The Windows Defender SmartScreen for Explorer must be enabled.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-220836 | WN10-CC-000210 | SV-220836r958478_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| Windows Defender SmartScreen helps protect systems from programs downloaded from the internet that may be malicious. Enabling Windows Defender SmartScreen will warn or prevent users from running potentially malicious programs. |
| STIG | Date |
| Microsoft Windows 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-02-25 |
Details
| Check Text (C-22551r554993_chk) |
| This is applicable to unclassified systems, for other systems this is NA. If the following registry values do not exist or are not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\ Value Name: EnableSmartScreen Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000001 (1) And Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\ Value Name: ShellSmartScreenLevel Value Type: REG_SZ Value: Block v1607 LTSB: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\ Value Name: EnableSmartScreen Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000001 (1) v1507 LTSB: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\ Value Name: EnableSmartScreen Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000002 (2) |
| Fix Text (F-22540r554994_fix) |
| Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> "Configure Windows Defender SmartScreen" to "Enabled" with "Warn and prevent bypass" selected. Windows 10 includes duplicate policies for this setting. It can also be configured under Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Windows Defender SmartScreen >> Explorer. v1607 LTSB: Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> "Configure Windows SmartScreen" to "Enabled". (Selection options are not available.) v1507 LTSB: Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> "Configure Windows SmartScreen" to "Enabled" with "Require approval from an administrator before running downloaded unknown software" selected. |