Windows smartscreen filter what. Windows SmartScreen Filter - What is it? Several benefits of disabling Windows SmartScreen

In operating systems from Microsoft, starting with Windows 8, there is a technology that, in theory, should protect us from malicious software, but in practice the malware passes - but this same SmartScreen can significantly add problems to us. In such cases, a natural question arises: how to disable SmartScreen in Windows 10? In this note we will look at four proven methods that will save you from this occasions.

If you look into this issue, you will find out that SmartScreen is a new technology from Microsoft that scans downloaded information from the Internet, and if there is the slightest doubt about its origin, it blocks it. On the one hand, the service is useful, but the number of false positives is simply off the charts and I don’t see much practical sense in it (especially if you use a high-quality commercial antivirus). Just look at the annoying message that the service is temporarily unavailable - if you don’t have an Internet connection, Windows cannot check the program and constantly notifies you about this, which is incredible infuriates.

How to disable SmartScreen via Control Panel in Windows 10

The simplest, and probably familiar to everyone, option is to disable the SmartScreen filter using the “Control Panel”. To get there, in Windows 10 you need to click the “Start” button and select the item you are looking for there. (The easiest way is to start typing what interests you, in which case it will appear in the search results - be sure to try it, it’s incredibly convenient)

In Control Panel, select System and Security. Please note that if your appearance differs from the picture below and you cannot find the item you need, make sure that the “Category” option is selected in the “View” line

... and we get to the treasured item “Change Windows SmartScreen settings” (how far they hid it, probably so that we would suffer and not be able to find it)

Here we have a small choice (previously, by the way, there were three options, but now it either works or it doesn’t - there’s no third option)

The window tells us that the SmartScreen filter protects us and says, choose from two options which is more suitable for you.

Warning before executing an unidentified application is going to bug us at the first opportunity
Do nothing (disable Windows SmartScreen) - this will allow us to work normally and calmly launch any applications without a paranoid mood (but if you download a program of unknown origin and you do not have an antivirus, then no offense)

Most likely, this method will be quite enough for you - as you can see, all problems can be solved with a few mouse clicks.

Disable SmartScreen through group policies

I warn you right away that this method can be used only in the professional edition of Windows 10 , at home and for one language, this option is not applicable. To disable the filter, we need to open the “Local Group Policy Editor”, this is done by calling the “Run” window (Windows key combination + R) and then entering the command gpedit.msc

On the left side of the Local Group Policy Editor, find the “Explorer” item (it’s located in “Computer Configuration” - “Administrative Templates” - “Windows Components”), and in the adjacent, right side of the window, find the “Configure Windows SmartScreen” item.

At first glance, everything is simple here, but this is only after a quick inspection - carefully read the certificate, which I see no reason to publish. If you select the “Disabled” item, we do not disable SmartScreen , but we give you the opportunity to do this through the control panel. You need to select the Enabled option and check the Disable SmartScreen feature. Click “OK” and enjoy life.

Again, please note that this method only works on Windows 10 Professional; on the home version, you will not be able to open the Local Group Policy Editor. Of course, this feature can be added, but without modifying the OS it is impossible.

Disabling SmartScreen for Windows 10 Store Apps

Starting with Windows 8, Microsoft added an app store. So, you can disable SmartScreen specifically for applications from the Store, without disabling it completely. I don’t know who might find this useful, but if there is such a possibility, it should be considered.

Open the Start menu, go to Settings - Privacy. On the left side, select the “General” option and move the slider to the “Off” position on the right side in the line that is responsible for the SmartScreen filter

There is another method that the Windows Registry Editor uses, but I doubt its convenience and don’t see the point of talking about it in detail - let’s not create unnecessary problems for ourselves.

Disabling SmartScreen for the Microsoft Edge browser

If, despite numerous reviews, you prefer to use the latest browser from Microsoft - EDGE, then the SmartScreen filter can be disabled specifically for it. To do this, go to “Options” in the program menu.

Scroll to the very bottom and look for “Show additional options” there, scroll back to the very bottom and find the item we need “Help protect your computer from malicious sites and downloads using the SmartScreen filter.” We move the slider to the “Off” position and that’s it quest The search for where to turn off the filter can be considered completed.

