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Disable Defender Antivirus communication module

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
  • Impact: High

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: High

    This action improves privacy with high impact when you run the recommended script.

  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
  • Fully reversible

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

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

This script removes the MpCommu.dll library, disabling its functionality.

Microsoft refers to this library as Communication Module 1 2 3. This library is a component of Defender Antivirus service 4 5.

It performs several network-related functions:

  • Communicates with Microsoft servers over HTTP/HTTPS using REST/SOAP APIs and proxy support 5.
  • Manages updates, including scheduling and downloading antimalware definition updates and interacting with Windows Update 5.
  • Submits reports to SpyNet 5, also known as Microsoft Active Protection Service (MAPS) 6.
  • Reports errors 5.
  • Interacts with other Windows processes using COM (Component Object Model) 5.
  • Manages configurations and settings related to malware protection 5.

Removing this library enhances privacy by preventing data transmission to Microsoft servers, including SpyNet reporting and other communications. This action may also slightly improve system performance by eliminating background communications and update processes associated with the module.

However, removing this library reduces system security. Without this library, Defender Antivirus may not receive malware definition updates, leaving your system vulnerable to new threats. Error reporting and other security features may also be disabled.

Caution

Removing this library may leave your system unprotected from new malware and security threats.

Technical Details​

The script removes the MpCommu.dll file from its standard location:

  • %PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MpCommu.dll 1 4

In older versions of Windows, this file is located at:

  • %PROGRAMFILES%\Microsoft Security Client\Antimalware\MpCommu.dll 2
  • %PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\*\MpCommu.dll 3
  1. Not Advised

    This script should only be used by advanced users.

    This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality.

    Consider creating a system restore point before doing any changes.

  2. Security Trade-off

    This action prioritizes privacy over certain security features. It's not recommended and should only be used by advanced users after understanding its implications.

    Increased Privacy

    Enhanced privacy through reduced data collection and tracking

    Decreased Security

    Some security features will be disabled or limited

    This script can be reversed, this action allows you to can restore the system security.

Sources
PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

Apply Now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

Download script​

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Easy-to-apply
  • Free
  • Open-source
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Defender Antivirus communication module" using script​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy​

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Defender Antivirus communication module" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the script name: Disable Defender Antivirus communication module
    2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Run commands​

