The SmartScreen filter is a technology originally designed for Internet Explorer and for protection users from malicious websites and web applications.
It is integrated with IE8 and IE9 (as the successor to the IE7 Phishing filter). But since Windows 8 onwards, Microsoft has added the SmartScreen feature directly to the operating system so that if key files are displayed they may be marked as potentially harmful.
If the Windows SmartScreen filter is enabled, it sends information to each Microsoft server about each application you download and run. This information will be analyzed and compared to the malware database. If Windows receives negative feedback about the application from the server, it will prevent you from running the application. Over time, a history of circulating applications is created in their database. It is also possible to unblock an unknown downloaded file, if of course you trust it.
In Windows 10, SmartScreen is enabled for classic desktop applications, Edge, and Store applications. Today we will see how you can change its settings.
SmartScreen settings in Windows 10.
Step 1: Open Windows Defender Protection Center. You will find its shield-like icon in the taskbar at the bottom left. To open it just double click on the icon.
Step 2: Click "Check Applications and Browser".
Step 3 : Under Control applications and files, select the following options: Block, Pronotice (used by default) or Off, according to your preference.
In the Confirmation dialog box, click Yes.
But, let's see what each choice does. "Block" will prevent unknown files from starting. The "Warning" option will make the operating system display a confirmation dialog box. Finally, the "Off" option will turn off Windows SmartScreen.
SmartScreen options may well be changed with a pinch of it registry. See how it can be done.
Configure Windows SmartScreen options via the Registry
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor application.
Step 2: Go to the following registry key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer
Step 3: In the right pane, modify or create a new string value (REG_SZ) named SmartScreenEnabled.
Step 4: Set it to one of the following values:
Block - Block the execution of any unrecognized application.
Warn - Warn the user before running an unrecognized application (show a confirmation).
Off - Disable the SmartScreen feature.
Step 5: Press the OK button and close the registry editor. Changes will be saved automatically.
