Reputation-based protection: extra security for your PC

From Pixabay

Anytime you log on to the internet and maybe download things, you are exposing your device to several security threats. The protection of both your hardware and data in it should be something to always think about. In the last discussion, I explained how to stay safe against ransomware attack using built-in windows tool. In this presentation, I will talk about yet another windows 10 tool that gives you extra layer of protection against external threats from the internet.

We are going to learn about a tool called:

• Reputation-based protection

Let us see how you can set this up and double up security for you PC.

What is Reputation-based protection

When you surf the web and download programs, not all of programs downloaded are wanted by you. Some computer programs are automatically piggybacking on others. So if for example you downloaded a video converter program, it might automatically try to install third-party apps such as a web browser or audio player. These third-party installations might be malicious programs that will gradually harm your PC without your knowledge. So Reputation-based protection is a tool designed by windows to block the download or installation of these third-party apps that are suspected to pose a security risk in the future.

Some programs are considerate enough to ask you to install allow the installation of these third-party apps by ticking off their check boxes. Majority others however install such unwanted programs without your consent. So Reputation-based protection makes sure such unauthorized downloads do not happen or at the worst, prevents them from installing in your PC if they were downloaded with the original app.

So in the following section, we will learn how to set up Reputation-based protection so that your PC closes the back window through which unknown or malicious apps enter and pose harm to it.

How to set up Reputation-based protection

Step 1: Go to the search box and type App & Browser control. Click on the app to open it as shown below.

Step 2: In the new window, click Turn on to start this tool. Then click Reputation-based protection settings. so you can configure some settings. Check image below.

Step 3: You can configure a few things here to complete the setup:

• Check apps and files: Switch this setting on so that before downloading and installing unknown apps or files, your PC will require your authorization. Otherwise, the download and installation is blocked.

• SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge: If your default web browser is Microsoft Edge, then you need to turn on this setting too. It protects your PC against websites and files that are known to pose security risks.

• Potentially unwanted app blocking: Put this setting on to block apps and downloads that are showing erratic behavior. For example, some apps that tend to rename programs files or move them to a new location are given low reputation and blocked. This ensures that if the program is malicious, it is not allowed to harm your PC in any significant way.

Block apps prevents such apps from harming your computer if they have already been downloaded and installed. Block downloads prevents the files from getting into your PC in the first place.

Finally

Reputation-based protection is a very useful tool if you make downloads and surf the net. This tool keeps an eye on any downloads or installations that appear suspicious and prevents them from doing damage behind your back.

If you are alert to keep your PC from harms way, you will likely not fall victim to the many preying eyes roaming the internet.

Note: All images are mine. Except the thumbnail

See the Consulted material here

Related

• Protect your files and folders against ransomware attack!