Microsoft Plans Smartphone-Style Permission Prompts for Windows 11 Apps

Source: Slashdot

Smartphone‑Style Permission Prompts for Windows 11 Apps

Microsoft is planning to bring smartphone‑style app permission prompts to Windows 11, requiring apps to obtain explicit user consent before accessing sensitive resources such as the file system, camera, and microphone. The initiative was highlighted by Windows Platform engineer Logan Iyer, who noted that the change is driven by a rise in applications that override user settings, install unwanted software, and modify core Windows experiences without permission.

For more details, see the announcement on BleepingComputer: Microsoft announces new mobile‑style Windows security controls.

Windows Baseline Security Mode

A related effort, Windows Baseline Security Mode, will enforce runtime integrity safeguards by default. This mode allows only properly signed apps, services, and drivers to run, further strengthening the platform’s security posture.

Both the permission prompts and Baseline Security Mode will be rolled out in phases as part of Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative, launched in November 2023 after a federal review board described the company’s security culture as “inadequate.”