SillyDog701

[Antony]

According to Electronista, Windows 8 will have an Apple-like file checking system built-in.

Among the additions coming to Windows 8 should be an Apple-like file checking system that would refuse to run files known or suspected to be rogue. Microsoft's SmartScreen, a system first found in Internet Explorer and Windows Live Messenger, will check files for whether they're malware or otherwise illegal and could stop them from running. The method would prevent 'social' viruses, where users end up bypassing their usual safeguards because they think it comes from a known source.

The implementation would be more complex than what Apple offers in Mac OS X, where the checks are based on sporadically updated malware signature lists. SmartScreen could be based on some algorithmically generated information to more aggressively update the list. Windows users would have the option of fine-tuning settings and could either go from turning SmartScreen off altogether to refusing to open any file that didn't clear the SmartScreen check.

Windows 8 is due to be completed and shipping by late 2012 but could be in beta by September this year.

(full article at Windows 8's SmartScreen to build on Apple's file screening (Electronista)

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[Don_HH2K]

So in plain and simple terms, they're building in an anti-malware app that also has the ability to prevent you from running any app that Microsoft declares improper?

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[Antony]

So in plain and simple terms, they're building in an anti-malware app that also has the ability to prevent you from running any app that Microsoft declares improper?

It's not that bad... Think about it, many governments have a long list of books/movies/games/website you are not allowed read/watch/play/visit...

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[Don_HH2K]

Those repressive governments only limit your access to those materials (and perhaps make their possession illegal as a result), they can never do anything to explicitly prevent you from ever reading them, as it sounds like such a feature would do. Having to a jailbreak an operating system just to run whatever software you like (mobile OSes with restrictive app stores are included!) is a terrible idea to begin with.

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[Mandrake]

Something else to turn off altogether I suppose, just like UAC.

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[Antony]

Don,

Many governments not only limit people's access to certain materials, but possession or viewing those material could lead to criminal charges, e.g. child pornography. I believe your United States of America government has this practise.

Something else to turn off altogether I suppose, just like UAC.

What is UAC?

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[Don_HH2K]

Many governments not only limit people's access to certain materials, but possession or viewing those material could lead to criminal charges, e.g. child pornography. I believe your United States of America government has this practise.

You missed my point - it is not impossible to gain access to those resources. On the contrary, it would be impossible to execute those blacklisted apps, unless as Mandrake said there's a facility to shut the feature off entirely. Either way, if the feature is shut off or if the OS needs to be jailbroken to run whatever programs you choose, it undermines the ability to both keep the user free to choose his/her preferred apps and at the same time deliver a consistent product.

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[Amrad]

What is UAC?

User Account Control

Regards,

Dave.

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[Antony]

Don,

Microsoft is trying to protect Windows users. (Just like many governments.) Somehow, you read a bit too much.

Thank you for the UAC link.

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[Don_HH2K]

Don,

Microsoft is trying to protect Windows users. (Just like many governments.) Somehow, you read a bit too much.

My point is that this "protection" won't work, for two reasons. First, if there's no mechanism to turn it off, people will have to jailbreak the OS to get their programs to work. If there is a mechanism to turn it off, then people will (like UAC) generally turn it off, and render the feature useless to begin with.

Rather than whitelisting or blacklisting apps, which has massive potential for abuse (for instance certain brand names not letting certain other brand names into their app stores), there should be some sort of heuristic detection of what defines a rogue program - something best left to good antivirus software.

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