Safe Surfer Windows app changelog
Find out what we've changed recently in Safe Surfer for Windows:
Version 1.3.3 technical changes since last version:
Updated to dnscrypt-proxy 2.1.8
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables "Suggested" notifications (which usually contain Xbox-related ads etc.). This can be managed in the Settings menu.
Marked DuckDuckGo (Microsoft Store version and standalone browser version) as an unsupported app. This isn't related to the search engine itself.
Version 1.3.2 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.6.7
Updated to Windows Community Toolkit 8.2.250402
New! If you choose to disable Windows VPN features, Safe Surfer will now instruct Windows to uninstall and subsequently block VPN network adapters related to Norton 360 and WLVPN.
New! During the protection installation process, if you connect an account, Safe Surfer now automatically offers you to set a PIN without having to open the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically stops Chromium-based web browser apps from preloading pages, which prevents filter leaks. In addition, Safe Surfer now specifically disables the DNS over HTTPS (secure DNS) feature in Chromium-based web browser apps.
New! Safe Surfer now supports detecting unsupported apps when attempting to install protection. If it finds any, it will warn you and provide relevant instructions on what to do.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically hides a small amount of Settings app menus (such as Recovery, used for factory resetting) to prevent them from being used to evade filtering. This can be managed in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables Firefox news content found on the Firefox New Tab page. This will take effect when the device next restarts. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables trending suggestions in the Microsoft Edge address bar, spotlight content and recommendations, and other browser-related recommendations. This will take effect when the device next restarts. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Minor code improvements to the Protection enforcement feature.
Minor improvements to the network adapter detection code.
Minor improvements to the Settings menu layout.
Version 1.3.1 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.6.6
Updated to dnscrypt-proxy 2.1.7
New! If you choose to disable Windows VPN features, Safe Surfer will now instruct Windows to uninstall and subsequently block VPN network adapters related to ExpressVPN, Mullvad, NordVPN, Private Internet Access, and VyprVPN, along with additional OpenVPN technology.
New! Due to new Microsoft technology, the Windows app installer file size is now around 80% smaller (60 MB to 10 MB), and the app storage space requirements are now around 85% smaller (158 MB to 23 MB).
Various revisions to the app codebase to support the latest Windows app development technology.
Resolved an issue where the protection installation would fail for ARM64 (Qualcomm Snapdragon) devices.
Improvements to the mobile broadband network adapter detection code.
Minor code improvements to the Protection enforcement feature.
Minor code improvements to the PIN feature.
Minor general code improvements.
Fixed app title as displayed in the Task Manager app.
Changed the app to allow only one app window to be open at a time.
Updated third-party software component licence listings.
Microsoft app development bugfix enables the app installer to continue working after a year.
Version 1.3.0 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.6.4
Updated to WinUIEx 2.5.1
Updated to Windows Community Toolkit 8.2.250129-preview2 (using a preview version on a temporary basis due to having support for Windows App SDK 1.6).
Added Microsoft.Web.WebView2 (1.0.2957.106) as a top-level package on a temporary basis due to having support for Windows App SDK 1.6, along with a Microsoft bugfix for Windows App SDK 1.6 on ARM64 devices (from 1.0.2895-prerelease).
Changed app to use trimming (as per Windows App SDK 1.6 defaults) and Native AOT.
Changed app to be single-instanced.
New! Safe Surfer for Windows now features Protection enforcement, a new feature designed to ensure that the Safe Surfer protection is running correctly every time a user account logs in. This can be managed in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now instructs Chromium-based web browsers to disable Guest browsing. You can manage this under the "Disable private web browser windows and history deletion" setting in the Settings menu.
Minor performance improvement to the protection management process.
Version 1.2.2 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.9
New! If you choose to disable Windows VPN features, Safe Surfer will now instruct Windows to uninstall and subsequently block VPN network adapters that use either OpenVPN or WireGuard technology.
Critical bug fix for the app, where on some devices, it could get stuck on a progress ring after opening.
Minor performance improvement to the protection management process.
New! Safe Surfer for Windows now features new anti-evasion technology. After installing protection, Safe Surfer blocks Tor networking systems, which stops Tor Browser from working correctly. In addition, the Safe Surfer app now offers to disable Windows VPN and proxy features to stop additional protection evasion methods (which can be managed in the Settings menu).
