In Microsoft’s Windows 11 there is a built in feature called Smart App Control. This is intended to reduce the loading of rogue software and to work alongside “normal” antivirus software.
Microsoft controls the features and behaviours of Smart App Control. The following is our understanding of those details from a user’s point of view. Microsoft may publish newer info and/or changed the behaviour.
Smart App Control will stop an App working if it does not “pass”. New Apps from large corporations will probably pass these but older Apps and those from smaller businesses may not. If an App you need to use is blocked by Smart App Control you will have to turn off the Control. It may be worth checking to see if the publishing company has a version that will run under SAC (this will probably be part of an update so there may well be a charge)
The versions of SuperView currently available are blocked by SAC. Producing a version of SuperView that will work is not imminent.
There are various scenarios where SAC is “not activated” but most individual and small business machines will have it activated, initially in evaluation mode.
Unlike antivirus systems there is no user allow or white list. The feature is essentially either on or off and individual Apps either pass or if they do not cannot be used (whilst SAC is on).
New setups of Windows 11 start off in evaluation mode that tries to work out whether the user’s behaviour (eg Apps) is suitable for Smart App Control. If not then SAC may not get turned on.
Smart App Control can also be manually turned off but only for the whole machine and cannot be restarted (except by a fresh install of Windows 11)
The following also shows the current “status” of SAC (evaluation, on or off)
(Windows 11) Settings>Privacy & Security
Windows Security
Select - Apps and Browser Control (in left list)
Select - Smart App Control settings (on right page)
Remember once turned off it is NOT easy to restart
SuperView 25’s Setup reports include an indication of the setting but cannot alter the setting. The report can only show either in evaluation mode or off – as on prevents it being installed
New (re)installs of Windows 11 (22H” or later) may have SAC activated – not upgrades from Windows 10 or older Windows 11 that did not initially have SAC
The following are some of the reasons SAC may not be available/activated
o Enterprise systems – those managed by the enterprise can have similar features but they are not SAC. You may still need to contact IT to get programs like SuperView 25 to work
o Windows S mode – this is even more strictly “locked down” – SuperView 25 will not run in Windows S mode
o Optional Diagnostic Data turned off during initial Windows 11 setup – this “prevents” SAC
o “Failed” evaluation mode
This mode tries to assess the currently installed Apps and usage of the machine. If it determines that these are not suitable for Smart App Control ("failed") it will be turned off.
It is not clear how long this evaluation period lasts but it is weeks rather than months. During this period SAC does not block Apps either being installed or used
Many antivirus programs have a list of "good" programs that the user is happy to use but the antivirus program does not recognise and so would otherwise consider bad - and block.
Microsoft effectively means any program (some used to be called EXEs other DLLs).
Device Drivers to control printers etc should already pass the tests but some of the utility Apps with the Device might not