Windows 11 22H2 update comes with a major security boost

Windows 11 22H2 update comes with a major security boost

With the release of Windows 11 22H2 later this year, Microsoft is adding a new security tool that will help protect users from malware and other malicious applications installed on their PCs.

According to a new Windows Insider blog post, the software giant is currently working on a new security feature for Windows 11 called Smart App Control. Once enabled, it will prevent the installation of untrusted or potentially dangerous applications on your computer.

In addition to infecting your device with viruses, these potentially unwanted applications can slow down your device, display random ads, change the preferred search engine in your browser, install other software, and more. Fortunately, Smart App Control aims to stop them in their tracks by making sure they don't get installed in the first place.

Although it can be difficult to decide which applications should not be installed on a user's PC, Microsoft has developed a way to automatically detect and report suspicious applications.

Smart app control

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Smart app control

When Windows 11 22H2 starts rolling out to Windows PCs, Smart App Control will initially be set to test mode. In trial mode, the security tool will determine if it can help protect your PC without getting in the way, and if so, it will activate automatically.

Once enabled, Smart App Control will scan all apps you try to install to confirm whether or not they have been signed by their developer and if the signature is valid. This helps determine whether or not an application is trustworthy, as large companies and even popular open source software developers sign their applications using a digital certificate to declare and verify their identity.

Smart App Control will then verify the certification, and if the signature is valid, the app will be able to run on Windows 11. However, if the signature is invalid, the security tool will work with Microsoft Defender to run another scan to find if the app It is known and safe. Insecure and potentially insecure apps are flagged by Smart App Control and subsequently blocked from being installed on your device.

Microsoft is testing Smart App Control now with Windows Insiders, but the feature will be available to anyone using the latest version of their operating system with the release of its upcoming Sun Valley 2 update for Windows 11.

Via the latest version of Windows