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now disables private browsing windows (and the deletion of browsing history wherever supported) in most web browser apps. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically uninstalls the Microsoft News and Films & TV apps (which contain unfilterable content) for all user accounts. These apps can be redownloaded from the Microsoft Store if desired.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now disables Microsoft Shopping features in Microsoft Edge. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now instructs web browser apps to clear their cache when exiting, which can improve the blocking experience in specific situations.
Critical fixes to support Windows 11 2024 Update (re-engineered protection installation and uninstallation system).
Modified protection system to block VPN web browser extensions by default during protection installation. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Modified protection system to support Bluetooth PAN (personal area network) adapters.
Modified protection system to disable mobile broadband network adapters (that is, inserting a SIM card to use the Internet), as they can't be filtered on Windows. This doesn't affect Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Bluetooth internet connections, or connecting to hotspots. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Modified protection system to avoid confusion if the installation process was unsuccessful.
Minor visual refresh for the Protection menu to better expose the Stop uninstallation guide.
Version 1.2.0 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.8
Updated to Windows Community Toolkit v8.1.240916.
Moved supported OS version from Windows 10 1903 (19H1) to Windows 10 2004 (20H1).
Moved target OS version from Windows 11 23H2 to Windows 11 24H2.
Discontinued support for 32-bit editions of Windows 10.
Minor improvements to the Windows technology powering the Settings menu.
Version 1.1.5 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.6
Moved Settings menu system out of Windows Community Toolkit Labs into Windows Community Toolkit (stable).
Updated app installer with a new code signing certificate.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables web searching in Windows Search, along with the Hubs Sidebar in Microsoft Edge. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Improved behaviour for resetting the app PIN (or reauthenticating protection) if the account email address has changed since the most recent protection installation.
Added backup alternative IPv4 and IPv6 servers during protection installation for Windows 11 devices.
Minor bug fix for the PIN reset feature.
Version 1.1.4 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.5
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now offers to block a large amount of VPN web browser extensions. This applies for most web browsers, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
Minor improvements to app performance.
Version 1.1.3 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.3
New! This version features an updated app icon.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables promoted links found on the Microsoft Edge new tab page.
Version 1.1.2 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.2
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables search highlights and widgets on the taskbar (to hide Microsoft News). This will take effect when the device next restarts. You can manage this in the Settings menu. Due to this change, the Microsoft Edge section in the Settings menu has been renamed to "Windows".
New! We've upgraded the app to the .NET 8 platform. This improves the behind-the-scenes technology that runs the app.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables the VPN feature in Brave Browser.
Fixed a memory issue where WebView2 sessions weren't being closed after the user navigated away from one.
Version 1.1.0 technical changes since last version:
Upgraded to .NET 8
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.1
Updated to WinUIEx 2.3.4
Fixed a bug where the app would crash when opening the Settings menu before installing protection for the first time.
Version 1.0.2 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.4.2
Updated to WinUIEx 2.3.2
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables Microsoft News content found on the Microsoft Edge new tab page. This will take effect when the device next restarts. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Fixed a bug to avoid interfering with mobile broadband network adapters.
Version 1.0.1 technical changes since last version:
Updated to WinUIEx 2.3.1
We've built our new Windows app from scratch!
Full support for all versions of Windows 11, along with legacy support for Windows 10 version 19H1 and higher.
Full support for 32-bit, 64-bit, and ARM64 processors.
Use Screentime directly from the app
Version 1.0.0 technical details:
.NET 6
WinUI 3 on Windows App SDK 1.4.1
WinUIEx 2.3.0
Windows Community Toolkit Labs Settings Controls 0.0.18
dnscrypt-proxy 2.1.5 (for legacy computers)
Version 1.3.3 (release TBA)
Version 1.3.3 technical changes since last version:
Updated to dnscrypt-proxy 2.1.8
Version 1.3.2 (released 14 April 2025)
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables "Suggested" notifications (which usually contain Xbox-related ads etc.). This can be managed in the Settings menu.
Marked DuckDuckGo (Microsoft Store version and standalone browser version) as an unsupported app. This isn't related to the search engine itself.
