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V-220836

CAT II (Medium)

The Windows Defender SmartScreen for Explorer must be enabled.

Rule ID

SV-220836r569187_rule

STIG

Microsoft Windows 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R9

CCIs

CCI-000381

Discussion

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.

Check Content

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

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.