It is one of the essential processes

Windows 10 includes a number of built-in protections that are intended to improve the security of your PC. From integrated antivirus scanning to password-free logins, Windows 10 offers more protection than previous Windows releases. To further enhance this, Microsoft automatically blocks unknown apps and programs.

This feature is Windows SmartScreen, which is designed to prevent potentially malicious code from running. The SmartScreen process (smartscreen.exe) runs in the background, which means it can occasionally use your system resources. If you’re curious to learn more, or are concerned about security, this guide should put your mind at ease.

Windows SmartScreen has been a feature since the release of Windows 8. It is designed to prevent unknown apps from running automatically. SmartScreen scans a program and compares it to a huge Microsoft database of known apps and services. If the program is not recognized, it stops the app from running.