Configure Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker protection
Verified with Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge - Default Settings (users can override)\Scareware Blocker settings User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge - Default Settings (users can override)\Scareware Blocker settings Description
This policy setting allows administrators to control whether Microsoft Edge enables Scareware blocker, an AI-powered feature for protecting users from potential tech scams. To support this feature, Microsoft Edge downloads a machine learning model file from Microsoft to the device. If you enable or don’t configure this policy, Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker uses local AI to detect potential tech scams. If you disable this policy, Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker is disabled. The machine learning model file doesn't download to the device, and if downloaded, a deletion occurs. When this policy is enabled, the policies 'ScarewareBlockerBlocksDetectedSitesEnabled' (Configure Microsoft Edge scareware blocker to block sites detected as potential tech scams), 'ScarewareBlockerSendDetectedSitesToSmartScreenEnabled' (Configure Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker to share URLs of sites detected as potential tech scams with Microsoft Defender SmartScreen), and 'ScarewareBlockerAllowListDomains' (Configure the list of domains where Microsoft Edge Scareware blockers don't run) are used to configure the behavior of the Scareware blocker feature. If both of those policies are disabled, enabling this policy has no effect. When this policy is disabled, the policies 'ScarewareBlockerBlocksDetectedSitesEnabled', 'ScarewareBlockerSendDetectedSitesToSmartScreenEnabled', and 'ScarewareBlockerAllowListDomains' have no effect.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended Value name: ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled
Enabled: ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled = 1
Disabled: ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled = 0
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Configure Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker protection
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended]
"ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker protection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker protection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker protection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker protection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker protection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Microsoft Edge Scareware blocker protection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 134, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.