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Disable Defender Antivirus service in Safe Mode

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables Defender Antivirus from running in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode is also known as Safe Boot 1. It starts Windows in a limited state where only essential services and drivers are loaded 1. By default, the Defender Antivirus service is set to run in this mode 1 2.

This script improves privacy in Safe Mode by preventing Defender Antivirus from:

  • Collecting system data
  • Scanning files
  • Sending telemetry data to Microsoft

This also increases system speed in Safe Mode by reducing background processes and memory usage.

However, running this script may compromise your security by leaving your system unprotected from malware and other threats, even in Safe Mode.

Caution

This script removes protection against viruses and other threats in Safe Mode.

Technical Details​

The script deletes two registry keys:

  • HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\WinDefend 2
  • HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network\WinDefend 2

These registry keys are created by the Windows Defender Service (Windows-Defender-Service.Resources) package to enable antivirus functionality in Safe Mode 2.

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Not Advised

This script should only be used by advanced users. This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

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 Disable Defender Antivirus service category. This category disables the Defender Antivirus service and its related components. This service is also referred to as Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service and Windows Defender Service. It is a core component of Microsoft Defender Antivirus, essential for its operation. Using these... 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: Disable Defender Antivirus service in Safe Mode.
  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

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
:: Soft-delete the registry key: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\WinDefend 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "function Copy-Acl($Src, $Dst) { $srcKeys = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $Src -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue); foreach ($key in $srcKeys) { $dstKey = Join-Path $Dst $key.PSChildName; Copy-Acl -Src $key.PSPath -Dst $dstKey; }; $acl = Get-Acl -Path $Src -ErrorAction Stop; $sections = [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlSections]::All -band (-bnot [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlSections]::Owner); $sddl = $acl.GetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($sections); $acl.SetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($sddl, $sections); Set-Acl -Path $Dst -AclObject $acl -ErrorAction Stop; }; function Rename-KeyWithAcl($Old, $New) { try { Copy-Item -LiteralPath $Old -Destination $New -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { throw "^""Failed to copy: $_"^""; }; try { Copy-Acl -Src $Old -Dst $New; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to copy ACL: $_"^""; }; try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $Old -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $New -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to clean up: $_"^""; }; throw "^""Failed to remove: $_"^""; }; }; $rawPath='HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\WinDefend'; $suffix='.OLD'; $global:ok = 0; $global:skip = 0; $global:fail = 0; function Rename-KeyTree($Path) { Write-Host "^""Processing key: $Path"^""; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: Key does not exist.'; $global:skip++; return; }; $values = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Property); foreach ($value in $values) { Write-Host "^""Renaming '$value'"^""; if ($value.EndsWith($suffix)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: Has suffix.'; $global:skip++; continue; }; $backupName = $value + $suffix; Write-Host "^""Renaming to '$backupName'."^""; try { Rename-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $value -NewName $backupName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully renamed.'; $global:ok++; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to rename value: $_"^""; $global:fail++; }; }; $subkeys = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue); foreach ($key in $subkeys) { Rename-KeyTree $key.PSPath; }; Write-Host "^""Renaming key '$Path'."^""; if ($Path.EndsWith($suffix)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: Has suffix.'; $global:skip++; } else { $backupPath = $Path + $suffix; while (Test-Path -LiteralPath $backupPath) { $backupPath += $suffix; }; Write-Host "^""Renaming to '$backupPath'."