When a website or app triggers one of the risk variables that Windows is looking for, it may give you a popup and stop you from accessing the site. In the case of Windows, that software is called Microsoft Defender SmartScreen.īefore you download anything, Windows uses several clues to determine secure versus unsecured applications.
Many top operating systems and web browsers use software to minimize the risk of downloading the most blatantly harmful software, to begin with. When you download harmful software to your device, the risks can be vast: from ruining your device with malware to having your identity stolen. Why does “ this app has been blocked for your protection ” appear? In this article, we’re going to dive deep into some of the most popular computer platforms (Windows, in particular) to explain how their cybersecurity tools work, along with what they look for in apps and websites they consider high-risk. What is being blocked, exactly? Why is that content being blocked in the first place? In other words: What red flags cause Windows and other operating systems to block the contents of a particular web page or application automatically? What’s actually going on when you receive a notification proclaiming “this app has been blocked for your protection”?
