Tweak: Block Adware With Windows Defender

German website Heise Online shows a great little tweak that allows you to block adware with Windows Defender.

The tweak, add this registry key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine]
“MpEnablePus”=dword:00000001

The key MpEngine does not exist, you must create it as well as the dword value.
Easy way, copy/paste the stuff between the lines into notepad and Save as type: All files , addPUP2wd.reg:
– – – – – – – – – –
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine]
“MpEnablePus”=dword:00000001
– – – – – – – – – –
Reboot!

More info here: Shields up on potentially unwanted applications in your enterprise
“The good news is, the new opt-in feature for enterprise users in Windows can spot and stop PUA in its tracks. If you are an enterprise user, and you are running System Center Endpoint Protection (SCEP), or Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP), it’s good to know that your infrastructure can be protected from PUA installations when you opt-in to the PUA protection feature. If enabled, PUA will be blocked at download and install time…Potential Unwanted Application (PUA) refers to unwanted application bundlers or their bundled applications.”

I’ve tried it and it works.
I went to a download (cdburnerxp) that I knew contained OpenCandy (an adware injector).
On download Windows Defender fired up:

Source: Heise Online via MDL