Microsoft no longer allows administrators to block Windows Store access in Windows 10 Pro

[Batu69]

Microsoft has retroactively removed the ability of companies to turn off access to the Windows Store in its Windows 10 Pro version.

 

 

Microsoft is no longer allowing administrators to block Windows 10 Pro users' access to the Windows Store.

Up until a month ago, admins could use Group Policy to shut off employees' access to Windows Store if they were running Windows 10 Pro. Controlling this access is a requirement for some businesses.

 

But last month, Microsoft changed that option, claiming that Store access was required for all versions of Windows 10 except Enterprsie and Education "by design." (Thanks to @SwitftonSecurity for the heads up.)

 

Admins still can use AppLocker or Group Policy to block access to the Windows Store if their employees (or students) are running Enterprise or Education.

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the change, noting that businesses who need to shut off Store access have no recourse other than Windows 10 Enterprise.

 

The official statement:

 

Quote

"Microsoft is focused on helping enterprises manage their environment while giving people choice in the apps and devices they use to be productive across work and life. Windows 10 Enterprise is our offering that provides IT pros with the most granular control over company devices. Windows 10 Pro offers a subset of those capabilities and is recommended for small and mid-size businesses looking for some management controls, but not the full suite necessary for IT pros at larger enterprises.The ability to block access to the Windows Store is typically for organizations who want more control over corporate-owned devices. This fits into the value of Windows 10 Enterprise.

 

The clamp-down on administrator control over the Store was timed with Microsoft's declaration that Windows 10 1511 (a k a, the November update) had been designated the new Current Branch for Business (CBB) release.

 

Driving visibility and use of Windows Store has been one of Microsoft's goals with Windows 10.

 

Article source

[straycat19]

Just another damn good reason for businesses to not go to Windows 10 since most don't allow users to install extraneous software on their systems.  

9 hours ago, Batu69 said:

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the change, noting that businesses who need to shut off Store access have no recourse other than Windows 10 Enterprise.

 

What a fucking idiot.  Of course they have another recourse, they don't have to go with Windows 10 at all   If brains were dynamite, the total capacity of Microsoft wouldn't be enough to blow a piss ant's nose.

[haxzion]

Who would ever use Windows 10 for professional use?

[Holmes]

This is why when I get a chance to use windows ten Im going to use windows ten enterprise or education version the academic version.

[Karlston]

Damn right too!

 

How dare these arrogant Windows 10 users even remotely think that they should have any control over the OS on the devices they paid for!

 

Sheesh...

 

/sarcasm

 

What's next Microsoft? Making users spend at least $100/month at the store or Windows 10 stops working? Arrogant bastards!

 

About the only thing Microsoft are good at these days is coming up with new ways to discourage Windows 10 upgrading.

 

 

[steven36]

Lol they ever hear of a firewall?  last time i  tired windows 10 i uninstalled  all that crap .Pro versions and bitlocker  updates killing windows 7  and now there killing group policy  in windows 10  ..Learn not to deepened on Microsoft so much for evey thing

 

In windows 8.1  i never use it i keep it blocked

 

 

[BimBamSmash]

Until they stop users from removing the Store app using PowerShell, this can be tolerated with.

 

Still, it is strange how they are trying to make bucks by shuffling features around editions, rather than innovating and offering something great that people are willing cash out for.

[steven36]

11 hours ago, BimBamSmash said:

Until they stop users from removing the Store app using PowerShell, this can be tolerated with.

 

Still, it is strange how they are trying to make bucks by shuffling features around editions, rather than innovating and offering something great that people are willing cash out for.

If a company has a  IT they can go around and remove  it all.  but the problem with that when ever they force you to take windows 10 upgrades it will reinstall it all back..  So .It would be better if they bought  a good business  firewall and just block it from connecting if they must use windows 10.

 

Another way to do it. would be use Process Lasso Server Edition or normal for home users and disable wwahost.exe then the store can't run . I do group policy  stuff all the time just using  Process Lasso.

 

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-2759763/microsoft-account-running-background.html