The Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Explorer must be enabled.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-253395 | WN11-CC-000210 | SV-253395r958478_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| Microsoft Defender SmartScreen helps protect systems from programs downloaded from the internet that may be malicious. Enabling Microsoft Defender SmartScreen will warn or prevent users from running potentially malicious programs. |
| STIG | Date |
| Microsoft Windows 11 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-15 |
Details
| Check Text (C-56848r829267_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 |
| Fix Text (F-56798r829268_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 11 includes duplicate policies for this setting. It can also be configured under Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Windows Defender SmartScreen >> Explorer. |