SmartScreen

[couttsj]

While working with "wininet", I ran across a new feature. In the user temp file (C:\Users\(UserID)\AppData\Local\Temp\) I found a directory called "SmartScreen" with a sub directory called "RemoteData". In that directory were 3 files:
2023-09-10 09:07 AM 18 LastPing
2023-09-10 09:07 AM 84 windowsSettings
2023-09-10 09:07 AM 996 windowsSettings_1.0-b67f88f8c750a2a5555a70f16595a864309d3fded27a29beac5294008116a5e2

The last file contained:
{
"geoidMaps": {
"eu": "https://europe.smartscreen.microsoft.com/",
"ffl4": "https://unitedstates1.ss.wd.microsoft.us/",
"ffl4mod": "https://unitedstates4.ss.wd.microsoft.us/",
"ffl5": "https://unitedstates2.ss.wd.microsoft.us/",
"test": "https://eu-9.smartscreen.microsoft.com/",
"uk": "https://unitedkingdom.smartscreen.microsoft.com/",
"us": "https://unitedstates.smartscreen.microsoft.com/",
"au": "https://australia.smartscreen.microsoft.com/",
"gw_eu": "https://europe.smartscreen.microsoft.com/",
"gw_ffl4": "https://unitedstates1.ss.wd.microsoft.us/",
"gw_ffl4mod": "https://unitedstates4.ss.wd.microsoft.us/",
"gw_ffl5": "https://unitedstates2.ss.wd.microsoft.us/",
"gw_test": "https://eu-9.smartscreen.microsoft.com/",
"gw_uk": "https://unitedkingdom.smartscreen.microsoft.com/",
"gw_us": "https://unitedstates.smartscreen.microsoft.com/",
"gw_au": "https://australia.smartscreen.microsoft.com/"
}
}
A quick search reveals that SmartScreen is a relatively new Windows feature that is supposed to warn you if you attempt to visit a questionable web site. It operates in the background, with some conflicting opinions on its usefulness. Personally, I have found no discernible delays or negative impacts and have yet to see a warning.

Opinions?

J.A. Coutts

[fafalone]

Sending every URL you visit for Microsoft to log, track, sell to 3rd parties, and hand over to police without warrants sure sounds like a negative impact to me.

[Steve R Jones]

Looks like it was added to Win 8 and newer.... There's plenty of info on how to Disable it.