How to Use App Locker to lock down programs

Use App Locker to lock down programs

Ajay.E

       If you have a child using your PC, or you simply want to put tighter controls on a computer that’s being used by multiple folks, locking down certain applications may be a smart idea. This ensures that no one is going to tinker with settings on those programs or use any apps that you don’t want them to. If you happen to be running Windows 7 Ultimate, a service within this version of the OS, AppLocker, lets you specify exactly which applications a user is allowed to run. (You can create these guidelines, but not enforce them on that PC, in Windows 7 Professional.)

       To access AppLocker, click the Start menu, type the text Gpedit.msc in the search field, and hit Enter. In the Local Group Policy Editor window that pops up, double-click on Computer Configuration and navigate to Windows Settings > Security Settings > Application Control Policies. Unfold the Application Control Policies menu (click the little triangle to its left) and select AppLocker.

Here, you can create new Executable Rules, Windows Installer Rules, and Script Rules. In the left-hand column, right-click on the category that you wish to make changes to, and click Create New Rule. A wizard will lead you through the process of creating the new rule.

For the purposes of our example, if you want to deny a user access to Firefox, right-click on Executable Rules, then select Create New Rule:

 

 

      Go to the second screen, and under Action, click Deny, then select the user you are targeting. In the next screen, you must determine whether it is a file, folder, or program you are going to control access to. Since we are targeting Firefox, choose Publisher, since it is an application. Navigate through your Program Files to the Mozilla Firefox folder, and inside that folder, choose firefox.exe. Click OK, go to the next screen to name the rule, if desired, and then Create, and you’re done.