Well, we figured out how to disable SmartScreen in Windows 10. No matter how raw it was not, but if possible, if you are not an advanced user, do not disable it. You should ignore it if you are sure of those programs and applications that the SmartScreen filter does not allow you to run. In my practice, the filter creates huge problems when installing programs that have not been updated for a long time and have long been forgotten by the developers... do not forget that even in the absence of an Internet connection (and in Russia this is not so uncommon) SmartScreen filter constantly tries to check applications and writes a server connection error, which can be very annoying.

SmartScreen is a security feature that was introduced in Internet Explorer 8 to protect against malicious websites. In Windows 8.1 it was integrated into the desktop. This tool warns the user before launching unidentified applications from the Internet that could potentially be unsafe. SmartScreen is now present in Windows 10.

When it comes to downloading and installing apps, you need to know what is safe and what is not. True, not all computer users have the proper experience and knowledge in this matter. Thus, if you consider yourself to be one of the first, then the constantly flashing SmartScreen can be annoying.

Important note! If you are new to Windows 10 plan, then don't disable SmartScreen. It will protect you from installing malicious software. In addition, Microsoft has improved this filter by integrating it into the Edge and Internet Explorer 11 browsers.

The shot below shows the direct intervention of the filter. When starting the installation of an unknown application or program, you need to click on the “I agree...” field and click on the “Run anyway” button. However, such unnecessary movements waste time and interfere with productivity, which is simply annoying.

The optimal solution is to disable SmartScreen. For this:

Note! After all the actions taken, a notification will immediately appear stating that it is unsafe.

How to disable SmartScreen in Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge

This filter is very annoying when installing desktop programs, but not in the browser. If you are an Internet Explorer or Edge user, then it is better to leave it. Even the most experienced technician can accidentally click on a malicious link or ad.

However, if you want it that bad, then:

There shouldn't be any problems with the Edge browser. Open it and do everything as shown in the screenshots below:

If you are having a problem downloading a valid file, then the above steps will help resolve it.

Video - How to disable the SmartScreen filter in Internet Explorer

How to disable SmartScreen Filter in Windows 10 step by step

To stop this tool built into Windows 10, follow these steps:

Click on the “Win” button, enter the word “Defender” in the search, click on the “Defender Security Center” icon.
In the window that opens, click on the “Manage applications and browser” section.
Then disable the “Check applications and files” option (see photo below). This action will not go unnoticed because you will see a yellow danger sign and a warning that if you disable SmartScreen Filter, your computer will be vulnerable. Unfortunately, there is no way to get rid of this notification, so you will continue to see it until you turn the filter back on. However, if you have another antivirus program, such actions will not cause you problems.
Then scroll down to the "SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge" section. On this screen you can choose from three different options. It's up to you to decide what the filter in the Microsoft Edge browser should do: warn you when you encounter malicious websites and files on the Internet; block the threat yourself or do nothing. If you have various performance problems, it is better to disable SmartScreen. Another antivirus program will likely prevent you from downloading malicious files and content onto your computer.
On the same screen, scroll down to the “SmartScreen for Windows Store Apps” section. As explained in this section, the filter only works when any app you download from the store tries to access the Internet. Depending on the case, you can disable the tool or keep it active by selecting the "Warn" setting.

Conclusion

Note! If you don't care about SmartScreen notifications and want to take full advantage of the security benefits of Windows 10, then just leave the filter turned on. This is especially true for children, parents, and grandparents who are working on a computer running Windows 7, 8.1, or 10. It is definitely better for them to leave this tool running, especially in Internet Explorer 11.

Experienced users are unlikely to suffer much if they stop using SmartScreen when installing software that they believe is not malicious. Safe tools include open source utilities. You can always turn the filter back on if you wish.

Video - How to disable Smart Screen in Windows 10

Windows 8 has many secrets and “tricks”, the principle of operation of which may not be immediately understood. Well, one of these options is the Windows SmartScreen feature. The system was created by the developers so that this option is enabled by default.

What does this give the user?

In fact, sometimes it turns out that there is little that is pleasant. The filter monitors applications installed on the device, from time to time “pampering” the user with its simple warnings about the security status of a particular program. In general, the principles of operation are quite clear and simple.
SmartScreen has a lot of rational, positive principles in it: it helps users recognize what is a normal program and what is potentially dangerous (with minor vicissitudes, but still).

Plus, to all this, Windows SmartScreen is endowed with the ability to send a certain category of data, certain information to Microsoft servers.

Whether or not to work with this “trick” is up to you to decide. But one thing is for sure: if you want to disable all options, you should pay attention to the information that will be given below.

