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Disable Defender Antivirus service module

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables MpSvc.dll.

Microsoft refers to MpSvc.dll as the Service Module 1 2. It is part of Defender Antivirus service 3.

It manages essential Defender Antivirus functions, including:

  • Scans: Monitors files in real-time, protects network, manages scans 4
  • Updates: Downloads new virus definitions 4
  • Threats: Finds and removes malware 4
  • Telemetry: Collects and sends data to Microsoft 4
  • Integrations: Works with Windows Security Center and antimalware scanning (AMSI) 4
  • Restrictions: Prevents Defender Antivirus from being disabled 5

This script improves privacy by:

  • Reducing data collection and reporting to Microsoft
  • Preventing system monitoring 4
  • Allowing more control over privacy-related settings, including the ability to disable Defender Antivirus 5

The script may improve system performance by:

  • Reducing background scanning activities
  • Decreasing memory usage
  • Lowering CPU usage from real-time protection

Disabling MpSvc.dll reduces potential attack vectors that have been exploited in REvil ransomware 6, state-sponsored attacks 7, and the Clambing backdoor 8.

However, disabling it also impairs critical security functions such as real-time protection, security definition updates and threat detection capabilities.

Caution

Disabling this component may increase your computer's risk of viruses and other security threats.

Technical Details

Defender Antivirus service runs MsMpEng.exe on modern versions of Windows 9. MsMpEng.exe loads this DLL 6 8 10 11. This DLL activates core antivirus functions via MpEngine.dll 11 12. It interacts with other applications using an ALPC port labeled IMpService 13.

Location on modern Windows:

  • %PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\mpsvc.dll 2 3 10

Historical locations on older Windows versions:

  • %PROGRAMFILES64%\Windows Defender\mpsvc.dll 1
  • %PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\<version number>\MpSvc.dll 2 10
  • %PROGRAMFILES\Microsoft Security Client\MpSvc.dll 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 module.
  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 files matching pattern: "%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MpSvc.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\MpSvc.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"
  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 files matching pattern: "%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MpSvc.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; }; }; $cmd = '$revert = $true'+"^""`r`n"^""+' $pathGlobPattern = "^""%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MpSvc.dll.OLD"^""'+"^""`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"

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