How to Enable Windows Defender Adware Blocking in Windows 10

Microsoft now allows Windows Defender to detect PUAs

Microsoft has recently added a new adware protection system for enterprises, allowing them to detect and block Potentially Unwanted Applications (also known as PUAs) on their computers.

But according to Microsoft’s own announcement, this feature was only available for enterprises, so consumers running Windows 10 Home or Pro, for example, aren’t getting it.

And yet, there’s a very simple way to enable this feature on any computer with Windows Defender, and as gHacks notes, it all comes down to just a few registry tweaks.

Before anything, make sure you create a backup or a system restore point, just in case something goes wrong and you need to recover your Windows install.

Shields up on potentially unwanted applications in your enterprise - Microsoft Malware Protection Center - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

I am known to mess around with the registry, but when it comes to my AV????? Naaaaa

I am known to mess around with the registry, but when it comes to my AV????? Naaaaa ]

I've done it and it works (although I did have to deliberately try to install malware to test it). You could look here Easy registry hack makes Windows Defender an adware killer also.

Or indeed the original source here Windows mit verstecktem Adware-Killer | heise online if you speak German

All you are doing is enabling another (very worthwhile imo) MS feature - not messing with it.

I've done it and it works (although I did have to deliberately try to install malware to test it). You could look here Easy registry hack makes Windows Defender an adware killer also. Or indeed the source here Windows mit verstecktem Adware-Killer | heise online if you speak German

All you are doing is enabling another (very worthwhile imo) MS feature - not messing with it.

On the above on windows 7, MSE would block PUPs & PUAs in software wrappers(and very well at that)

I speak both English and German, thanks. Ok I'll give it a shot, seeing this reg addition has been a round a while.

Open up NotePad copy & paste the following in:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00  [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows DefenderMpEngine] "MpEnablePus"=dword:00000001

then save as MpEnablePus.reg and file type: "all files"

and lastly double click to merge and reboot.
Now you're protected.

Or you can download this zip,
Unblock it in properties,
Extract it to desktop or Documents and double click, reboot

MpEnablePus.zip

Shawn has a tutorial out now with downloads, go here: Windows Defender PUA Protection - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 blog

How good is the PUA protection in this thing?

I have tried and it seems to work. I have disabled it because I find it too intrusive. It even deleted uTorrent from my machine, because it was bundled with OpenCandy. At least, it seems to work for its PUP blocking purpose.

It is a good addition for newbies, but can be annoying for power users. I will certainly put it on newly formatted pcs.