IE7 and later: Microsoft Defender SmartScreen can check sites (URLs) you visit against a dynamic, online list of reported phishing sites.Microsoft Defender SmartScreen helps to protect you in these key ways: In Internet Explorer 8 and later, SmartScreen also helps protect you from downloading malicious software. It is designed to help protect you from websites Microsoft believes are fraudulent that try to steal your personal information. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is a feature of Windows, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge.