How does Windows' security warning "do you want to run this file.." work?

As an IT administrator, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with unknown files that are downloaded onto the network or computers used by employees. Windows Security Warning: Do You Want to Run This File? is a feature of the Windows operating system (OS) that helps protect users from malicious software.

When a file is downloaded or accessed, the Windows Security Warning is triggered and will prompt the user with a prompt with the message “Do you want to run this file?” This window will also display the name of the file and its size, as well as the publisher of the file. The window will also display a warning message, letting the user know that the file might be dangerous and could harm the computer.

The user has three options when this window appears; Run, Don’t Run and More Info. Selecting the “Run” option will launch the file, the “Don’t Run” option will prevent the file from launching, and the “More Info” option will provide additional information about the file’s publisher and the type of file.

The Windows Security Warning feature works by checking the digital signature of the file to determine its origin. A digital signature is a type of cryptographic signature that is used to verify the authenticity and integrity of a file. This signature is checked against the publisher’s certificate that is stored in the Certificate Store, a secure database that contains information about signed files.

If the signature is valid and the publisher is trusted, then the user will be presented with the prompt “Do you want to run this file?” and the user will have the option to run the file. If the signature is not valid or the publisher is not trusted, then the user will be presented with the warning message “This file might be dangerous. Do not run this file unless you are sure it is safe.”

As an IT administrator, it is important to be aware of the Windows Security Warning feature in order to ensure that users are not running malicious software on their computers. If the publisher of a file is not trusted, then it is best to prevent the user from launching the file. It is also important to educate users about the risks associated with running unknown files and the importance of only running files from trusted publishers.