18.8.22.1.6 (L1) Ensure 'Turn off Internet download for Web publishing and online ordering wizards' is set to 'Enabled'

Information

This policy setting controls whether Windows will download a list of providers for the Web publishing and online ordering wizards.
The recommended state for this setting is: Enabled.

Rationale:
Although the risk is minimal, enabling this setting will reduce the possibility of a user unknowingly downloading malicious content through this feature.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to Enabled:
Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System\Internet Communication Management\Internet Communication settings\Turn off Internet download for Web publishing and online ordering wizards
Note: This Group Policy path is provided by the Group Policy template ICM.admx/adml that is included with all versions of the Microsoft Windows Administrative Templates.

Impact:
Windows is prevented from downloading providers; only the service providers cached in the local registry are displayed.

Default Value:
Disabled. (A list of providers is downloaded when the user uses the web publishing or online ordering wizards.)

References:
1. CCE-33143-9

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/14249