February 20, 2020 Of Directors
When you download a file from the Internet and save it to the NTFS drive, the Windows operating system adds specific metadata to these downloaded files. These metadata are considered attachments. This is the default operation performed by the Windows operating system. When you try to open or run downloaded files, the system bombards you with security warnings stating that "the file is from an unknown source and could be a security threat". This is an annoying Windows 10 operating system default that prevents you from directly opening or executing downloaded files.
Metadata is known as data that describes other data. Meta is a prefix used in information technology and generally means “an underlying definition or description. The metadata added as an attachment to the downloaded file is known as Zone Information. Zone information is an invisible file that is stored with the downloaded file in the form of an alternate data stream. Both the downloaded file and the metadata are stored in the same location.
Therefore, when File Explorer opens the file, it finds the attached zone information stored in the same location and checks if it comes from outside. Soon, the Windows Smart Screen warning appears as “Windows Smart Screen prevented an unrecognized application from starting. Running this application could put your PC at risk. "
When you disable the smart display message, another dialog box appears with the option to execute or cancel.
Now the user has to manually unlock the downloaded files. This can be done by right clicking on the file and selecting the properties option from the menu. Then select the General tab and check the checkbox called “Unblock” - but the process is tedious and time-consuming. Unlocking all files with this method is surprisingly slow.
Instead, let's focus on the preventive measure and prevent windows from adding more information about the Zone.
If there is no information about the area, there is no smart screen security warning and there is no need to unlock the download files.
Method to disable file blocking during download
In case your Windows 10 editor doesn't come with Group Policy apps, you can opt for a simple registry optimization.
Step 1 - Press the Windows + R keys on the keyboard at the same time.
The Run dialog appears.
Step 2 - To write regedit without quotes and press the Enter key from your keyboard
This, in turn, will open Registry Editor.
Step 3 - When the UAC (User Account Control) box appears, select yes
4 pass - Go to the following Registry key
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPolicies
5 pass - Right click on Policies and create a new key Attached files if it doesn't exist.
Step 6: Right-click on Attached files and choose New> DWORD (32-bit) value. Name this SaveZoneInformation .
Step 7: Right-click on Newly Created SaveZoneInformation and choose Modify.
Step 8: change yours valuable data to 1.
That is. In the future, if you want to undo this change, please delete SaveZoneInformation .
How to disable blocking of downloaded files in Windows 10 by editing gpedit
Step 1 Type gpedit.msc in the boot menu
This will open the file Group Policy Editor
Step 2 Go to User Settings and select Administrative models.
Step 3 Proceed to the Windows component and then choose Responsible for attachments
Step 4 To enable it, double click on the policy setting "Do not keep zone information in attached files"
Step 5 After activation, click ok
This method is effective for removing the unnecessary security lock imposed by Windows on files downloaded from the Internet. Since zone information is not saved as attachments, File Explorer will have no attachments to check for.
