Windows 11 SmartScreen - Too Overbearing?
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
What is SmartScreen?
According to Microsoft, here’s the official definition on it:
When you use the new Microsoft Edge , Microsoft Defender SmartScreen helps you identify reported phishing and malware websites and also helps you make informed decisions about downloads. SmartScreen helps protect you in three ways:
As you browse the web, it analyzes pages and determines if they might be suspicious. If it finds suspicious pages, SmartScreen will display a warning page, giving you an opportunity to provide feedback and advising you to continue with caution.
SmartScreen checks the sites you visit against a dynamic list of reported phishing sites and malicious software sites. If it finds a match, SmartScreen will show you a warning letting you know that the site has been blocked for your safety.
SmartScreen checks files that you download from the web against a list of reported malicious software sites and programs known to be unsafe. If it finds a match, SmartScreen will warn you that the download has been blocked for your safety. SmartScreen also checks the files that you download against a list of files that are well known and downloaded by many people who use Internet Explorer. If the file that you're downloading isn't on that list, SmartScreen will warn you.
Here are a few concerns the security industry has:
As we know, this piece of software is dedicated to monitoring the Microsoft Edge application on Windows for malicious phishing events to occur.
This is all a smart idea, until the right person with a sour motive gets their hands on it. However, in all truthfulness, the biggest question that we have is pertaining to the storage and processing of data that is logged by the application.
With an application designed to help with internet security, there always comes privacy concerns - it’s even better stated in the following article below:
Here are a few more examples of what SmartScreen interacts with:
So, in essence, with everything summed up - At the end of the day, it just depends on the kind of electronic device user you are. Would it bug you to have SmartScreen installed and watching your every move or do you not mind it?
If you’re looking to get rid of the application and disable its functionality, then here are the steps to do so:
Until next time…..
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— William