Browsing the internet comes with the perils of phishing and malware. Find out here how to have Edge check page and download safety automatically using Microsoft Defender SmartScreen.
First, People Shooting Peas
People shooting with peas at windows could be seen—and, importantly, heard—on the British Isles throughout the Industrial Age’s every early morning’s hours.
These “knocker-ups” would reliably wake those scheduled to work when alarm clocks were unreliable and expensive. Some knocked with sticks, and some, like Mary Anne Smith, would shoot peas through a blowtube.
Now, if you want to be alerted not to the joys and chances of a fresh morning but to the stale tricks and perils of the Internet Age, Windows’s Edge browser can be on guard for you and knock. It’s reasonably reliable—and it is free:
How to Check Page and Download Safety with Edge SmartScreen
Time needed: 2 minutes
To set up Microsoft Edge browser on Windows to check every page and file download for safety risks (such as malware and phishing attempts) automatically as you navigate to it:
- Click the Settings and more button (•••) in Microsoft Edge.
Keyboard shortcut: Press Alt F to open the menu.
- Select Settings from the menu.
- Go to the Privacy, search, and services category.
Shortcut: You can also navigate to
edge://settings/privacydirectly. - Turn on Microsoft Defender SmartScreen under Security.
Have Edge (<79) Check Page and Download Safety
To set up Microsoft Edge not based on Chromium (versions 78 and earlier) to check files and pages for their safety as you browse:
- Click the Settings and more button (•••) in Microsoft Edge.
Keyboard shortcut: You can also press Alt X to open Edge’s main menu. - Select Settings from the menu that has appeared.
- Now go to the Privacy & security category.
- Enable Help protect me from malicious sites and downloads with Windows Defender SmartScreen under Windows Defender SmartScreen.
Not recommended: Turn the setting Off for no checks and possibly a negligible speed boost.
How to Check Page and Download Safety with Edge SmartScreen: FAQ
Can I still visit a site that Microsoft Edge is warning me against opening?
Yes.
To override the SmartScreen filter and visit a dangerous site in Microsoft Edge browser:
- Click More information under This website has been reported as unsafe.
- Now click Disregard and continue.
Edge will open the page but still block unsafe content, such as scripts and Flash apps that might download harmful code.
How does Edge determine unsafe pages?
Edge uses Windows Defender SmartScreen to identify files and pages that are a potential threat.
In addition to checking against lists of known phishing sites and malware, Windows Defender SmartScreen also looks for suspicious content.
Edge missed an unsafe page; can I report it?
Yes, you can report a phishing or otherwise unsafe page to Microsoft for Windows Defender SmartScreen.
I cannot change SmartScreen settings in Edge or override warnings; what is going on?
Windows system administrators can centrally and remotely set SmartScreen options for Microsoft Edge. These settings can prevent you from configuring SmartScreen yourself or ignore warnings for unsafe pages and downloads.
(How to have Edge check page and download safety automatically using Microsoft Defender SmartScreen tested with Edge 113–124; first published July 2018, last updated May 2024)