Simple Software Restriction Policy

Name: Simple Software Restriction Policy
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

Security add-on for Windows. Make it considerably harder for unwanted software to get launched. Not through file signatures but through identifying places where executables have no right to be, for example Documents folders.

Free • Open Source
Windows

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Simple Software Restriction Policy is a security add-on for Microsoft Windows, published by IWR Consultancy.

Its purpose is to make it considerably harder for unwanted or potentially harmful software to get itself launched on the computer. It achieves this not through the file signatures used by antivirus programs, but through identifying the places on the local disks in which legitimate software typically resides, eg 'Program Files' as opposed to places where executables have no right to be, for example Documents folders. Since this form of protection is not dependent on being able to recognise a known and catalogued threat, it is potentially much more effective against new strains of malware.

It is not an antivirus package or 'internet security suite' and can in most cases be run alongside such software without conflicts.

One of the nice features is its low visibility during normal computer use. It's possible to go through a whole day's worth of creating documents, playing media or adjusting settings without seeing a single message from the policy control applet. If you need to do things which the policy would block such as installing software, then a single Unlock command gives you 30 minutes in which to complete your task without any further nags. Need more time? Just Unlock again before the time is up.

Bear in mind that this is a system-level utility, and incorrect configuration or use may cause trouble with your computer. That said, there have been many thousands of downloads to date, and very few reports of problems.

Please study the manual pages http://softwarepolicy.sourceforge.net/ before attempting to modify the default configuration.

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Simple Software Restriction Policy

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Our users have written 1 comments and reviews about Simple Software Restriction Policy, and it has gotten 7 likes

Developed by IWR Consultancy
Open Source and Free product.
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Simple Software Restriction Policy was added to AlternativeTo by Erqo on Oct 26, 2016 and this page was last updated Mar 30, 2020.

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hansencomputers

★

• Top positive comment over 1 year ago • 0 replies

Found this app here when searching for alternative ideas for trying to secure Windows PCs. As a part-time job/hobby I fix, disinfect, tune-up and generally maintain computers for (predominantly elderly) clients. The majority want to use their computers to surf the web, get web-mail, shop on Amazon, look at Facebook, etc. I try to do what I can to help them prevent problems with malware.

By using this tool I am able to quickly and easily add group policy control to a Windows 10 machine, and thereby limit the ability to add software. This seems to have paid-off with some clients where I started using this.

I highly recommend this tool to be used on PCs where the person at the keyboard is not very computer literate. Very glad this tool is out there for free.

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