The Windows Security App

Going back as far as the 2004 release of Windows XP SP2, Windows has offered various GUIs to help users understand the security state of their PC. In modern Windows 10 and Windows 11, this graphical user interface is called the “Windows Security Center/App“. The Windows Security App (WSA) is a surface upon which Windows exposes various settings and information, including lightweight status for antivirus and firewall products (including those built by third-parties) and entry points to those products’ user-experiences. The WSA can be launched via the Start Menu, or by clicking on various toast notifications sent by features within the app. The default view aims to provide a “single status screen” showing the state of the system’s security components: This UI provides entry points into configuring SmartScreen network reputation, SmartScreen Application Reputation, Smart App Control, controlled folder access, ransomware recovery, exploit protection, Windows Firewall, and the device’s…