been developed to accommodate every computer user and provide software solutions for basically everything you need to accomplish.

Microsoft continually upgraded its Windows Operating System and is currently on Version 10. Windows 7.0 has proven to be the most popular version of the operating system and many people prefer it over Windows 10. However, if you purchase a new computer the upgraded Windows 10 is the only option available.

Many computer operators would like to incorporate some of the features of the older 7.0 version into the newer 10.0 and, if you are one of those people currently using Windows 10 but would like to make it seem more like 7, the following is a list of things you can do to accomplish that.

 

Signing in with a Local Account

Of course Windows 10 prefers you sign in using your Microsoft account but you can do a few things to enable signing in with a local account instead following these steps:

1. Click on the “Start” button.
2. Click on the “Settings” button which resembles a gear.
3. Click on “Accounts.”
4. Click on “Sign on with a Different Account.”
5. Type the password used to access your Microsoft account.
6. Click on “Next.”
7. Type a “User Name.” You can also create a “Password” but it’s not required.
8. Click on “Next.”
9. Lastly click on “Sign Out and Finish.”

Revert to the Classic “Start” Menu

Windows 10’s “Start” menu is very different than the menu in 7 and you can revert back to that 7 menu if you prefer using the following steps:

1. Use the “Start” menu, task bar or desktop to launch your preferred browser.
2. Navigate to “www.classicshell.net.”
3. Click on “Download.”
4. After the file finishes downloading, click on “Run.”
5. Click on “Next.”
6. Click on the box next to “I accept the terms….”
7. Click on “Next.”
8. Click on “Next” again.
9. Click on “Install” and then “Finish.
10. Click on the “Start” which brings up the “Settings” menu.
11. Click on “Windows Style 7.”
12. Click on “Select Skin.”
13. Click on the down drop arrow next to “Skin.”
14. Select and click on a “Skin.”
15. Click on “Okay,” which will make your “Start” menu look like Word 7.

Pin Internet Explorer to your “Start” Menu or Task Bar

Newer personal computers are already equipped with Windows 10 which uses “Edge”
as its web browser but you can use the following steps to use Internet Explorer instead.
These actions will remove the IE browser from storage, display it on your “Start” menu
or task bar and you can then begin using it as your browser instead of Edge.

1. Right click on the “Start” button.
2. Click on “Search.”
3. Type “Internet Explorer.”
4. Right click on “Internet Explorer.”
5. Click on “Pin to Start” or “Pin to Task Bar” or both, if you want.

Unpin Microsoft Edge from Start Menu and Task Bar

If you want to get rid of the “Edge” icon you can follow these steps to remove it from your Start menu and Task Bar:

1. Right click on the “Edge” button in your task bar.
2. Click on “Unpin from task bar.”
3. Click on the “Start” button.
4. Right click on the “Edge” tile.
5. Click on “Unpin from Start.”

Make Internet Explorer Your Default Web Browser

Computer users can make Internet Explorer their default web browser in Windows 10 by using the following steps:

1. Click on the “Start” button.
2. Click on the “Settings” button which looks like a gear.
3. Click on “System.”
4. Click on “Default Apps.”
5. Click on “Microsoft Edge” or whatever is your default web browser.
6. Click on “Internet Explorer.”
7. Click on “Switch Anyway.”

Have File Explorer Open to Your Personal Computer

When you open “File Explorer” in Windows 10 you are automatically directed to a “Quick Access” section where frequently used files and folders are stored. Use the following steps to make File Explorer open those files and folders on your computer instead of Quick Access.

1. From your “Start” menu, desk top or task bar, launch “File Explorer.”
2. Right click on “Quick Access.”
3. Click on “Options.”
4. Click on the drop down arrow next to “Open File Explorer.”
5. Click on “This PC.”
6. Click on “Apply.”
7. Click on “Okay.”

Disable Cortana

Cortana is a digital assistant included in Microsoft Windows 10 which can be helpful as well as annoying. Cortana could previously be disabled with the click of one button, but that is no longer an option. Options included for those using Cortana are: “Hey Cortana” which will make the digital assistant respond; “Lock Screen” allows Cortana to work when your electronic device is locked; “Taskbar Tidbits” allows Cortana to interject occasionally while you are in the “search” field; “Send Notifications Between Devices” allows Cortana to provide updates about any additional electronic devices that are connected to Windows; “History View” is self-explanatory in that it shows your history in the home screen of Cortana; and “My Device History” is the means by which your history is collected from all devices.

Although the one click option for disabling Cortana is no longer available you can adjust some settings to make it at least seem like you got rid of it by following these steps:

1. Right click on the “Start” button.
2. Click on “Search.”
3. Click on the “Settings” button which, again, looks like a gear.
4. Click on the switch that appears beneath “Settings” options to turn it off.

Removing Cortana from the Task Bar

Although having a “search” option on your task bar might be convenient, it doesn’t resemble the one in Windows 7 and many people would like to remove it which can be achieved by following these steps:

1. Right click on a blank spot on your computer’s task bar.
2. Click on “Cortana.”
3. Click on “Hidden.”

Removing the Task View Option from the Task Bar

The “Task View” button on your computer’s task bar was designed for electronic hand held tablets. When you click on that button, a screen appears that shows all of your open windows (basically the same function as the Alt + Tab shortcut). You can remove it from your task bar by using these steps:

1. Right click on a blank spot on your task bar.
2. Click on “Show Task View Button” so the checkmark disappears.

Removing the Action Center Option from the Task Bar

Using the following steps will remove the “Action Center” option from your computer’s task bar:

1. Right click on a blank spot on the task bar.
2. Click on “Settings.”
3. Scroll down to and click on “Turn System Icons On or Off.”
4. Click on the “Switch” option next to “Action Center” to turn it off.

Changing the Color of Title Bars

In Windows 7 the title bars on open windows is blue but Windows 10 uses white as its default bar color. You can change the color of title bars following these steps:

1. Click on the “Start” button.
2. Click on the “Settings” button.
3. Click on “Personalization.”
4. Click on “Colors.”
5. Click on whatever color you want to use.
6. Turn it on by clicking on “Switch” under “Show Color on the Title Bar.”