PC Security, Updates and The WinRAR Security Hole
It’s alarming but not entirely surprising that a popular software like WinRAR, known for its file-archiving capabilities, has fallen victim to a significant security vulnerability. This recent revelation highlights a critical flaw that allows attackers to execute malicious code on a user’s PC through a specially crafted ZIP file. The crux of the problem lies in the lack of auto-updates for WinRAR, leading to many users unknowingly operating outdated and exposed versions of the software.
The Windows Update Conundrum
Compounding the problem is Windows’ approach to software updates. Critically, Windows Update focuses exclusively on security patches for the operating system, leaving the responsibility of application updates to the users or the apps themselves. This approach presents a significant security gap, as many applications, unlike their mobile counterparts, neither check for updates automatically nor notify users of available updates. Consequently, numerous applications remain vulnerable to exploits, creating a landscape where security is more of a user-driven afterthought than a built-in feature.
Windows Store: A Missed Opportunity?
The evolution of the Windows Store encapsulates a journey of potential yet unfulfilled promise. Initially introduced with Windows 8 and continued in Windows 10, the Windows Store aimed to revolutionize the way users discovered and installed apps. However, it primarily catered to a new breed of apps, often disregarding the traditional desktop applications that formed the backbone of PC usage. Users and developers alike largely ignored the Windows Store, which was further marred by a plethora of scams and low-quality applications. The Store’s failure to take off as a centralized hub for app updates represents a significant missed opportunity in streamlining PC maintenance and security.
In an attempt to improve the Windows Store app catalog, Microsoft enforced a more robust approach to app certification policy in 2015, removing apps that violated the policy or did not offer distinct value to customers. Microsoft also merged its other distribution platforms, such as Windows Marketplace, Windows Phone Store, Xbox Music, Xbox Video, and Xbox Store, into Microsoft Store in 2018, making it a unified distribution point for apps, console games, and digital videos2. Digital music and e-books were included until 2017 and 2019, respectively, when they were discontinued.
With Windows 11, Microsoft redesigned the Microsoft Store from the ground up, making space for more content, keeping the user experience simple and responsive, and allowing developers to use their own commerce engines and keep 100% of their revenue. The new Microsoft Store also supports Android apps through the Amazon Appstore, as well as Win32 apps, Progressive Web Apps, and Universal Windows Platform apps. Windows 11: A Step in the Right Direction, but Is It Enough?
Enter Windows 11, which, in a bid to rectify past oversights, has finally opened the gates of the Windows Store to traditional desktop applications. This inclusion is a commendable step toward centralizing app updates, potentially offering a more streamlined and secure experience for users. Moreover, Windows 11 has integrated support for various archive formats like RAR and 7Z, reducing the dependency on third-party programs such as WinRAR and 7-Zip. However, the question remains: is it too little too late? Changing the long-standing habits of users and developers is a monumental task, and some apps in the Windows Store continue to rely on independent update mechanisms.