What happens when the options are enabled?

In total, there are three most significant “pillars”:

Requiring confirmation from the administrator before launching downloaded unknown software. Something like this: “Do you really confirm that the program is running as an administrator?” (pictures and threat icons are attached).
Warn the user before executing software unknown to the device
Disable SmartScreen, which is frankly annoying with its warnings.

Several benefits of disabling Windows SmartScreen

It is worth saying that the obvious and visible problem of the presence of surveillance of the installation of unknown software, a program enabled by default, is just the tip of the iceberg.

In fact, it’s worth taking a break and trying to look a little deeper, to evaluate the very essence of this problem. The operation of Windows SmartScreen represents a violation of the privacy of information and the actions performed by users. Sometimes one gets the impression that new technologies, which seem to serve for the benefit of humanity and its development, turn out to be an attempt to “control” the entire population (and, what is most surprising, by the own will of each of us). A problem has been discussed more than once that is associated with the use of Skype and currently existing social networks, the user agreement of which directly states the possibility of “leaking” information about a specific user in one case or another (a special procedure is used and all that). Not so long ago, another “new product” appeared, which is perceived ambiguously. It is connected with the “revolution in fingerprints”, with the help of which the security of user devices will be ensured (perhaps something else?).

The Windows SmartScreen tool is just a kind of “lever” that can not always be used, not in all cases, but potentially has a place to be. If Windows SmartScreen collects information about users, then this means there is potential future pressure on Microsoft. The purpose of pressure is the release of private information to government agencies, as well as legal representatives of holders of certain copyrights. The flow of information that slowly but surely moves from your computer has the potential to be intercepted by hackers. Without major problems, you can study and understand exactly which programs are installed by the user, what features they have, and so on.

How is the “dangerous-safe” SmartScreen disabled?

Method number one.

In the Windows Control Panel you need to find Action Center. The left column should catch your attention with an option called Change Windows SmartScreen settings. Here you need to select the tab called “Do nothing/turn off Windows SmartScreen”

Method number two.

Win+R.
gpedit.msc (this is needed in order to “call to work” the Local Group Policy Editor)
Computer configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows components
Configure Windows SmartScreen (select what you need in the window).

As you can see, the second option is several times longer. As they say, for those who are not looking for easy ways. Well, as for the question of whether to disable or not disable Windows SmartScreen, this is up to users to decide.

SmartScreen Filter in Windows 10, as in Windows 8, protects the system from web attacks such as phishing and downloads of potentially dangerous and malware. This filter is built into the operating system and Microsoft browsers: Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11.

This filter is based on Microsoft's cloud rating system, which collects information about all downloaded executable files (application reputation filter) and visited files (URL reputation filter). Information about the site or file is analyzed and compared with an existing list of malicious sites and files. If a file is marked as unsafe or is not in the rating system, its download or execution is blocked by the SmartScreen filter.

Thus, when trying to download an unknown file using the IE or Edge browser, its download may be blocked and the user warned by a notification.

This unsafe download blocked by SmartScreen Filter.

If the executable file was downloaded using an alternative browser and copied to a Windows 10 computer over the network, the filter will work when you try to run such a file and its execution will be blocked.

Note. One of the disadvantages of SmartScreen Filter is that it blocks most applications that are not digitally signed.

SmartScreen Filter is enabled by default in Windows 10, but your administrator can change its settings or turn it off completely. You can enable or disable the filter separately for each of the system components: Windows, IE, Microsoft Edge, and the Windows Store. Let's look at how to change the SmartScreen filter settings.

Important. To ensure the security of your PC, it is not recommended to completely disable SmartScreen.

Disable SmartScreen from the Windows Control Panel

To change filter settings, open the classic Control Panel ( Win+R -> control) and go to the section Security and Maintenance. In the left column, click on the button Change Windows SmartScreen Settings.

The following options are available:

Get administrator approval before running an unrecognized application from the Internet recommended)– Request administrator approval before launching an unidentified application from the Internet (recommended)
Warm before running an unrecognized app, but don’t require administrator approval– Warn before running an unidentified application, but do not require administrator approval
Don't do anything (Turn off smartScreen)– do nothing (disable Windows SmartScreen)

After disabling the SmartScreen system filter, a notification appears periodically asking you to enable it.

To hide these notifications, click on the link Turn off messages about Windows SmartScreen.

