How to Block Certain Programs With BrowseControl

  • Block Shadow IT Apps
    Prevent the launching of unauthorized programs
  • Improve Productivity
    Block distracting apps such as computer games
  • Protect Sensitive Data
    Block cloud storage apps & websites to prevent data theft

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and many more

Get a Free Trial of BrowseControl App & Website Blocker

Want to block certain apps? Download the free trial, install the client on your users’ computers, select the user/PC groups you want to restrict, then add the unwanted program files to BrowseControl’s App Blocker.

1. CurrentWare.exe: CurrentWare server & console setup file—to be installed on a local computer, server, cloud virtual machine, etc

2. cwClientSetup.exe: CurrentWare client setup file—to be installed on the employee or student’s computer

The BrowseControl Windows application and website blocker is compatible with a variety of Windows operating systems including Windows Server, Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10, and 11.

Learn More: BrowseControl System Requirements

Add the Apps You Want to Block to the App Blocker

  1. Open BrowseControl from the left-hand menu.
  2. Click a folder of users or computers from the Groups list that you want to restrict
  3. Click on the App Blocker appblocker-e1614284713766 option.
  4. Enter the Original Filename of the certain apps to be blocked in the Application textbox. An optional description can also be entered.
  5. Click the ADD button to add the Application to the list of apps that can be blocked
  6. Select the applications you want to block from the Applications List on the left pane and move them to the right pane by clicking on the Arrow button. They will now be blocked for the computers and users under the specific Group
  7. Add an optional Warning Message that will be displayed in a popup when the user tries to launch the blocked app
  8. Click “Apply to Clients” to block apps in the Blocked Application List for the selected group of computers or users
screenshot of BrowseControl's application blocker
notepad.exe properties window

How To Find The Original Filename Of A Windows Software Application

Application Properties Window:

  1. Right-click on the .exe file in Windows Explorer and select Properties.
  2. Select the Details tab and click on Original Filename in the Item Name box. The original filename is located in the adjacent Value box.

BrowseReporter’s App Activity Log:

BrowseReporter and BrowseControl operate from the same central web console, allowing you to manage all your devices from the convenience of a web browser.

If you have licenses for BrowseReporter you can easily get the names of previously used applications from the activity log of BrowseReporter’s applications dashboard.

  1. Open BrowseReporter
  2. Go to the applications activity dashboard
  3. Scroll down to the Activity Log
  4. Click on the Column Menu iconColumn menu icon: 3 stacked gray dots centered verticallyand check “Application process (.exe)” to display the Original Filename of all previously used apps
BrowseControl

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Fully functional. Easy to use. Install in minutes.

Why Use BrowseControl?

Block Access to Specific Websites & Program Files

Don’t just block apps from launching, start blocking websites and web apps too. In addition to blocking Windows apps BrowseControl is a powerful website blocker. 

To block sites, simply add the list of websites you’d like to block to the URL filter or use the category filtering tool with predefined content block lists.

  • Block high-risk websites to prevent data exfiltration to unauthorized cloud storage apps and websites.
  • Block distractions to keep your users focused and productive
  • Block adult content to maintain a respectful work environment
  • Restrict access to the entire internet in just a few clicks

Learn More: How to Block Websites With BrowseControl

Screenshot of BrowseControl URL filter blocked websites list
BrowseControl's app blocker schedule with Windows apps enabled from 9am to 12pm

Granular Web & App Control Features

  • Create a unique application blacklist for each policy group
  • Display a custom warning message when blocked applications are launched
  • Schedule application permissions to make blocked apps available for designated time limits

Keep Your Organization Productive, Compliant, and Secure

Using BrowseControl’s website and application blacklisting features, you can instantly block applications that might hamper either the security or productivity of your organization; top offenders include social media, games, and instant messaging apps.

  • Block P2P and BitTorrent file sharing services that are often used in illegally distributing copyrighted content, which can lead to legal actions and costly fines or lawsuits. 
  • Protect sensitive data against theft to cloud storage apps and websites

Learn More: How to Block Websites With BrowseControl

Screenshot of BrowseControl URL filter blocked websites list
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CASE STUDY
Boston Centerless gains more control of daily business operations

“In CurrentWare, I found a solution that fulfilled the criteria of my entire project within a single suite of software.”