^""; try { Rename-KeyWithAcl -Old $Path -New $backupPath -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully renamed.'; $global:ok++; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to rename: $_"^""; $global:fail++; }; }; }; Write-Host "^""Soft deleting registry key '$rawPath' recursively."^""; $hive = $rawPath.Split('\')[0]; $path = $hive + ':' + $rawPath.Substring($hive.Length); Rename-KeyTree $path; $totalItems = $global:ok + $global:skip + $global:fail; Write-Host "^""Total items: $totalItems, Renamed: $global:ok, Skipped: $global:skip, Failed: $global:fail"^""; if (($totalItems -eq 0) -or ($totalItems -eq $global:skip)) { Write-Host 'No items were processed. The operation had no effect.'; } elseif ($global:fail -eq $totalItems) { throw "^""Operation failed. All $global:fail items could not be processed."^""; } elseif ($global:ok) { Write-Host "^""Successfully processed $global:ok item(s)."^""; }"
:: Soft-delete the registry key: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network\WinDefend 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "function Copy-Acl($Src, $Dst) { $srcKeys = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $Src -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue); foreach ($key in $srcKeys) { $dstKey = Join-Path $Dst $key.PSChildName; Copy-Acl -Src $key.PSPath -Dst $dstKey; }; $acl = Get-Acl -Path $Src -ErrorAction Stop; $sections = [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlSections]::All -band (-bnot [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlSections]::Owner); $sddl = $acl.GetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($sections); $acl.SetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($sddl, $sections); Set-Acl -Path $Dst -AclObject $acl -ErrorAction Stop; }; function Rename-KeyWithAcl($Old, $New) { try { Copy-Item -LiteralPath $Old -Destination $New -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { throw "^""Failed to copy: $_"^""; }; try { Copy-Acl -Src $Old -Dst $New; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to copy ACL: $_"^""; }; try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $Old -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $New -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to clean up: $_"^""; }; throw "^""Failed to remove: $_"^""; }; }; $rawPath='HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network\WinDefend'; $suffix='.OLD'; $global:ok = 0; $global:skip = 0; $global:fail = 0; function Rename-KeyTree($Path) { Write-Host "^""Processing key: $Path"^""; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: Key does not exist.'; $global:skip++; return; }; $values = (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Property); foreach ($value in $values) { Write-Host "^""Renaming '$value'"^""; if ($value.EndsWith($suffix)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: Has suffix.'; $global:skip++; continue; }; $backupName = $value + $suffix; Write-Host "^""Renaming to '$backupName'."^""; try { Rename-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $value -NewName $backupName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully renamed.'; $global:ok++; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to rename value: $_"^""; $global:fail++; }; }; $subkeys = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue); foreach ($key in $subkeys) { Rename-KeyTree $key.PSPath; }; Write-Host "^""Renaming key '$Path'."^""; if ($Path.EndsWith($suffix)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: Has suffix.'; $global:skip++; } else { $backupPath = $Path + $suffix; while (Test-Path -LiteralPath $backupPath) { $backupPath += $suffix; }; Write-Host "^""Renaming to '$backupPath'."^""; try { Rename-KeyWithAcl -Old $Path -New $backupPath -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully renamed.'; $global:ok++; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to rename: $_"^""; $global:fail++; }; }; }; Write-Host "^""Soft deleting registry key '$rawPath' recursively."^""; $hive = $rawPath.Split('\')[0]; $path = $hive + ':' + $rawPath.Substring($hive.Length); Rename-KeyTree $path; $totalItems = $global:ok + $global:skip + $global:fail; Write-Host "^""Total items: $totalItems, Renamed: $global:ok, Skipped: $global:skip, Failed: $global:fail"^""; if (($totalItems -eq 0) -or ($totalItems -eq $global:skip)) { Write-Host 'No items were processed. The operation had no effect.'; } elseif ($global:fail -eq $totalItems) { throw "^""Operation failed. All $global:fail items could not be processed."^""; } elseif ($global:ok) { Write-Host "^""Successfully processed $global:ok item(s)."^""; }"
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code​

