What is the SmartScreen process for and why does it work on my computer. Windows SmartScreen Filter - What is it? Download the application on your Windows smartscreen phone
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 the 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.
Function Windows SmartScreen, although not a stand-alone program, provides additional protection for your computer against applications downloaded from the Internet that may pose a threat to your system and data. This function has only three operating modes.
Setting up Windows SmartScreen
Execute enter the command wscui.cpl and click Enter ↵
A window will open Support Center, on the left side of the window, click on Change Windows SmartScreen settings
A dialog box will open Windows SmartScreen
Switch in the dialog box Windows SmartScreen selects the mode for launching applications and files received from the Internet. Any files downloaded from the Internet (except those obtained from official sources, for example, downloaded from the program developer’s website) are potentially dangerous. The program, of course, checks all files before launching, but it is designed to identify malicious code. A phishing program may not be considered dangerous by Windows Defender.
When you launch a program received from the Internet, the SmartScreen filter, depending on the selected mode, may request permission to launch this program or notify you that an unidentified application is running.
The third mode involves disabling the SmartScreen filter.
This feature has also been added to Internet Explorer since version 8 to improve browser security. If the file you are about to download has already been downloaded by enough people and is considered safe, SmartScreen will allow you to download it without any problems or warnings. If the file has not been downloaded yet or has not been downloaded many times, you will receive a warning that the file may be unsafe. In addition, SmartScreen constantly checks the sites you visit to see if they are on a regularly updated list of phishing sites. If a match is found, it displays a warning notifying you that the site has been blocked for your own safety. On the one hand, this can be annoying when downloading files from not very popular sites, but on the other hand, it provides additional security for your computer.
In Windows 8, a similar function is implemented, but directly in Explorer, so you can see similar warnings when running executable files. In general, the same principles apply as in Internet Explorer.
Disable SmartScreen in Internet Explorer 9, 10, 11
Launch Internet Explorer. If you are using Windows 8, Windows 8.1, open the desktop version of the browser, not Metro. Then click on the button Service. From the menu that appears, select Security → Disable SmartScreen Filter
In the dialog box Microsoft SmartScreen Filter select Disable SmartScreen Filter and press OK
SmartScreen Filter is now disabled in Internet Explorer.
To enable SmartScreen again, you need to follow the same steps.
Disabling Windows SmartScreen in the Local Group Policy Editor
To open the Local Group Policy Editor:
Press the keyboard shortcut + R in the window Execute enter the command gpedit.msc and click Enter ↵
In the window that opens Local Group Policy Editor follow the branch like this:
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → File Explorer
And on the right side of the window we find:
Double click on the element Set up Windows SmartScreen, a window will open Set up Windows SmartScreen, in which you need to select: Included, further in: Options:– (select from the drop-down list) Disable SmartScreen. Next, press the button OK
After completing these steps, close all windows and restart your computer. Now the filter Windows SmartScreen completely disabled.
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.
I am sure that 90% of ordinary computer users have no idea what Windows Defender SmartScreen Filter, what it is for, how it works and how to disable it.
You don’t have to go far - just a couple of days ago I described the purpose and operating principle of the smart screen filter in the comments to another new review of a free, interesting computer program.
That is why I decided to enlighten my site readers in this regard, so that you do not panic and stop worrying in vain when a “terrible” warning appears before installing any software on your computer - “Windows Defender SmartScreen filter prevented the launch of an unidentified application that could put your computer at risk. "...
What is Windows Defender SmartScreen Filter
I’ll say right away that the SmartScreen filter is not an antivirus and it doesn’t detect malware at all! Many readers are now amazed by this statement, but this is a harsh fact.
This is just a preventive means of protecting your computer, based on online verification of program installers, downloaded files and sites we visit on the Internet with a kind of Microsoft database collected on the basis of user reviews, and not on the work of anti-virus algorithms and their detection of viruses by signatures.