Combine BrowseControl’s Application Blocker With BrowseReporter’s Software Usage Monitoring for Total App Control

BrowseReporter is a powerful employee productivity tracker to help your employees stay focused. BrowseReporter and BrowseControl operate from the same central console; they can be purchased seperately for the greatest flexibility or as a part of the full CurrentWare Suite for the best value.

Top 5 applications bar graph

See How Employees Spend Their Time

  • Internet & App Tracking: Track user activity to detect the use of unsafe or unproductive computer programs
  • Stay Productive: See which users are accessing distracting apps and wasting time during the work day
  • Time Tracking: Track computer application usage in your network for suspicious and unfamiliar software

Save Money With Software Asset Management

9 out of 10 employees aren’t using all of the software provided to them. Why waste money on software that your employees aren’t using?

A software usage audit isn’t just about the money, it improves your security too. Each additional piece of software increases the potential for hackers to exploit a zero-day vulnerability and steal your data.

Why take the risk for programs that aren’t in use?

  • Stop App Sprawl: Identify underused software and focus your resources on the tools that truly matter.
  • Save Money: Decommissioning underutilized software provides your organization with significant savings on software expenses.
  • Track License Use: Optimize your floating licenses with timestamped data of when applications are used each day
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Top Computer Application Usage

  • Check which applications your employees use the most during the work day
  • Find employees that are using unsafe or unproductive applications
  • Save money by finding out which applications are actually used and which ones can be decommissioned
BrowseReporter application usage tracking hourly report

Hourly Computer Application Usage

  • Gain insights into the software usage habits of your employees
  • Analyze app usage trends throughout the workday
  • Prioritize floating license availability by identifying peak app usage periods
Top 5 applications bar graph

Specific Application Usage

  • Run reports based on a single application or a list of applications
  • See how much time is spent using applications for specific users and departments
  • Save money on underutilized software with genuine usage insights
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Fully functional. Easy to use. Install in minutes.

Why Block Programs?

Improve Productivity & Software License Management

  • Detect & Block Apps: Combine BrowseControl’s app and website blocker with BrowseReporter’s application usage monitoring features for full control over applications.
  • Block Distractions: Fight time theft in the workplace by blocking distractions such as computer games to ensure your employees are engaged and productive in the workplace.
  • License Availability: Ensure that floating licenses of critical software programs are always available for those that need it. Use BrowseControl’s application blocker scheduler to set specific days and times where software will be available or blocked. 
Application Tracking - Save Money on Unused Software
A man sits at his desk working on a computer. The shadowy figure of a colleague looms behind him.

Discover & Block Unwanted Applications Before the Breach

  • Data Loss Prevention: Prevent data breaches caused by unauthorized cloud storage use and unmanaged vulnerabilities in shadow IT programs.
  • Anti-Piracy: Block P2P file sharing programs to avoid costly litigation and data security vulnerabilities caused by employees using unlicensed software.
  • Suspicious Software: Improve your IT governance capabilities by monitoring your endpoints for unknown programs with BrowseReporter & block employees from using them with BrowseControl.
BrowseControl

Try BrowseControl for Free

Fully functional. Easy to use. Install in minutes.

BrowseControl Web Filtering Features

Internet Off
Internet ON/OFF

One click to completely block
users from browsing the web

URL Filter
URL Filter

Allowed list or Blocked list for
specific URLs

Category Filtering
Category Filtering

Block websites based on specific web content categories

Application Blocker
Application Blocker

Block specific Windows
applications from launching

Bandwidth Tracker
Google Safe Search

Search engine filters prevent explicit results in search engines

Customized Message
Customize Message

Display a customized warning
message on blocked websites

Download Filter
Download Filter

Block files from being downloaded from the internet

Port Filter
Port Filter

Close unused and high-risk
TCP/UDP ports

Internet Quota
Internet Quota

Set a time-based quota for
internet browsing

Internet Scheduler
Internet Scheduler

Schedule internet use policies for specific times of the day

Internet Timer
Timer

Allocate specific time for your
users to access the Internet

Stealth
Stealth Mode

Restrict internet use without
alerting users

Internet Off

Centralized Console

Manage all your users from the
centralized console with Active
Directory import or syncing

Internet Off

Platform Security

Protect your CurrentWare console
with 2FA, passwords, privilege
management, and more

Internet Off

Offsite Management

Extend onsite Internet usage
policies to laptops running outside
the corporate network

Internet Off

SQL Server Supported

Database scaled for enterprise and
large business operations using
Microsoft SQL Server

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Try BrowseControl for Free

Fully functional. Easy to use. Install in minutes.