In the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, Microsoft has introduced various new features in Windows 11 designed to protect users from modern workplace threats. Among such features, Smart App Control (SAC) changes how Windows devices block unwanted or potentially malicious applications.
But what exactly is Smart App Control? How does it work, who benefits most, and are there any caveats? In this story we’ll share some history and also try to explain why SAC has been — and remains — something of a stealth feature in Windows 11.
What is Smart App Control?
Smart App Control is a security feature in Windows 11 designed to block untrusted or potentially dangerous applications from running on a PC. Built directly into the operating system (through Windows Security), SAC leverages code signing, Microsoft’s intelligence cloud, and artificial intelligence to make real-time decisions about whether or not an app or application should be allowed to execute. Its goal is to minimize the risk of malware, ransomware, and unwanted software running on users’ systems — with minimal user intervention.
This story originally appeared on Computerworld