Of course, I didn’t come up with this myself or some Vasya Pupkin - the corporation’s support itself writes about this, for example, here...
... "checks ... files against a list of ... files, which many Internet Explorer users download“What if no one has ever downloaded my file through this misunderstanding in the Internet Explorer browser? No comments…
Windows Defender SmartScreen - is it necessary?
Let's simulate a situation - you downloaded an installation file of an interesting program from the official website, having read a lot of positive reviews about this software beforehand and are trying to install it into the operating system, but Smart Screen shows you a warning that it knows nothing about this installer.
You, like most users in a similar situation, simply click on “More details”...
The program does absolutely no harm to your computer, even after a long time - do you report this to Microsoft? Of course not! You need it, don't you? So how does the filter know that a file is harmless?
We add to the dubious definition of threats the slowdown in launching program installers or opening a downloaded file, excess outgoing and incoming traffic, the load (albeit minimal) on the processor and RAM, and we independently conclude that this SmartScreen filter needs to work on your computer.
Naturally, you want to hear my personal opinion on whether SmartScreen is needed, based on many years of experience actively surfing the Internet and daily installation of, often dubious, various computer programs for testing before their reviews.
So, when a warning from Smart Screen appeared, I ALWAYS pressed the “Run in any case” button and one day a logical question arose - why do I need it at all? Of course, I turned it off and... as expected, nothing bad happened, absolutely. My computer is not teeming with viruses, oddly enough, and neither is it, even though it is a hundred years old.
In addition to everything said above, each one is correct and in any case scans (checks) everything you download, install and visit. Everyone is also involved in this process with their own protective scanners and screens. Let's not forget about .
Let's summarize about SmartScreen:
- does not detect viruses itself
- creates extra Internet traffic and load on the processor and RAM
- slows down the first launch of programs, opening files and displaying sites in the browser
- duplicates one of the functions of almost any antivirus and firewall
- really irritates users with meaningless warnings
- does not perform its function without the Internet
I am in no way forcing or persuading you to stop using Windows Defender SmartScreen Filter - everyone has their own head on their shoulders.
How to disable SmartScreen in Windows 10
If you type the name of the hero of this article into the search bar of your favorite Internet browser, you will immediately see the user’s opinion about him in the search results - almost all the answers will be devoted to the question “how to disable SmartScreen.”
Previously, before the release of the latest update package, in order to disable the SmartScreen filter you had to “wander” through different places in the operating system - the built-in browser, the control panel, the Windows Store, and even sometimes look into the system registry.
Now, thank God, all the “disablers” of the SmartScreen filter are in one place. If you use the built-in Windows Defender to protect your computer, like I do at the moment, then simply click on its icon in the tray, and in the window that appears, go to the “Application/Browser Management” category, where we disable the SmartScreen filter in three sections...
You can also access these items from the start menu or through Settings/Update and Security...
This way you can disable SmartScreen in Windows 10, but you will get a very small inconvenience as a result - a permanent exclamation point in a yellow triangle on the built-in antivirus icon...
...and you can “overlook” other minor warnings from the defender.
After the article was published, one of the site’s readers (Arseny) suggested how to get rid of this problem - you just need to click on “Close” after turning off the filter...
Disable SmartScreen in Windows 7
In the old Windows 7, the SmartScreen filter is disabled a little differently. Due to its antiquity, I do not have this version of the system on my three home computers, and therefore I will use the help of an unknown user on the Internet...
USEFUL VIDEO
In addition, the SmartScreen filter in Windows 7 must also be disabled in the built-in system browser, if you use it, along the path “Security” or “Service” - “SmartScreen Filter” - “Disable SmartScreen Filter”...
Read about What is Windows Defender SmartScreen, how much does it use PC resources and how to disable it. Windows Defender SmartScreen helps protect your computer from malware downloaded from the Internet and malicious websites. The “SmartScreen” process with the file name “smartscreen.exe”, which can be found in the task manager, is responsible for this function.
So what is the “SmartScreen” process and what exactly does it do?
