Skip to main content

Disable SmartScreen in Microsoft browsers

Overview​

About this category

This category contains privacy scripts for Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This category provides scripts to disable SmartScreen in Microsoft browsers.

SmartScreen is a security feature in Edge. When you visit websites or download files, SmartScreen checks the reputation of the URL or file 1. If SmartScreen determines that the site or file is malicious, it blocks access or download 1. SmartScreen is enabled by default in Microsoft Edge 1.

SmartScreen feature raises privacy concerns because it sends unhashed URLs, downloaded files, applications being run, IP addresses, and the user's Security Identifier (SID) to Microsoft 1 2 3.

This data transmission can potentially allow the company to track browsing history and user activities.
The transmission of full file paths and download URLs can expose a significant amount of sensitive and private information about a user's system and network structure. The combination of these data points could enable Microsoft to build a comprehensive profile of user activities and behavior.

Caution

Disabling SmartScreen may reduce your protection against phishing and malware.

Caution: Mixed Risk Levels

Be careful running these scripts. This category includes scripts with high impact:

  • 🔴 Some not recommended scripts. They should only be used by advanced users. They may break important functionality.
  • 🟡 Some recommended scripts only if you understand its implications. Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this this category.
Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Scripts Count: 11 scripts

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: All changes can be reverted

Apply now​

These scripts are written using Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Choose one of two ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

It allows selectively choose parts of this action to conduct. You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application. Additionally, you can apply only the recommended scripts, instead of applying all of the scripts.

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the category name: Disable SmartScreen in Microsoft browsers.
  3. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

You can choose to apply only scripts with less impact or also those with higher impact:

Strict

Recommended if you understand its implications. It may cause some non-critical features to no longer function correctly.

Scroll

All

Not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. It provides military-grade privacy, for special use-cases. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

Scroll

Consider restarting your computer for all changes to take affect.

Reversible

This action is completely reversible, you can restore your changes to the initial/default state. The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

If something goes wrong, use the Revert script provided above.

Strict​

This script includes Standard and Strict recommendation levels.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand their implications of every single change. Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

Download Strict scripts:

Download script

Restore these changes if you decide to revert them by downloading the restore script:

Download restore script

All​

This script includes Standard, Strict recommendation levels along with unrecommended scripts.

Not Advised

This script should only be used by advanced users. Some of these changes are NOT recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

Download all scripts:

Download script

Restore these changes if you decide to revert them by downloading the restore script:

Download restore script

Explore further​

This category includes total of 11 scripts but no subcategories.

Explore its 11 scripts:

Disable Edge SmartScreen

This script disables the SmartScreen feature in Edge. SmartScreen warns against potential phishing scams and malicious software. By default, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is active, but users can opt out. Once you run this script, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen will be turned off. Disabling this feature reduces potential privacy risks by preventing data sharing. This may also improve system performance by reducing processing workload. While disabling this feature increases user autonomy and pri...

Disable Edge SmartScreen for potentially unwanted apps

This script disables Edge's SmartScreen feature that targets potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). Edge's SmartScreen PUA feature aims to protect against adware, coin miners, bundleware, and other low-reputation software. This feature warns users about potentially harmful applications. This feature is off by default. This script keeps the feature inactive, preventing automatic or unintended activations. Disabling this feature reduces potential privacy risks by preventing data sharing. This m...

Enable Edge SmartScreen warning dismissal

This script allows users to bypass SmartScreen warnings in Edge. Edge's SmartScreen shows warnings about potentially malicious websites. By default, users can override SmartScreen warnings and visit the site. This script maintains this option, enhancing privacy by minimizing data sent to Microsoft. Maintaining this option in its default state reduces potential privacy risks by limiting data sharing with Microsoft. This may also improve system performance by reducing processing workload. While ke...

