Should i use data execution prevention

For this reason, your PC may experience certain issues and error messages owing to the conflicts some Windows processes face when working with DEP. However, DEP is among the most basic Windows-based system protections. Elsie is a technology writer and editor with a special focus on Windows, Android and iOS. She writes about software, electronics and other tech subjects, her ultimate goal being to help people out with useful solutions to their daily tech issues in a simple, straightforward and unbiased style.

Read Elsie's Full Bio. Your email address will not be published. We hate spam too, unsubscribe at any time. Table of Contents. Subscribe on YouTube! Did you enjoy this tip? We cover Windows, Mac, software and apps, and have a bunch of troubleshooting tips and how-to videos. DEP will monitor those areas and if it sees something going on in those areas it will shut it down.

Even today, computers are dumb. They cannot reason, they can only use the most basic of logic. Plus, that logic is put into them by humans so computers also get our mistakes put into them.

Sometimes, good programs will wander off into the areas that DEP monitors and work in those spaces. When this happens, DEP will sometimes shut the entire program down and let you know via an error message. Programs that conflict with DEP are typically older programs or built on old codebases. Most programs that conflict with DEP will be bit programs. If that is the case, the vendor will recommend to completely turn off DEP. For the home user, old games that are bit, and some emulators for playing even older games , are the most likely to conflict with DEP.

Data Execution Prevention DEP helps prevent damage from viruses and other security threats that attack by running executing malicious code from memory locations that only Windows and other programs should use. This type of threat can cause damage by taking over one or more memory locations in use by a program. Then it can spread and harm other programs, files, and even your e-mail contacts. Unlike a firewall or antivirus program, DEP does not help prevent harmful programs from being installed on your computer.

Instead, it monitors your programs to determine if they use system memory safely. To do this, DEP software works alone or with compatible microprocessors to mark some memory locations as "non-executable". If a program tries to run code-malicious or not-from a protected location, DEP closes the program and notifies you.

DEP can take advantage of software and hardware support. DEP software alone helps protect against certain types of malicious code, but to take full advantage of the protection that DEP can offer, your processor must support "execution protection". This is a hardware-based technology designed to mark memory locations as non-executable.

If your processor does not support hardware-based DEP, it is a good idea to upgrade to a processor that offers execution protection features. Is it safe to run a program again if DEP has closed it?

Yes, but only if you leave DEP turned on for that program. Windows can continue to detect attempts to execute code from protected memory locations and help prevent attacks.