Why isn't Windows SmartScreen in Windows 7?

I was just thinking of that. It seems a useful security feature that the average user could benefit from, so why didn't they release it for Windows 7 as well? Could Windows 7 not handle it somehow, or is it just a way for them to make people want to upgrade to Windows 8 so they can make more money?

 

Wow! thats a question to be answered only by a microsoft or who knows a little bit of the internals of how big the change had been made at the OS level...

this is one of the feature i like it very much in windows 8. It definitely adds a worthy layer of protection. Sadly this is something which is still ignored by AV test organizations.

Intersted to see what features they are bringing in W8.1 security wise..

 

Money and Market Share of Windows 8+ of course. If it will be ported, I'm betting it'll be done unofficially (unless Microsoft can attract more people with this to Windows 7 w/o negatively affecting 8+).

 

It has, it is only the same as the XP version, see picture. It display this text for every downloaded, only the text differed, difference with 8 is that this applies a whitelist (signed = silent pass) and blacklist (known in MSE data base = block), for all other (display warning).

 

They need a reason to sell Windows 8. If they'd just give everything to Windows 7 users, then what's the point in trying to sell the new OS ?

 

It is cloud based. Also appears the hashing is done for every run request? Considering many AVs and other anti-malware software also use cert. status and hashing results for program verification, use of this feature is questionable. I do however see that MS can eliminate 'Windows Genuine Advantage" processing with this feature since MS has already data mined that info from your PC.

Privacy Concerns

Because SmartScreen reports information about each application you run to Microsoft to check whether the application should be run or not, it’s been singled out in the media as a potential privacy problem.

SmartScreen sends several pieces of data to Microsoft when you run a program. The information includes the file name of the application you attempt to run, along with a hash of the application’s contents — this hash is compared to Microsoft’s database. If it matches a known-good application, such as iTunes, it’s allowed to run. (For more information about the exact data sent to Microsoft, read this post on the Within Windows blog.)

When you attempt to run an application on Windows 8, Microsoft will know the file name of the application you’re attempting to run, along with your IP address.

 

I beg to differ on the "usefulness". I usually utilize built-in security features but personally speaking, I find SmartScreen a joke at the moment. Useful for average users? Maybe but I'm not too sure. Joe and Jane will unnecessarily doubt clean files or eventually get tired of the prompts and simply choose to ignore the warning (and risk it being malware). The "application reputation' database they have is rather limited IMO.

If not all that, then I think it sort of discriminates against independent small-time developers.

https://plus.google.com/109262616794768311251/posts/1uTLtS7k8Q3
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20...tion-smartscreen-speed-bump-for-desktop-apps/
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/new...et-explorer-9s-so-called-smart-screen-filter/
http://nftb.saturdaymp.com/dealing-with-microsofts-smartscreen-filter/

As for the privacy concerns, it mainly started from Nadim Kobeissi
Windows 8 Tells Microsoft About Everything You Install, Not Very Securely

and here's what Rafael Rivera had to say
Thoughts on the Windows SmartScreen scare

I don't see system-wide SmartScreen as much of a big deal. Win7 users are not losing that much without it.