Block Potentially Unwanted Apps For Downloads in Microsoft Edge

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How To Block Potentially Unwanted Apps For Downloads in Microsoft Edge

A new feature has become available in Microsoft Edge Chromium so it can check files you download against the list of potentially unwanted apps. It utilizes Windows Defender to check the files. Here's how you can enable it.

Potential Unwanted Application (PUA) usually refers to unwanted application bundlers or their bundled applications. These applications can increase the risk of your device being infected with malware, and can waste your time cleaning up the applications. Typical examples of behavior that is considered unwanted include ad-injection, many types of software bundling, and persistent solicitation for payment for services based on fraudulent claims.

Windows Defender comes with built-in protection against such apps.

Starting with build 79.0.280.0 Microsoft Edge Chromium can team up with Windows Defender and protect you from downloading PUAs. The option can be enabled in the browser's settings under Privacy and Security.

To Block Potentially Unwanted Apps For Downloads in Microsoft Edge,

  1. Update your Microsoft Edge to the latest version (see below).
  2. Click on the menu button with three dots.
  3. Click on the Settings item.
  4. On the left, click on Privacy and services.
  5. On the right, turn on the option Block potentially unwanted apps.

You are done.

Note: Due to Controlled Feature Roll-outs, your Edge app may not include the appropriate option in its settings. In that case, you can force make it visible via a flag.

Enable Block Potentially Unwanted Apps Option in Edge Settings

  1. Type edge://flags/#edge-smartscreen-pua into the address bar and hit the Enter key.
  2. Select Enabled from the drop down menu next to the flag name.
  3. Restart the browser when prompted.

 

As you may already know, Microsoft is currently using three channels to deliver updates to Edge Insiders. The Canary channel receives updates daily (except Saturday and Sunday), the Dev channel is getting updates weekly, and the Beta channel is updated every 6 weeks. The stable channel is also on its way to users.

Actual Microsoft Edge Versions

The actual pre-release versions of Edge Chromium at the moment of this writing are as follows:

I have covered many Edge tricks and features in the following post:

Hands-on with the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge

Also, see the following updates.

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Author: Sergey Tkachenko

Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.

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