According to Neowin, Microsoft has officially deprecated Microsoft Defender SmartScreen in Internet Explorer and IE Mode specifically on Windows 11 with the latest Windows update. This change only affects SmartScreen functionality within Internet Explorer or IE Mode environments on Windows 11 systems. The security feature continues to work normally in Microsoft Edge, Windows Shell, and Internet Explorer on older Windows versions. Microsoft explained this move as part of broader security modernization efforts and phasing out legacy components. The company emphasized that IE Mode is designed exclusively for enterprise-configured trusted intranet sites, making SmartScreen’s anti-phishing capabilities redundant in many cases.
The enterprise security shift
Here’s the thing about this change – it’s really about cleaning house. Microsoft is finally cutting the cord on some seriously old infrastructure. The SmartScreen components in Internet Explorer depend on legacy binary systems that the company clearly wants to retire. And honestly, can you blame them? Maintaining decades-old code just for a compatibility mode doesn’t make much sense when there are modern alternatives available.
But what about actual protection? Well, Microsoft’s argument actually holds water here. IE Mode is supposed to be strictly for internal enterprise applications that administrators have explicitly whitelisted. If you’re using it to browse random websites, you’re basically using it wrong. The redundancy argument makes sense too – why run SmartScreen checks on sites that are already pre-approved as trusted?
What still protects you
Now before anyone panics about losing all security, that’s not what’s happening. Files downloaded through IE or IE Mode still get those Mark-of-the-Web tags attached, which means Windows Shell’s SmartScreen will still scan them when you try to open them. Plus, you’ve got Windows Defender and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint running at the system level anyway.
Basically, Microsoft is removing a layer of protection that was largely redundant for the intended use case. If you’re properly configuring IE Mode for internal apps only, you shouldn’t notice much difference. But if you were relying on SmartScreen to catch phishing attempts in IE Mode… well, maybe don’t do that?
What admins need to do
So what should enterprise administrators actually do about this? Microsoft’s guidance is pretty clear: restrict IE Mode to trusted internal sites only via properly configured site lists. If users need to browse the public internet, they should be using Edge anyway. The company even provides a manual disable method through Internet Options if anyone runs into issues post-update.
This feels like another step in Microsoft’s long goodbye to Internet Explorer. They’ve been trying to kill it for years, but enterprise dependencies keep parts of it alive. By stripping away components like SmartScreen, they’re making the legacy option less attractive while pushing everyone toward modern solutions. It’s a smart play, really – improve security by removing outdated code while gently nudging organizations toward better practices.