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge
Apply changes
:: Soft delete files matching pattern: "%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MpCommu.dll"  as TrustedInstaller
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "function Invoke-AsTrustedInstaller($Script) { $principalSid = [System.Security.Principal.SecurityIdentifier]::new('S-1-5-80-956008885-3418522649-1831038044-1853292631-2271478464'); $principalName = $principalSid.Translate([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]); $streamFile = New-TemporaryFile; $scriptFile = New-TemporaryFile; try { $scriptFile = Rename-Item -LiteralPath $scriptFile -NewName ($scriptFile.BaseName + '.ps1') -Force -PassThru; $Script | Out-File $scriptFile -Encoding UTF8; $taskName = "^""privacy$([char]0x002E)sexy invoke"^""; schtasks.exe /delete /tn $taskName /f 2>&1 | Out-Null; $executionCommand = "^""powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File '$scriptFile' *>&1 | Out-File -FilePath '$streamFile' -Encoding UTF8"^""; $action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute 'powershell.exe' -Argument "^""-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command `"^""$executionCommand`"^"""^""; $settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -AllowStartIfOnBatteries -DontStopIfGoingOnBatteries; Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName $taskName -Action $action -Settings $settings -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; try { ($scheduleService = New-Object -ComObject Schedule.Service).Connect(); $scheduleService.GetFolder('\').GetTask($taskName).RunEx($null, 0, 0, $principalName) | Out-Null; $timeout = (Get-Date).AddMinutes(5); Write-Host "^""Running as $principalName"^""; while ((Get-ScheduledTaskInfo $taskName).LastTaskResult -eq 267009) { Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 200; if ((Get-Date) -gt $timeout) { Write-Warning 'Skipping: Timeout'; break; }; }; if (($result = (Get-ScheduledTaskInfo $taskName).LastTaskResult) -ne 0) { Write-Error "^""Failed, due to exit code: $result."^""; } } finally { schtasks.exe /delete /tn $taskName /f | Out-Null; }; Get-Content $streamFile } finally { Remove-Item $streamFile, $scriptFile; }; }; $cmd = '$pathGlobPattern = "^""%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MpCommu.dll"^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'$expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern)'+"^""`r`n"^""+'Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+''+"^""`r`n"^""+'$renamedCount   = 0'+"^""`r`n"^""+'$skippedCount   = 0'+"^""`r`n"^""+'$failedCount    = 0'+"^""`r`n"^""+''+"^""`r`n"^""+'$foundAbsolutePaths = @()'+"^""`r`n"^""+''+"^""`r`n"^""+'try {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    $foundAbsolutePaths += @('+"^""`r`n"^""+'        Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    )'+"^""`r`n"^""+'} catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it''s unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>'+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+'$foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths   `'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    | Select-Object -Unique                 `'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending'+"^""`r`n"^""+'if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    Write-Host ''Skipping, no items available.'''+"^""`r`n"^""+'    exit 0'+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+'Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    if (Test-Path -Path $path -PathType Container) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    Write-Host "^""Skipping folder (not its contents): `"^""$path`"^""."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    $skippedCount++'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    continue'+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+'if($revert -eq $true) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    if (-not $path.EndsWith(''.OLD'')) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'        Write-Host "^""Skipping non-backup file: `"^""$path`"^""."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'        $skippedCount++'+"^""`r`n"^""+'        continue'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    }'+"^""`r`n"^""+'} else {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    if ($path.EndsWith(''.OLD'')) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'        Write-Host "^""Skipping backup file: `"^""$path`"^""."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'        $skippedCount++'+"^""`r`n"^""+'        continue'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    }'+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+'$originalFilePath = $path'+"^""`r`n"^""+'Write-Host "^""Processing file: `"^""$originalFilePath`"^""."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'if (-Not (Test-Path $originalFilePath)) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    Write-Host "^""Skipping, file `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"" not found."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    $skippedCount++'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    exit 0'+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+''+"^""`r`n"^""+'if ($revert -eq $true) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    $newFilePath = $originalFilePath.Substring(0, $originalFilePath.Length - 4)'+"^""`r`n"^""+'} else {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    $newFilePath = "^""$($originalFilePath).OLD"^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+'try {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    Move-Item -LiteralPath "^""$($originalFilePath)"^"" -Destination "^""$newFilePath"^"" -Force -ErrorAction Stop'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    Write-Host "^""Successfully processed `"^""$originalFilePath`"^""."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    $renamedCount++'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    '+"^""`r`n"^""+'} catch {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    Write-Error "^""Failed to rename `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"" to `"^""$newFilePath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    $failedCount++'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    '+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+'if (($renamedCount -gt 0) -or ($skippedCount -gt 0)) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    Write-Host "^""Successfully processed $renamedCount items and skipped $skippedCount items."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+'if ($failedCount -gt 0) {'+"^""`r`n"^""+'    Write-Warning "^""Failed to process $($failedCount) items."^""'+"^""`r`n"^""+'}'+"^""`r`n"^""+''; Invoke-AsTrustedInstaller $cmd"
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Defender Antivirus communication module" using commands​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Command Prompt
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 3 instructions
 View step-by-step guide with screenshots
  1. 1

    Open Command Prompt

    Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. 2

    Copy code

    Copy the code:
    Copy Apply Code Copy Revert Code
  3. 3

    Paste & run

    Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

Similar Guides​

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Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.

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This category disables the Defender Antivirus service and its related components. This service is also referred to as Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service and Wind...
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About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
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    • Hundreds across the globe
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    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process