Guide
"Windows protected your PC" when you open a program: what it means and how to stay safe
The blue "Windows protected your PC" screen is Windows SmartScreen warning you before it opens a file it does not know yet. It does not always mean the file has a virus, but you should not click through every file either.
Why it shows up
SmartScreen warns about files that are not code signed or not downloaded by many people yet. Many small programs, Savenz Optimizer too, are not code signed yet, so Windows warns first.
How to get past it
- Press More info.
- Check that the file name matches what you downloaded.
- Press Run anyway.
Check before you run it
Only run files when you know where they came from. A file passed around somewhere else may have been changed.
- Download only from where the maker shares it. Savenz Optimizer is shared in the Savenz Discord.
- Check the file is genuine: right click in the folder with the file, pick Open in Terminal, type Get-FileHash and the file name, and compare the SHA 256 with the one the maker posted.
- Scan the file on VirusTotal to see results from dozens of antivirus engines in one place.
Don't turn off Defender or SmartScreen
Some guides say to turn off Defender or SmartScreen before opening a file. Don't. It makes the whole PC easier for malware to get into. Pressing Run anyway on a file you checked is enough. Savenz Optimizer never turns off Defender, UAC or SmartScreen for you.
Why Run as administrator
A program that changes Windows settings needs admin rights, because a normal user can't change those settings. Before you allow it, make sure the file came from a source you trust.