Turn Smart App Control on or off in Windows 11
If you are a student, this post is especially for you. In this article, we will discuss the steps to enable or disable smart app control in Windows 11.
Smart App Control
Smart App Control is a new feature deployed on computers enrolled in the Microsoft Insider program that also protects users from new and emerging malware and threats, including blocking malicious or untrusted apps.
Microsoft describes it as a Windows 11 security feature that "blocks untrusted or potentially dangerous apps." Smart App Control works in evaluation mode initially according to Microsoft, but may turn on automatically.
SAC is first configured in evaluation mode. While SAC is in evaluation mode, you'll learn if it can help protect you without getting in your way too much. If so, it will turn on automatically. Otherwise, it will turn off automatically. While in evaluation mode, the user can manually launch SAC in the Windows Security application under the Application Control and browser section.
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2. How does Windows 11 Smart App Control work?
When you try to run an app on Windows, Smart App Control will check to see if our cloud-based intelligent security service can make a confident prediction about its safety. If the service believes that the app is safe, Smart App Control will allow it to run. Or if the app is thought to be malicious or unwanted, Smart App Control will block it.
If the security service is unable to make a confident prediction about the application, then Smart App Control checks to see if the application has a valid signature. Smart App Control will allow it to run if the app has a valid signature. If the app is not signed, or the signature is invalid, Smart App Control will consider it untrusted and block it for your protection.
3. How to enable or disable Smart App Control in Windows 11?
As mentioned above, Smart App Control protects users from new and emerging malware and threats, including blocking malicious or untrusted apps.
You can find Smart App Control settings in the App Control Panel and browser for the Windows Security app.
⇒Here's how to turn Smart App Control on or off in Windows 11.
Turn Smart App Control on or off:
In the Search by task box, type Windows Security, and then select Windows Security in the results lists.
In Windows Security, select the app and browser control box as shown in the image below.
On the Application and browser control page, click the Smart App Control settings link to open it.
Then change the periodic scan setting to On or Off.
Smart app control starts in evaluation mode. This is a period during which Windows tries to determine if you are a good candidate for controlling smart applications. If you are a good candidate for smart app control, it will turn on automatically. If not, it will turn off. Nothing will be blocked while in evaluation mode.
Smart App Control is only available on clean installations of Windows 11. Also, there are two more reasons why Smart App Control is turned off. 6.1 During the evaluation mode, you decide that you were not a good candidate for smart application control.
6.2 Manually turned off by you or another user who is logged in to your device.
Smart app control is only available on clean installations of Windows 11.
Note: Devices running earlier versions of Windows 11 must be reset with a clean installation of Windows 11 to take advantage of this feature.
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4. Need?
SAC acts as phishing protection. Hackers have recently targeted streaming services, parking meters, and those paying taxes, proving that phishing remains a concern. With this in mind, one of the latest security features in Windows 11 is aimed at combating such attacks. Other new security improvements will be available later this year.
When enabled, enhanced phishing protection in Windows 11 will alert users if they enter Microsoft account information into websites or programs known to phish. They also protect against misleading advertising.
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Conclusion:
In this article, we discussed smart app control and how to turn smart app control on/off?