Version 1.3.2 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.6.7
Updated to Windows Community Toolkit 8.2.250402
Version 1.3.1 (released 24 March 2025)
New! If you choose to disable Windows VPN features, Safe Surfer will now instruct Windows to uninstall and subsequently block VPN network adapters related to Norton 360 and WLVPN.
New! During the protection installation process, if you connect an account, Safe Surfer now automatically offers you to set a PIN without having to open the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically stops Chromium-based web browser apps from preloading pages, which prevents filter leaks. In addition, Safe Surfer now specifically disables the DNS over HTTPS (secure DNS) feature in Chromium-based web browser apps.
New! Safe Surfer now supports detecting unsupported apps when attempting to install protection. If it finds any, it will warn you and provide relevant instructions on what to do.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically hides a small amount of Settings app menus (such as Recovery, used for factory resetting) to prevent them from being used to evade filtering. This can be managed in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables Firefox news content found on the Firefox New Tab page. This will take effect when the device next restarts. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables trending suggestions in the Microsoft Edge address bar, spotlight content and recommendations, and other browser-related recommendations. This will take effect when the device next restarts. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Minor code improvements to the Protection enforcement feature.
Minor improvements to the network adapter detection code.
Minor improvements to the Settings menu layout.
Version 1.3.1 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.6.6
Updated to dnscrypt-proxy 2.1.7
Version 1.3.0 (released 3 February 2025)
New! If you choose to disable Windows VPN features, Safe Surfer will now instruct Windows to uninstall and subsequently block VPN network adapters related to ExpressVPN, Mullvad, NordVPN, Private Internet Access, and VyprVPN, along with additional OpenVPN technology.
New! Due to new Microsoft technology, the Windows app installer file size is now around 80% smaller (60 MB to 10 MB), and the app storage space requirements are now around 85% smaller (158 MB to 23 MB).
Various revisions to the app codebase to support the latest Windows app development technology.
Resolved an issue where the protection installation would fail for ARM64 (Qualcomm Snapdragon) devices.
Improvements to the mobile broadband network adapter detection code.
Minor code improvements to the Protection enforcement feature.
Minor code improvements to the PIN feature.
Minor general code improvements.
Fixed app title as displayed in the Task Manager app.
Changed the app to allow only one app window to be open at a time.
Updated third-party software component licence listings.
Microsoft app development bugfix enables the app installer to continue working after a year.
Version 1.3.0 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.6.4
Updated to WinUIEx 2.5.1
Updated to Windows Community Toolkit 8.2.250129-preview2 (using a preview version on a temporary basis due to having support for Windows App SDK 1.6).
Added Microsoft.Web.WebView2 (1.0.2957.106) as a top-level package on a temporary basis due to having support for Windows App SDK 1.6, along with a Microsoft bugfix for Windows App SDK 1.6 on ARM64 devices (from 1.0.2895-prerelease).
Changed app to use trimming (as per Windows App SDK 1.6 defaults) and Native AOT.
Changed app to be single-instanced.
Version 1.2.2 (released 21 January 2025)
New! Safe Surfer for Windows now features Protection enforcement, a new feature designed to ensure that the Safe Surfer protection is running correctly every time a user account logs in. This can be managed in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now instructs Chromium-based web browsers to disable Guest browsing. You can manage this under the "Disable private web browser windows and history deletion" setting in the Settings menu.
Minor performance improvement to the protection management process.
Version 1.2.2 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.9
Version 1.2.1 (released 18 December 2024)
New! If you choose to disable Windows VPN features, Safe Surfer will now instruct Windows to uninstall and subsequently block VPN network adapters that use either OpenVPN or WireGuard technology.
Critical bug fix for the app, where on some devices, it could get stuck on a progress ring after opening.
Minor performance improvement to the protection management process.
Version 1.2.0 (released 3 December 2024)
New! Safe Surfer for Windows now features new anti-evasion technology. After installing protection, Safe Surfer blocks Tor networking systems, which stops Tor Browser from working correctly. In addition, the Safe Surfer app now offers to disable Windows VPN and proxy features to stop additional protection evasion methods (which can be managed in the Settings menu).
