New Windows 10 Update Shows App Warnings For Malware - Olmec Skip to main content

New Windows 10 Update Shows App Warnings For Malware

By October 27, 2020May 5th, 2022Cybersecurity

A great many malware strains are designed to engage quietly during a PC’s startup process and then idle in the background.

They are in the system logging keystrokes, taking screen shots at periodic intervals and uploading them to a command and control server, or doing other nefarious things.

Microsoft wants to limit malware’s ability to do that, which is part of the reason why the company introduced a new alert to the latest Windows 10 build that will let users know anytime an app registers itself to run automatically at startup.

It’s not just malware, by the way. There are all sorts of perfectly legitimate apps that are designed to run at startup. While it might not matter if you’ve got two or three apps churning quietly in the background, over time it can begin to get a little out of control and the net effect of all those apps running will invariably begin to degrade the performance of your system.

The new alert system is designed to work hand in hand with the company’s Potentially Unwanted App feature. So now when you get an alert, if you click on it, you’ll be taken to a screen that shows you what the app is, and you’ll have an option to block both unwanted apps and unnecessary downloads.

This is a really good, surprisingly simple fix. Microsoft has been known to over-engineer solutions to problems, but this one is simple and elegant. In addition to that, it addresses an issue that impacts a tremendous percentage of users, but mostly manages to stay below the radar. In our book that’s amazing.

While the Redmond Giant has certainly had their share of stumbles and PR gaffes, this isn’t one of them. It’s a great new addition. Kudos to Microsoft for making the change.

Jason Manteiga

Jason J. Manteiga, Vice President of Olmec Systems, has been part of the company for over the past 20 years. He believes that having a great work environment and supportive team, is the ultimate key to success. Since being in the IT realm for over 25 years, Jason, along with Olmec Systems, has been on the Inc. 5000 “List of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies” and Channel Futures MSP 501 “Top Managed Service Providers in North America,” along with other awards and nominations. Jason earned his Bachelor Degree in Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He also holds certifications in Microsoft MCSE, VMWare VCP, and Cisco CCNA. In his spare time, Jason is a contributor for The Center for Social & Legal Research (Privacy Exchange) and a member of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. His hobbies include cycling and kayaking. He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters and son.