Configuring SmartScreen using Group Policies

You can also configure SmartScreen settings in Windows 10 using Group Policies. If you are configuring a local computer, open the Local Group Policy Editor (Console) by clicking Win+R-> gpedit.msc. Go to section Computer configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> File Explorer and find the policy Configure Windows SmartScreen.

Enable the policy and select one of the modes:

Require approval from an administrator before running downloaded unknown software– require administrator approval before running downloaded unknown software
Give user a warning before running downloaded unknown software– warn the user before executing downloaded unknown software
Turn off SmartScreen- disable SmartScreen

Click OK and to apply the policy changes, run the command:

Advice. If the SmartScreen filter operating mode is set through group policies, its settings cannot be changed through the control panel.

Setting up SmartScreen through the registry

SmartScreen filter settings can be defined in the system registry. To do this, run regedit.exe and go to the branch HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. Find a key named SmartScreenEnabled.

Its value can be one of the following:

RequireAdmin– require administrator confirmation
Prompt— request user confirmation
Off- disable

Select the desired filter operating mode and restart the computer.

SmartScreen in the Windows Store App Store

SmartScreen Filter also analyzes website addresses accessed by Modern Windows applications. In some cases, it may block network access to some applications. To prevent this from happening, you can disable the filter from being applied to modern Windows Store apps.

Go to Settings (Win+I) -> Privacy -> General. Find and disable the switch Turn on SmartScreen Filter to check web content (URLs) that Windows Store apps use.

The same can be configured through the registry. For this in the thread HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ you need to create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named EnableWebContentEvaluation and meaning 0 .

Smart Screen in the Microsoft Edge browser

The Microsoft Edge browser also has a separate SmartScreen filter setting. To disable it, go to section Preferences(button in the upper right corner of the browser).

Press Advanced Settings and disable the option Help protect me from malicious sites and downloads with SmartScreen Filter.

The same registry operation is performed by creating a DWORD value named EnabledV9 and value 0 in the branch HCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.microsoftedge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\MicrosoftEdge\PhishingFilter .

Smart Screen Filter in Internet Explorer

In Internet Explorer, you can disable the SmartScreen filter as follows:

Launch Internet Explorer
Click on the gear in the upper right corner and expand the section Safety
Click on the menu item Turn Off SmartScreen

Select Turn off SmartScreen Filter.

To disable the SmartScreen filter in Internet Explorer through the registry, run the following command:

REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter" /v EnabledV9 /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

So, in this article we looked at the basic techniques for managing SmartScreen filter settings in Windows 10.

Windows SmartScreen features

When you browse the Internet and use Windows, Windows SmartScreen Filter checks the sites you visit and the programs you download. If it detects something suspicious or has been reported as dangerous, it displays a warning page. You can then navigate to the page, return to the previous page, and/or provide feedback about the page. The same principle applies to downloads.

It works by comparing the website you're trying to visit (or the program you're trying to download and install) against a list of those that are flagged as untrustworthy or downright dangerous. Microsoft supports this list and recommends leaving this feature enabled to protect your computer from malware and protect you from targeted phishing attacks. SmartScreen filter is available on Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows 10 platforms.

Also, understand that this is not the same technology as a pop-up blocker; A pop-up blocker simply looks for pop-ups but does not judge them.

How to disable SmartScreen filter

Warning. The following steps show how to disable this feature, but doing so will increase your risk of catching a virus.

To disable SmartScreen Filter in Internet Explorer:

Open Internet Explorer .
Click the Tools button(it looks like a cog or a wheel) and then selectSafety .
Click "Disable SmartScreen Filter" or " Disable Windows Defender SmartScreen."
Click OK.

To turn off SmartScreen Filter in Edge:

If you change your mind, you can enable Windows SmartScreen by repeating these steps and choosing to turn the filter on instead of turning it off.

Note. If you disable SmartScreen and get malware on your computer, you may need to manually remove it (if Windows Defender or your own antivirus software doesn't help).

Be part of the SmartScreen solution

If you find yourself on an untrusted web page when using Internet Explorer and don't receive a warning, you can report the site to Microsoft. Likewise, if you are warned that a certain web page is dangerous, but you know that it is not, you can report it.

Report that the site does not contain threats to users in Internet Explorer:

On warning page, select Additional Information.
Click "Report that this site is not dangerous" .
Follow the instructions Online Microsoft Feedback .