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now disables private browsing windows (and the deletion of browsing history wherever supported) in most web browser apps. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically uninstalls the Microsoft News and Films & TV apps (which contain unfilterable content) for all user accounts. These apps can be redownloaded from the Microsoft Store if desired.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now disables Microsoft Shopping features in Microsoft Edge. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now instructs web browser apps to clear their cache when exiting, which can improve the blocking experience in specific situations.
Critical fixes to support Windows 11 2024 Update (re-engineered protection installation and uninstallation system).
Modified protection system to block VPN web browser extensions by default during protection installation. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Modified protection system to support Bluetooth PAN (personal area network) adapters.
Modified protection system to disable mobile broadband network adapters (that is, inserting a SIM card to use the Internet), as they can't be filtered on Windows. This doesn't affect Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Bluetooth internet connections, or connecting to hotspots. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Modified protection system to avoid confusion if the installation process was unsuccessful.
Minor visual refresh for the Protection menu to better expose the Stop uninstallation guide.
Version 1.2.0 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.8
Updated to Windows Community Toolkit v8.1.240916.
Moved supported OS version from Windows 10 1903 (19H1) to Windows 10 2004 (20H1).
Moved target OS version from Windows 11 23H2 to Windows 11 24H2.
Discontinued support for 32-bit editions of Windows 10.
Version 1.1.5 (released 2 September 2024)
Minor improvements to the Windows technology powering the Settings menu.
Version 1.1.5 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.6
Moved Settings menu system out of Windows Community Toolkit Labs into Windows Community Toolkit (stable).
Updated app installer with a new code signing certificate.
Version 1.1.4 (released 19 August 2024)
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables web searching in Windows Search, along with the Hubs Sidebar in Microsoft Edge. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Improved behaviour for resetting the app PIN (or reauthenticating protection) if the account email address has changed since the most recent protection installation.
Added backup alternative IPv4 and IPv6 servers during protection installation for Windows 11 devices.
Minor bug fix for the PIN reset feature.
Version 1.1.4 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.5
Version 1.1.3 (released 12 June 2024)
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now offers to block a large amount of VPN web browser extensions. This applies for most web browsers, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
Minor improvements to app performance.
Version 1.1.3 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.3
Version 1.1.2 (released 29 April 2024)
New! This version features an updated app icon.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables promoted links found on the Microsoft Edge new tab page.
Version 1.1.2 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.2
Version 1.1.1 (released 9 April 2024)
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables search highlights and widgets on the taskbar (to hide Microsoft News). This will take effect when the device next restarts. You can manage this in the Settings menu. Due to this change, the Microsoft Edge section in the Settings menu has been renamed to "Windows".
Version 1.1.0
New! We've upgraded the app to the .NET 8 platform. This improves the behind-the-scenes technology that runs the app.
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables the VPN feature in Brave Browser.
Fixed a memory issue where WebView2 sessions weren't being closed after the user navigated away from one.
Version 1.1.0 technical changes since last version:
Upgraded to .NET 8
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.5.1
Updated to WinUIEx 2.3.4
Version 1.0.2 (released 24 October 2023)
Fixed a bug where the app would crash when opening the Settings menu before installing protection for the first time.
Version 1.0.2 technical changes since last version:
Updated to Windows App SDK 1.4.2
Updated to WinUIEx 2.3.2
Version 1.0.1 (released 2 October 2023)
New! After installing protection, Safe Surfer now automatically disables Microsoft News content found on the Microsoft Edge new tab page. This will take effect when the device next restarts. You can manage this in the Settings menu.
Fixed a bug to avoid interfering with mobile broadband network adapters.
Version 1.0.1 technical changes since last version:
Updated to WinUIEx 2.3.1
Version 1.0.0 (released 23 September 2023)
We've built our new Windows app from scratch!
Full support for all versions of Windows 11, along with legacy support for Windows 10 version 19H1 and higher.
Full support for 32-bit, 64-bit, and ARM64 processors.
Use Screentime directly from the app
Version 1.0.0 technical details:
.NET 6
WinUI 3 on Windows App SDK 1.4.1
WinUIEx 2.3.0
Windows Community Toolkit Labs Settings Controls 0.0.18
dnscrypt-proxy 2.1.5 (for legacy computers)
Updated on: 22/04/2025
Thank you!