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Microsoft To Introduce a New Feature In Windows 10 Which Will Allow Users To Block Installation of Desktop Apps (mspoweruser.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

Microsoft is planning to introduce a new feature to Windows 10 that will allow a user to prevent installation of desktop apps. The latest Windows Insider build comes with an option that allows users to enable app installations only from the Windows Store. From a report on MSPowerUser: Once enabled, users will see a warning whenever they try to install a Win32 app -- they will get a dialog saying apps from the Windows Store helps to keep their PC "safe and reliable." This feature is obviously disabled by default, but users can enable it really easily if they want.

11 of 307 comments (clear)

  1. "...disabled by default." by willoughby · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah... 'till the next update.

    1. Re:"...disabled by default." by Lendrick · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Disabled by default, then enabled by default, then mandatory, then not able to be worked around. Give it time.

    2. Re:"...disabled by default." by Keith+Russell · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The exact same thing was said when Apple introduced Gatekeeper in mac OS Mountain Lion four years ago. The default when Mountain Lion* shipped was to allow apps from the App Store or signed apps from other sources, and it's still the default today. The blanket option to allow all apps and go unprotected is now hidden, but it can be re-enabled from the command line. And you can still override Gatekeeper for individual apps from at least three different interfaces (attempt to launch the app, then open the App Store prefpane; right-click the app in Finder; use spctl from the command line). As far as I'm concerned, that's all as it should be. It's still possible for a user to selectively bypass Gatekeeper, but it's harder to do so accidentally or globally.

      (*: The back-port to Lion allowed all apps by default as a concession to users of old hardware that were left behind when Mountain Lion dropped support for 32-bit EFI.)

      That's no guarantee that Microsoft will be as wise as Apple has been. Instead of code signing, Microsoft is encouraging developers to wrap Win32 apps in UWP containers so they can be published from the Windows Store, so probably not as wise. Closed-source OS developers aren't idiots, though. Apple and Microsoft both know that the "default walled garden on desktop" button is wired to the self-destruct system.

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  2. Its about taxes by NotInHere · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Microsoft sells this as important step against bloatware/malware, but this coudn't be further from the truth. Windows 10 desktops come preloaded with bloatware, and often it re-installs itself after you have removed it. The real motivation for microsoft to do this is because the model of making a limited app store and then taxing every app a big amount (30% usually) has been very successful on the mobile market and they want this for windows too.

  3. a "feature" you say... by nimbius · · Score: 5, Insightful

    so heres how to use it in the latest release:

    users: another screen, another popup, another warning. mash enter until the bad square goes bye bye.

    Sysadmins/developers: crinkle nose, furrow brow, open mouth slightly, and quietly under your breath mutter "what the hell" while roaming around the popup to determine if theres a means to disable this garbage in the future. become concerned your app isnt in the store...did it need to be in the store? what was the process for that and why isnt the standup aware? how long has microsoft had its own app store?? people cant possibly use this right? disable the feature, push it as disabled in all GPO's. release your app in iOS and android instead. receive six user bugs in the next 5 years for windows 35 millenium chrome hyper walnut marmalade edition not running this code because your tertiary support agreement uploads werent made exclusive to the hyper microsoft money choo choo store. close as cant-fix/wont-fix and go make another cup of tea.

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    Good people go to bed earlier.
  4. If I want to keep PC safe and reliable... by QuietLagoon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'd disable the egregious data harvesting that Microsoft is doing. That's a bigger concern to me than desktop apps.

  5. Microsoft want a piece of the pie by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Microsoft look enviously at Apple, who get to control and profit from their walled garden. Then they glance over at Android, and see Google has their play store (which, whereas it may not be a walled garden, has a fence around). Fire users most certainly have their own walled garden courtesy of Amazon.

    Apple and Google are both benefiting from these "almost monopolies" they run controlling their users, skimming a bit off the top from everyone. No doubt, Microsoft sees that these are profitable ventures and they want the same control over what runs on Microsoft Windows. It's a little harder to do because there is a lot of legacy applications, and neither consumer, nor software producers want to give a little bit of each purchase to Microsoft. Microsoft are going to continue baby-stepping towards that goal though because they want the money, and their competitors are already doing that.

    It will be a sad day when you have no option but to buy from the Microsoft store, but that day is coming.

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    "That's the way to do it" - Punch
  6. I want the opposite controls by acoustix · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I want the ability to block the Windows Store from the users. Windows took that ability away from IT in Windows 10 Pro. Thanks, Microsoft.

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    "A plan fiendishly clever in its intricacies"- Homer Simpson
  7. You mean the Windows Malware Store? by nucrash · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Wasn't there are article about how the majority, I believe has high as 75% of the Windows Store apps were considered malware?
    https://www.howtogeek.com/1949...

    I mean, sure they probably have improved their content since the days of this, but let us not forget how they let this slip not to long ago.

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  8. Found the LUDDITE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Modern app appers ONLY app apps, so this setting makes Appdows 10 even appier by lockout out LUDDITE software!

    Apps!

  9. Apple by fyngyrz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Apple's been boiling its frogs (sorry, I mean, customers) longer, and has moved from the ability to install any app you want, to the ability to install any app you want IF you set up preferences to allow it, to an inability to set up preferences to allow it, but if you try, a button appears (which you have to go into preferences to find) that may allow it (doesn't alway appear)...

    They're one or two steps away from "app store only."

    The frogs.... sorry, the customers... just one step from boiling now.

    Interesting to see Microsoft begin to turn up the heat.

    I guess pretty much everyone's a frog now.

    Customer. I meant customer.

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    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.