Process "SmartScreen" was added back in Windows 8, and with each update it is constantly improving in Windows 10. Every time you launch any program or file, "SmartScreen" scans them for presence in the database "Microsoft". If the file was previously added to the database as safe (for example, if you run the installer "Google Chrome" or "iTunes") then this program will not be blocked. If this file was previously marked as malicious, then "SmartScreen" will block it from launching. If a particular file is not found in the database "Microsoft", That "SmartScreen" will prevent this file from running and display a warning for you. And it will give you the opportunity to decide whether to run this file or program at your own risk or not.
This service is also used in the browser "Microsoft Edge" and application "Microsoft Store", to block harmful or unwanted web content. Nevertheless, "SmartScreen" in the Windows 10 operating system, constantly checks downloaded data from the Internet, no matter what browser or download software you use. It works great with any modern browsers such as "Google Chrome", "Opera", "Mozilla Firefox" etc., constantly scanning data, both during regular web surfing and when downloading any content.
Process "SmartScreen"– this is another level of security in addition to the standard one Windows Defender which is running as an executable service process "Antimalware" on your PC. Having multiple layers of security helps to better protect your computer. Even if you use any other antivirus program and web browser with its own anti-malware features.
How much does it use PC resources?
In most cases the process "SmartScreen" works in the background and uses almost no resources of the personal computer. You can find out exactly how much a process consumes in "Task Manager", it uses almost no resources "CPU"(0%), and takes up only a few megabytes of RAM (RAM - 4.3 MB). Windows may automatically close this process when it is not in use, so sometimes you may not be able to find it in "Task Manager".
However, if the OS has the function enabled "SmartScreen", and you download or launch a new application or file, it will resume its work and scan the data. The operating system will automatically launch it if it was unloaded earlier, and then you can see exactly how much processor resources and RAM it requires to operate. Because the, "SmartScreen" calculates "hash data" file, sends this data to the server "Microsoft" and waits for a response to know if the file is safe or not. If it is safe, then the system runs the application or file as normal.
Filter "SmartScreen" used in conjunction with normal antivirus scans, which are performed using an executable file process "Antimalware" if you are using Windows Defender by default as your antivirus program.
In any case, the amount of CPU and RAM resources used should be quite low, and the entire process of running a given service should be very fast and almost invisible to users. At the same time, scanning large files takes longer than smaller ones. This check is performed only the first time a loaded program is launched or the first time a file is accessed; it will not be performed again and, accordingly, PC resources will not be consumed.
Is it possible to disable SmartScreen?
The operating system will not give you the option to completely disable the process "SmartScreen". Even if you quit "SmartScreen" in Windows, the process will still restart automatically when you log back into the operating system. At the same time, we do not recommend terminating it, since it practically does not use computer resources. But, if necessary, you can forcefully terminate this process in "Task Manager".
Also, it cannot be prevented from restarting again and using CPU and RAM resources in the background.
"SmartScreen"- This is an extremely useful system security feature, another level of PC protection from malware. Even if you are using third party security software, "SmartScreen" will be another level of protection, without interfering with the operation of your antivirus. In addition, file databases "Microsoft" are updated quite quickly and, perhaps, this function can protect your computer even before your antivirus database is updated.
However, to disable the filter "SmartScreen" on Windows 10, go to "Start" – > "Options" – > "Update and Security" – > Windows Defender. Next, click on the button "Open Windows Defender Security Center".
>Could it be a virus?
At this point in time, I have not seen information on the Internet that any malware is masquerading as a process "SmartScreen" or "smartscreen.exe". It is a built-in feature of Windows 10 and helps protect your computer from malware. Every day new viruses, Trojans, bots and various kinds of network worms appear on the Internet. It is quite possible that one day a virus will appear that will appear to the system as a process "SmartScreen". If you're concerned that there may be malware on your PC, then it's always a good idea to run a full system scan with your antivirus program to make sure everything is fine with your system.