How to let Windows 8 Smartscreen Filter through firewall

Hi guys. I have Windows 8 firewall with outbound enabled and obviously that affects Windows 8 Smartscreen Filter preventing it to connect. What rules should I create to let it through as I'm not sure which executable is responsible for it.

 

Smart Screen Filter is a feature in Internet Explorer that helps detect phishing websites. You should allow connections for iexplore.exe.

 

Hi,

Isn't Smart Screen supposed to be allowed thru windows firewall by default?

Smart screen works w/o any issues for me. I have not configured anything specific in windows firewall.

Is there any setting in windows firewall to enable outbound control?

Thanks,
Harsha

 

Internet explorer connects just fine. On Windows 8 Smatscreen filter is integrated into the system, it's not just an Internet Explorer feature.

 

Smartscreen is listed in group policy settings as a feature of Internet Explorer, so Alexandrud's explanation seems valid to me. Looking at its function to filter url's and content (downloads), it would also be logical to put in a higher OSI-layer like a browser.

 

It's strange then as IE 10 connects out just fine while Smartscreen filter comes out with "check your internet connection message" and "cannot connect".

 

Have you enabled firewall logging in Windows 8? (It comes disabled by default in Windows 7.)

You could then check Event Viewer and see what process(es) get blocked when using SmartScreen. Another option would be to use something like Process Explorer and see what process makes the call.

 

Good idea, thank you! Logging is enabled in Windows 8 firewall but doesn't show the process, just the protocol type, ports etc. Will try with Process explorer.

 

you have to allow explorer.exe to connect to the internet,this is hte process that screens applications in windows 8.

 

Thank you very much, you are absolutely right. When I made an allow rule for explorer.exe to connect out to port 443 (https), Smartscreen filter connects out.

 

I guess I was too late to reply. Still, you might want to be aware of this (just as a FYI):

Thoughts on the Windows SmartScreen scare
Windows 8 Tells Microsoft About Everything You Install, Not Very Securely

 

Thank you, I think I have come across one of the articles. I have disabled the rule for explorer.exe. Anyway, even if Smartscreen filter does not connect out, it still asks you whether you want to continue the execution of an executive or not.

 

Yes it does that. On the other hand, you can always right-click on the .exe, go to Properties and "Unblock".