Enable Edge SmartScreen warning dismissal for files

This script allows users to bypass Edge SmartScreen warnings when downloading files. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warns users about potentially unsafe downloads. By default, users can bypass Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warnings and complete unverified downloads. This script maintains the default option, enabling users to bypass SmartScreen warnings if chosen. This script allows users to override these warnings. This enhances user privacy by reducing the amount of data sent to Microsoft for ...

Disable Edge SmartScreen DNS requests

This script stops Microsoft Defender SmartScreen from making DNS requests. By default, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen sends DNS requests to identify potentially harmful websites, like those involved in phishing or malware. Disabling DNS requests stops SmartScreen from obtaining IP addresses, which enhances privacy by reducing IP data sharing. This script also improves security by reducing dependence on DNS servers. Disabling DNS requests mitigates a security risk: if DNS fails to resolve a websi...

Disable Edge SmartScreen checks on downloads from trusted sources

This script lets you configure whether Microsoft Defender SmartScreen checks download reputation from a trusted source. Edge determines a trusted source by checking its Internet zone. If the source comes from the local system, intranet, or trusted sites zone, then the download is considered trusted and safe. By default, if you do not run this script, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen checks the download's reputation regardless of source. Once you run this script, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen does...

Disable outdated Edge SmartScreen library update

This script prevents specific versions of Microsoft Edge from updating to the newer SmartScreen library. This script reverts Microsoft Edge to the previous SmartScreen library, used before version 103. It blocks Edge from loading the new SmartScreen library ("libSmartScreenN"), which is responsible for checking site URLs and application downloads. By running this script, Edge will utilize the older library ("libSmartScreen"). This script is effective only for Microsoft Edge versions 95 to 107. I...

Disable Edge (Legacy) SmartScreen

This script disables the SmartScreen feature in Edge (Legacy). Edge (Legacy) uses the Windows Defender SmartScreen by default to protect users from phishing scams and malicious software. This feature is enabled by default and cannot be turned off by users. This script disables SmartScreen and prevents users from turning it back on. As a result, users will not receive alerts about potential threats. Disabling this feature reduces potential privacy risks by preventing data sharing. This may also i...

Enable Edge (Legacy) SmartScreen warning dismissal

This script allows users to bypass SmartScreen warnings in Edge (Legacy). Edge (Legacy) features a SmartScreen filter that warns users about potentially malicious websites and file downloads. By default, this feature allows users to ignore these warnings and proceed to download files. This script keeps this option, enhancing user privacy by minimizing data sent to Microsoft. Disabling this feature reduces potential privacy risks by preventing data sharing. This may also improve system performanc...

Disable outdated Internet Explorer SmartScreen

This script disables SmartScreen in outdated versions of Internet Explorer. SmartScreen is also known as the Phishing Filter or SmartScreen Filter. It protects users by identifying and blocking malicious web content. Disabling this feature enhances your privacy by preventing the collection of data related to your browsing habits. It can also increase system performance by reducing the computational overhead required to scan and evaluate web content. However, this may also lower your security...

Disable outdated Internet Explorer SmartScreen Filter component

This script disables the outdated Internet Explorer SmartScreen filter ("ieapfltr.dll"). The "ieapfltr.dll" file is also known as Microsoft SmartScreen Filter or Anti-phishing browser solution. It is mainly used by Internet Explorer. Despite the official end of support for Internet Explorer 11 on June 15, 2022, some systems may still have this component. Benefits: By disabling the SmartScreen functionality that monitors user behavior, this script enhances your privacy. It reduces the att...

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Disable SmartScreen category. This category focuses on disabling the SmartScreen and its features and components. SmartScreen is known also as "Windows SmartScreen", "Windows Defender SmartScreen", "Microsoft Defender SmartScreen", "Phishing Filter", and "SmartScreen Filter". It protects users from phishing attacks, malware... Read more on category page ▶

Support​

This website relies on your support.

Support now

Your donation helps keep the project alive and improves its content ❤️.

Share this page:

EmailLinkedInRedditPinterestWhatsAppTelegramWeiboVK