Block Windows crash report hosts

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script prevents Windows from sending crash reports to Microsoft, enhancing your privacy.

Windows Error Reporting (WER) creates minidumps (small memory snapshots at crash time) and sends them to Microsoft 1.

Although intended to improve software by analyzing crash data, this feature raises privacy concerns such as:

• Inclusion of sensitive information within the dumps, such as personal data and passwords 2 3.
• Data sharing with Microsoft and other third parties through the Windows Desktop Application Program 1.

To safeguard your privacy, this script blocks specific hosts that Windows uses to transmit crash data, ensuring these minidump files remain on your local machine and are not sent to Microsoft or its partners.

The blocked hosts are:

• oca.telemetry.microsoft.com 4
• oca.microsoft.com 4
• kmwatsonc.events.data.microsoft.com 4

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Safe for General Use

This script is recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.

Implementation Details

• Language: batch

• Required Privileges: Administrator rights

• Compatibility: Windows only

• Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories

This action belongs to Block tracking hosts category. This category includes scripts that enhance privacy by blocking communications with hosts known for tracking and data collection. A host is a domain name serving as an address for a computer or resource on the Internet. These hosts are often used by software applications, operating systems,... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions

1. Open or download the desktop application
2. Search for the script name: Block Windows crash report hosts.
3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

   Download script

2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

HELP: Step-by-step guide

1. Click on Start menu

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

2. Type cmd

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

---

Windows 11

Windows 10

2. Copy the following code:

Code to apply changes

:: Add hosts entries for oca.telemetry.microsoft.com
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$domain ='oca.telemetry.microsoft.com'; $hostsFilePath = "^""$env:SYSTEMROOT\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"^""; $comment = "^""managed by privacy.sexy"^""; $hostsFileEncoding = [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.FileSystemCmdletProviderEncoding]::Utf8; $blockingHostsEntries = @(; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv4"^"";  IPAddress = '0.0.0.0'; }; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv6"^"";  IPAddress = '::1'; }; ); try { $isHostsFilePresent = Test-Path -Path $hostsFilePath -PathType Leaf -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to check hosts file existence. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; if (-Not $isHostsFilePresent) { Write-Output "^""Creating a new hosts file at $hostsFilePath."^""; try { New-Item -Path $hostsFilePath -ItemType File -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully created the hosts file."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; }; foreach ($blockingEntry in $blockingHostsEntries) { Write-Output "^""Processing addition for $($blockingEntry.AddressType) entry."^""; try { $hostsFileContents = Get-Content -Path "^""$hostsFilePath"^"" -Raw -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to read the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; $hostsEntryLine = "^""$($blockingEntry.IPAddress)`t$domain $([char]35) $comment"^""; if ((-Not [String]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($hostsFileContents)) -And ($hostsFileContents.Contains($hostsEntryLine))) { Write-Output 'Skipping, entry already exists.'; continue; }; try { Add-Content -Path $hostsFilePath -Value $hostsEntryLine -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Output 'Successfully added the entry.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to add the entry. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; }"
:: Add hosts entries for oca.microsoft.com
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$domain ='oca.microsoft.com'; $hostsFilePath = "^""$env:SYSTEMROOT\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"^""; $comment = "^""managed by privacy.sexy"^""; $hostsFileEncoding = [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.FileSystemCmdletProviderEncoding]::Utf8; $blockingHostsEntries = @(; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv4"^"";  IPAddress = '0.0.0.0'; }; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv6"^"";  IPAddress = '::1'; }; ); try { $isHostsFilePresent = Test-Path -Path $hostsFilePath -PathType Leaf -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to check hosts file existence. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; if (-Not $isHostsFilePresent) { Write-Output "^""Creating a new hosts file at $hostsFilePath."^""; try { New-Item -Path $hostsFilePath -ItemType File -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully created the hosts file."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; }; foreach ($blockingEntry in $blockingHostsEntries) { Write-Output "^""Processing addition for $($blockingEntry.AddressType) entry."^""; try { $hostsFileContents = Get-Content -Path "^""$hostsFilePath"^"" -Raw -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to read the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; $hostsEntryLine = "^""$($blockingEntry.IPAddress)`t$domain $([char]35) $comment"^""; if ((-Not [String]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($hostsFileContents)) -And ($hostsFileContents.Contains($hostsEntryLine))) { Write-Output 'Skipping, entry already exists.'; continue; }; try { Add-Content -Path $hostsFilePath -Value $hostsEntryLine -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Output 'Successfully added the entry.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to add the entry. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; }"
:: Add hosts entries for kmwatsonc.events.data.microsoft.com
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$domain ='kmwatsonc.events.data.microsoft.com'; $hostsFilePath = "^""$env:SYSTEMROOT\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"^""; $comment = "^""managed by privacy.sexy"^""; $hostsFileEncoding = [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.FileSystemCmdletProviderEncoding]::Utf8; $blockingHostsEntries = @(; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv4"^"";  IPAddress = '0.0.0.0'; }; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv6"^"";  IPAddress = '::1'; }; ); try { $isHostsFilePresent = Test-Path -Path $hostsFilePath -PathType Leaf -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to check hosts file existence. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; if (-Not $isHostsFilePresent) { Write-Output "^""Creating a new hosts file at $hostsFilePath."^""; try { New-Item -Path $hostsFilePath -ItemType File -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully created the hosts file."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; }; foreach ($blockingEntry in $blockingHostsEntries) { Write-Output "^""Processing addition for $($blockingEntry.AddressType) entry."^""; try { $hostsFileContents = Get-Content -Path "^""$hostsFilePath"^"" -Raw -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to read the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; $hostsEntryLine = "^""$($blockingEntry.IPAddress)`t$domain $([char]35) $comment"^""; if ((-Not [String]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($hostsFileContents)) -And ($hostsFileContents.Contains($hostsEntryLine))) { Write-Output 'Skipping, entry already exists.'; continue; }; try { Add-Content -Path $hostsFilePath -Value $hostsEntryLine -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Output 'Successfully added the entry.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to add the entry. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; }"

3. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
4. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code

:: Remove hosts entries for oca.telemetry.microsoft.com
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$domain ='oca.telemetry.microsoft.com'; $hostsFilePath = "^""$env:SYSTEMROOT\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"^""; $comment = "^""managed by privacy.sexy"^""; $hostsFileEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8; $blockingHostsEntries = @(; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv4"^"";  IPAddress = '0.0.0.0'; }; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv6"^"";  IPAddress = '::1'; }; ); try { $isHostsFilePresent = Test-Path -Path $hostsFilePath -PathType Leaf -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to check hosts file existence. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; if (-Not $isHostsFilePresent) { Write-Output 'Skipping, the hosts file does not exist.'; exit 0; }; foreach ($blockingEntry in $blockingHostsEntries) { Write-Output "^""Processing removal for $($blockingEntry.AddressType) entry."^""; try { $hostsFileContents = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllText($hostsFilePath, $hostsFileEncoding); } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to read the hosts file for removal. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; $hostsEntryLine = "^""$($blockingEntry.IPAddress)`t$domain $([char]35) $comment"^""; if ([String]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($hostsFileContents) -Or (-Not $hostsFileContents.Contains($hostsEntryLine))) { Write-Output 'Skipping, entry not found.'; continue; }; $hostsEntryRemovalPattern = [regex]::Escape($hostsEntryLine) + "^""(\r?\n)?"^""; $hostsFileContentAfterRemoval = $hostsFileContents -Replace $hostsEntryRemovalPattern, "^"""^""; try { [System.IO.File]::WriteAllText($hostsFilePath, $hostsFileContentAfterRemoval, $hostsFileEncoding); Write-Output 'Successfully removed the entry.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the entry. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; }"
:: Remove hosts entries for oca.microsoft.com
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$domain ='oca.microsoft.com'; $hostsFilePath = "^""$env:SYSTEMROOT\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"^""; $comment = "^""managed by privacy.sexy"^""; $hostsFileEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8; $blockingHostsEntries = @(; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv4"^"";  IPAddress = '0.0.0.0'; }; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv6"^"";  IPAddress = '::1'; }; ); try { $isHostsFilePresent = Test-Path -Path $hostsFilePath -PathType Leaf -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to check hosts file existence. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; if (-Not $isHostsFilePresent) { Write-Output 'Skipping, the hosts file does not exist.'; exit 0; }; foreach ($blockingEntry in $blockingHostsEntries) { Write-Output "^""Processing removal for $($blockingEntry.AddressType) entry."^""; try { $hostsFileContents = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllText($hostsFilePath, $hostsFileEncoding); } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to read the hosts file for removal. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; $hostsEntryLine = "^""$($blockingEntry.IPAddress)`t$domain $([char]35) $comment"^""; if ([String]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($hostsFileContents) -Or (-Not $hostsFileContents.Contains($hostsEntryLine))) { Write-Output 'Skipping, entry not found.'; continue; }; $hostsEntryRemovalPattern = [regex]::Escape($hostsEntryLine) + "^""(\r?\n)?"^""; $hostsFileContentAfterRemoval = $hostsFileContents -Replace $hostsEntryRemovalPattern, "^"""^""; try { [System.IO.File]::WriteAllText($hostsFilePath, $hostsFileContentAfterRemoval, $hostsFileEncoding); Write-Output 'Successfully removed the entry.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the entry. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; }"
:: Remove hosts entries for kmwatsonc.events.data.microsoft.com
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$domain ='kmwatsonc.events.data.microsoft.com'; $hostsFilePath = "^""$env:SYSTEMROOT\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"^""; $comment = "^""managed by privacy.sexy"^""; $hostsFileEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::UTF8; $blockingHostsEntries = @(; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv4"^"";  IPAddress = '0.0.0.0'; }; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv6"^"";  IPAddress = '::1'; }; ); try { $isHostsFilePresent = Test-Path -Path $hostsFilePath -PathType Leaf -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to check hosts file existence. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; if (-Not $isHostsFilePresent) { Write-Output 'Skipping, the hosts file does not exist.'; exit 0; }; foreach ($blockingEntry in $blockingHostsEntries) { Write-Output "^""Processing removal for $($blockingEntry.AddressType) entry."^""; try { $hostsFileContents = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllText($hostsFilePath, $hostsFileEncoding); } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to read the hosts file for removal. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; $hostsEntryLine = "^""$($blockingEntry.IPAddress)`t$domain $([char]35) $comment"^""; if ([String]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($hostsFileContents) -Or (-Not $hostsFileContents.Contains($hostsEntryLine))) { Write-Output 'Skipping, entry not found.'; continue; }; $hostsEntryRemovalPattern = [regex]::Escape($hostsEntryLine) + "^""(\r?\n)?"^""; $hostsFileContentAfterRemoval = $hostsFileContents -Replace $hostsEntryRemovalPattern, "^"""^""; try { [System.IO.File]::WriteAllText($hostsFilePath, $hostsFileContentAfterRemoval, $hostsFileEncoding); Write-Output 'Successfully removed the entry.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the entry. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; }"

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