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Disable Defender Antivirus Azure data collection

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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: Medium

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Moderate

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

    This action improves privacy with some 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 disables the Azure data collection library by removing MpAzSubmit.dll

Microsoft refers to this library as the MpAzSubmit Module 1 2 and Microsoft Malware Protection 2.

This file is responsible for:

  • Sending data to Azure storage 3
  • HTTP communications and REST APIs 3
  • It logs events and errors 3

This script enhances privacy by preventing Defender Antivirus from sending potentially sensitive data to Microsoft's cloud services. It may also slightly improve boot performance by reducing the components loaded during startup.

However, this action may reduce system security. Defender Antivirus uses this module to submit suspicious files for analysis, enhancing its threat detection. Disabling it may make your system more vulnerable to new or emerging threats.

Caution

This action impacts Defender Antivirus functionality and may make your system more vulnerable to malware.

Technical Details​

The script removes the MpAzSubmit.dll file from its default location:

  • %PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Defender\MpAzSubmit.dll 1 2 4

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

  • %PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\*\MpAzSubmit.dll 2
  1. 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.

  2. Use with Caution

    This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

    Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

    This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

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 Azure data collection" 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 Azure data collection" 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 Azure data collection
    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\MpAzSubmit.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\MpAzSubmit.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 Azure data collection" 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​

Wider Goal​

Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.

See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.

These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.

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Same Goal​

Other guides in Disable Defender data collection 

See settings that are in the same category as this guide.

Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.

Disable Defender Antivirus cloud protection
Disable "Malicious Software Reporting Tool" diagnostic data
Disable Defender Antivirus Watson event reporting
Disable Defender Antivirus telemetry
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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
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • 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