Enforce Shell Extension Security (All Windows)

Registry Guide for Windows
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Registry tweaks, tricks & hacks to optimize, enhance and secure Microsoft Windows.

Enforce Shell Extension Security (All Windows)
Category: Home > Security > Desktop and Explorer

This tweak can be easily applied using WinGuides Tweak Manager.
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This restriction can be used to limit the system to only run files that have an approved shell extension.

Open your registry and find or create the key below.

Create or modify the DWORD value called "EnforceShellExtensionSecurity" and set it to "1" to enable the restriction or "0" to disable it.

The approved shell extenstions are defined under the [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved] key.

Restart Windows for any changes to take effect.


(Default)	REG_SZ	(value not set)
EnforceShellExtensionSecurity	REG_DWORD	0x00000001 (1)


	HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Exp...

Settings:

User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]
Name: EnforceShellExtensionSecurity
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = default, 1 = enable security)

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.

Last Modified: September 2, 2002

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