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
:: Restore registry key: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\WinDefend 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "function Copy-Acl($Src, $Dst) { $srcKeys = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $Src -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue); foreach ($key in $srcKeys) { $dstKey = Join-Path $Dst $key.PSChildName; Copy-Acl -Src $key.PSPath -Dst $dstKey; }; $acl = Get-Acl -Path $Src -ErrorAction Stop; $sections = [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlSections]::All -band (-bnot [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlSections]::Owner); $sddl = $acl.GetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($sections); $acl.SetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($sddl, $sections); Set-Acl -Path $Dst -AclObject $acl -ErrorAction Stop; }; function Rename-KeyWithAcl($Old, $New) { try { Copy-Item -LiteralPath $Old -Destination $New -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { throw "^""Failed to copy: $_"^""; }; try { Copy-Acl -Src $Old -Dst $New; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to copy ACL: $_"^""; }; try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $Old -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $New -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to clean up: $_"^""; }; throw "^""Failed to remove: $_"^""; }; }; $rawPath='HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\WinDefend'; $suffix ='.OLD'; $global:fail = 0; $global:ok = 0; function Get-Real($s) { while ($s.EndsWith($suffix)) { $s = $s.Substring(0, $s.Length - $suffix.Length); }; return $s; }; function Restore-KeyTree($Path) { $dest = Get-Real $Path; $src = $Path; Write-Host "^""Restoring key: '$dest' from '$src'"^""; if (-Not $src.EndsWith($suffix)) { $src += $suffix; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $src)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: No data.'; Restore-Children $dest; return; }; }; if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $dest) { Write-Host 'Skipping to avoid data loss. Key already exists.'; Write-Warning "^""Manual intervention may be required to fully restore from '$src'."^""; } else { try { Rename-KeyWithAcl -Old $src -New $dest -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully restored.'; $global:ok++; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed: $_"^""; $global:fail++; }; }; Restore-Children $dest; }; function Restore-Children($Path) { Write-Host "^""Restoring values in '$Path'"^""; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: Key does not exist. No action needed.'; return; }; $values = ( Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Property ); foreach ($value in $values) { Write-Host "^""Restoring value '$value'"^""; if (-Not $value.EndsWith($suffix)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: No action needed.'; continue; }; $real = Get-Real $value; Write-Host "^""Renaming to '$real'."^""; try { Rename-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $value -NewName $real -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully restored.'; $global:ok++; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed: $_"^""; $global:fail++; }; }; $keys = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue); foreach ($key in $keys) { Restore-KeyTree $key.PSPath; }; }; Write-Host "^""Restoring registry key '$rawPath' recursively."^""; $hive = $rawPath.Split('\')[0]; $path = $hive + ':' + $rawPath.Substring($hive.Length); Restore-KeyTree $path; if ($global:fail) { Write-Error 'Failed to restore'; Exit 1; }"
:: Restore registry key: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network\WinDefend 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "function Copy-Acl($Src, $Dst) { $srcKeys = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $Src -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue); foreach ($key in $srcKeys) { $dstKey = Join-Path $Dst $key.PSChildName; Copy-Acl -Src $key.PSPath -Dst $dstKey; }; $acl = Get-Acl -Path $Src -ErrorAction Stop; $sections = [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlSections]::All -band (-bnot [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlSections]::Owner); $sddl = $acl.GetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($sections); $acl.SetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($sddl, $sections); Set-Acl -Path $Dst -AclObject $acl -ErrorAction Stop; }; function Rename-KeyWithAcl($Old, $New) { try { Copy-Item -LiteralPath $Old -Destination $New -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { throw "^""Failed to copy: $_"^""; }; try { Copy-Acl -Src $Old -Dst $New; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to copy ACL: $_"^""; }; try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $Old -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $New -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to clean up: $_"^""; }; throw "^""Failed to remove: $_"^""; }; }; $rawPath='HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network\WinDefend'; $suffix ='.OLD'; $global:fail = 0; $global:ok = 0; function Get-Real($s) { while ($s.EndsWith($suffix)) { $s = $s.Substring(0, $s.Length - $suffix.Length); }; return $s; }; function Restore-KeyTree($Path) { $dest = Get-Real $Path; $src = $Path; Write-Host "^""Restoring key: '$dest' from '$src'"^""; if (-Not $src.EndsWith($suffix)) { $src += $suffix; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $src)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: No data.'; Restore-Children $dest; return; }; }; if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $dest) { Write-Host 'Skipping to avoid data loss. Key already exists.'; Write-Warning "^""Manual intervention may be required to fully restore from '$src'."^""; } else { try { Rename-KeyWithAcl -Old $src -New $dest -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully restored.'; $global:ok++; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed: $_"^""; $global:fail++; }; }; Restore-Children $dest; }; function Restore-Children($Path) { Write-Host "^""Restoring values in '$Path'"^""; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: Key does not exist. No action needed.'; return; }; $values = ( Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Property ); foreach ($value in $values) { Write-Host "^""Restoring value '$value'"^""; if (-Not $value.EndsWith($suffix)) { Write-Host 'Skipping: No action needed.'; continue; }; $real = Get-Real $value; Write-Host "^""Renaming to '$real'."^""; try { Rename-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $value -NewName $real -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully restored.'; $global:ok++; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed: $_"^""; $global:fail++; }; }; $keys = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $Path -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue); foreach ($key in $keys) { Restore-KeyTree $key.PSPath; }; }; Write-Host "^""Restoring registry key '$rawPath' recursively."^""; $hive = $rawPath.Split('\')[0]; $path = $hive + ':' + $rawPath.Substring($hive.Length); Restore-KeyTree $path; if ($global:fail) { Write-Error 'Failed to restore'; Exit 1; }"

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