--- title: System settings Use certificate rules on Windows executables for Software Restriction Policies (Windows 10) description: Describes the best practices, location, values, policy management and security considerations for the System settings Use certificate rules on Windows executables for Software Restriction Policies security policy setting. ms.assetid: 2380d93b-b553-4e56-a0c0-d1ef740d089c ms.pagetype: security ms.prod: W10 ms.mktglfcycl: deploy ms.sitesec: library author: brianlic-msft --- # System settings: Use certificate rules on Windows executables for Software Restriction Policies **Applies to** - Windows 10 Describes the best practices, location, values, policy management and security considerations for the **System settings: Use certificate rules on Windows executables for Software Restriction Policies** security policy setting. ## Reference This policy setting determines whether digital certificates are processed when software restriction policies are enabled and a user or process attempts to run software with an .exe file name extension. This security setting enables or disables certificate rules (which are a type of software restriction policy). With a software restriction policy, you can create a certificate rule that allows or disallows Microsoft Authenticode®-signed software to run, based on the digital certificate that is associated with the software. For certificate rules to work in software restriction policies, you must enable this security setting. ### Possible values - Enabled - Disabled - Not defined ### Best practices - Set this policy to **Enabled**. Enabling certificate rules results in software restriction policies checking a certificate revocation list (CRL) to make sure that the software's certificate and signature are valid. When you start signed programs, this setting can decrease system performance. You can disable CRLs by editing the software restriction policies in the desired GPO. In the **Trusted Publishers Properties** dialog box, clear the **Publisher** and **Timestamp** check boxes. ### Location Computer Configuration\\Windows Settings\\Security Settings\\Local Policies\\Security Options ### Default values The following table lists the actual and effective default values for this policy. Default values are also listed on the policy’s property page.

Server type or GPO	Default value
Default Domain Policy	Not defined
Default Domain Controller Policy	Not defined
Stand-Alone Server Default Settings	Disabled
DC Effective Default Settings	Disabled
Member Server Effective Default Settings	Disabled
Client Computer Effective Default Settings	Disabled

## Policy management This section describes features and tools that are available to help you manage this policy. ### Restart requirement None. Changes to this policy become effective without a device restart when they are saved locally or distributed through Group Policy. ## Security considerations This section describes how an attacker might exploit a feature or its configuration, how to implement the countermeasure, and the possible negative consequences of countermeasure implementation. ### Vulnerability Without the use of software restriction policies, users and device might be exposed to unauthorized software that could include malware. ### Countermeasure Enable the **System settings: Use certificate rules on Windows executables for Software Restriction Policies** setting. ### Potential impact If you enable certificate rules, software restriction policies check a certificate revocation list (CRL) to verify that the software's certificate and signature are valid. This checking process may negatively affect performance when signed programs start. To disable this feature, you can edit the software restriction policies in the appropriate GPO. In the **Trusted Publishers Properties** dialog box, clear the **Publisher** and **Timestamp** check boxes. ## Related topics [Security Options](security-options.md)