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Temporarily disable Smart App Control (W11)

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sciuro -  

Hello,

When downloading a harmless software (which I have been using for many years), Smart App Control blocks it.

I visited a few sites to know how to handle it, followed the instructions but there’s no change.

*For information, here is how I proceeded:

- Settings
- Privacy & security
- Windows Security
- App & browser control
- Smart App Control
- Smart App Control settings
- "Off"*

Then I restarted the computer.*

I tried to re-download the blocked application: still the same blocking message.

I went back to Smart App Control: the "Off" box was still checked....

Did I miss something?

4 answers

  1. brucine

    Hello,

    I no longer use Windows Defender and therefore the Security Center where many settings are located.

    Is there no longer a so-called reputation setting?

    1. sciuro Author

      I disabled Windows Defender and replaced it with Avast, thinking the problem came from Windows' antivirus, but the problem persists. It would seem the intrusive block is coming directly from Windows 11.

      It’s becoming tedious... Why not simply indicate the possible risk and let the user take responsibility by downloading or not the desired application... especially when it is reliable (regularly used on 3 other PCs (under W7, W10...))

      1. brucine

        I can only roughly repeat what I already said.

        The use of a third-party security software disables the Windows Defender firewall and antivirus, not the various gadgets in the security center that all need to be disabled.

        The mechanism is obscure and exists, more or less, in all security software, so probably also Avast which I do not use; the question is whether the mechanism in question can be disabled or not.

        It relies on all or part of the software's name, the publisher's reputation, the software's signature opposed to an online database that sometimes gets confused.

        Of course you can go beyond the checkboxes, use the big guns and completely remove Windows Defender (it goes without saying that another security software must replace it), do a search for "Remove Defender"; there are many utilities and scripts for this purpose.

        I personally use Comodo where the real-time antivirus is disabled (my belief is that you must know what you are doing and there is always time to perform a spot-check in case of doubt before installing) as well as web filtering and any file evaluation based on something other than the publisher's name that I can modulate, Defender uninstalled.

    2. bazfile Moderator
      Hello @sciuro .

      Since Smart App Control has been disabled, right-click the problematic file, select Properties, in the General tab, check the Unblock box, then click Apply and OK, open the file as administrator and see if it works.

      If the block persists, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection. Temporarily disable Check apps and files as well as SmartScreen.

      Launch the file as administrator, and see if it works.

      bazfile
      Moderator/Security Contributor.
      A hello, a reply, a thank you always makes us happy.
      1. sciuro Author
        < p >Disabling SmartScreen on Edge made it work.
        Thank you.< /p >
    3. sciuro Author

      Okay. I’m going to explore all that with a clear head... I should be able to manage (at least once I’ve managed to translate into French the “winaero” page kindly sent by brucine, because Edge didn’t offer to translate it when it appeared...)

      Anyway, thank you both for your help and your advice.

      Have a good rest of Sunday...

      1. brucine
        Somewhere, the images are telling once you mute those about the Group Policy that are only applicable in Windows Pro versions and that can be carried out subsequently by registry modification and the application in the Microsoft Store which remains anecdotal, and in each situation there are Ready to use registry modifications (zip files to unzip containing 2 reg files, disable and re-enable, right-click, merge).

        Even simpler, you install Winaero Tweaker, I’m sorry, it’s still in English and you check the two boxes to Disable Smart Screen.

        Even more expedient (and the site remains in English but it’s only about downloading the exe at the bottom if Windows allows):

        It goes without saying that we’ve planned beforehand a third-party security solution.

        Regarding not downloading files but running them, the remark in <4> about blocking is relevant, to which we can optionally add a block by UAC (lower the level to Control Panel - User Accounts - Change User Account Control settings).