Trust-No-Exe

Computers from a work environment need different configurations from those used at home in terms of accessibility. Depending on the type of information handled, you might only have access to applications you need for work. Besides using Windows features, Trust-No-Exe comes with several additions and enhanced ease of access.

Unfortunately, the application is only compatible with Windows NT/2000 and XP, making it slightly outdated. Its core function is to take over Windows restriction management system and giving you the possibility to customize a few more settings.

You get to handle a list of folders that can be accessed, as well as one with items that can't. You can add a custom message to appear when attempts to run blocked applications are made and even have these stored in an event log.

The application blocks all executables and a few other specialized file types in a given folder. However, you cannot view exactly which these are, nor is there a possibility to add custom formats. The only way in which you either allow or deny access is providing the exact path of the directory in which targeted files are found, but take caution because all content is blocked.

The application gives you the possibility to also manage multiple computers connected to the same network. The process is simple and once rules are set you don't need to run the application again unless you want to change settings.

A little time needs to be spent in order to properly get the application up and running, creating confusion right from the start. With no possibility to modify setup directory and no instructions, you are left to search for the shortcut which is automatically deployed in the Control Panel. What's more, you need to handle it with care, the application having the tendency of rebooting the system when several attempts are made or blocking important startup items, depending on the target directory.

Taking everything into consideration, we can say that Trust-No-Exe does not bring anything new to the market, being only an improved and faster method of restricting access to certain files, of what Windows provides. However, a lot more effort needs to be put in development, the application being not only outdated, but also outranked.