Disable Defender Antivirus "Extended Cloud Check" feature

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables the extended cloud check feature in Defender Antivirus by reducing its timeout.

The extended cloud check is a Defender Antivirus feature 1 2 3 4. It allows Defender to block a suspicious file for up to 60 seconds while it is scanned in the cloud to verify its safety 1 2. This script reduces the extended cloud check timeout to 0, effectively disabling the feature. This maintains the standard (default) time, which is 10 seconds 1 2 3.

This feature is part of Microsoft MAPS 1 2, also known as SpyNet 4 or Microsoft Active Protection Service 4. It sends your data, including personal information, to Microsoft 4.

Disabling this feature enhances privacy by limiting the amount of data sent to Microsoft's cloud for analysis. may also improve system performance by reducing the waiting time for cloud-based file analysis.

However, this change comes with a security trade-off. Disabling the extended cloud check may reduce Defender's ability to detect and block new or complex malware requiring thorough cloud-based analysis.

Caution

This change enhances privacy but may reduce overall system security.

Technical Details

This script configures the settings by:

• Using the Defender CLI to set the CloudExtendedTimeout preference 3.
• Configuring HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine!MpBafsExtendedTimeout to mimic the CLI. Tests show that the CLI sets this registry key.
• Setting the registry key HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine!MpBafsExtendedTimeout to configure the group policy 1.

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

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.

Implementation Details

• Language: batch

• Required Privileges: Administrator rights

• Compatibility: Windows only

• Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories

Disable Defender Antivirus cloud protection

This action belongs to Disable Defender Antivirus cloud protection category. This category contains scripts that disable or limit Microsoft Defender's cloud-based protection features. Microsoft Defender's cloud protection is also known as Microsoft MAPS (Microsoft Active Protection Service) or Microsoft SpyNet. It is an online community that helps detect and prevent the... Read more on category page ▶

Disable Defender data collection

This action belongs to Disable Defender data collection category. This category features scripts designed to reduce or eliminate data collection by Defender. Disabling these features enhances privacy by limiting the information shared with Microsoft. Although Microsoft Defender offers security benefits, it also collects data for analysis, service improvement,... Read more on category page ▶

Disable Defender

This action belongs to Disable Defender category. This category offers scripts to disable Windows security components related to Defender. Defender is also referred to as Microsoft Defender or Windows Defender. Although designed to protect you, its features may compromise your privacy and decrease computer performance. Privacy concerns... Read more on category page ▶

Privacy over security

This action belongs to Privacy over security category. This category configures Windows using 254 scripts. These scripts are organized in 57 categories. The category includes 3 subcategories that include more scripts and categories. 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 "Extended Cloud Check" feature.
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

PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$propertyName = 'CloudExtendedTimeout'; $value = '50'; if((Get-MpPreference -ErrorAction Ignore).$propertyName -eq $value) { Write-Host "^""Skipping. `"^""$propertyName`"^"" is already `"^""$value`"^"" as desired."^""; exit 0; }; $command = Get-Command 'Set-MpPreference' -ErrorAction Ignore; if (!$command) { Write-Warning 'Skipping. Command not found: "^""Set-MpPreference"^"".'; exit 0; }; if(!$command.Parameters.Keys.Contains($propertyName)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping. `"^""$propertyName`"^"" is not supported for `"^""$($command.Name)`"^""."^""; exit 0; }; try { Invoke-Expression "^""$($command.Name) -Force -$propertyName `$value -ErrorAction Stop"^""; Set-MpPreference -Force -CloudExtendedTimeout $value -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Successfully set `"^""$propertyName`"^"" to `"^""$value`"^""."^""; exit 0; } catch { if ( $_.FullyQualifiedErrorId -like '*0x800106ba*') { Write-Warning "^""Cannot $($command.Name): Defender service (WinDefend) is not running. Try to enable it (revert) and re-run this?"^""; exit 0; } elseif (($_ | Out-String) -like '*Cannot convert*') { Write-Host "^""Skipping. Argument `"^""$value`"^"" for property `"^""$propertyName`"^"" is not supported for `"^""$($command.Name)`"^""."^""; exit 0; } else { Write-Error "^""Failed to set using $($command.Name): $_"^""; exit 1; }; }"
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine!MpBafsExtendedTimeout"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine'; $data = '50'; reg add 'HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine' /v 'MpBafsExtendedTimeout' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine!MpBafsExtendedTimeout"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine'; $data = '50'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine' /v 'MpBafsExtendedTimeout' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"

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

PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$propertyName = 'CloudExtendedTimeout'; $defaultValue = $False; $setDefaultOnWindows10 = $true <# $false #>; $setDefaultOnWindows11 = $true <# $false #>; $osVersion = [System.Environment]::OSVersion.Version; function Test-IsWindows10 { ($osVersion.Major -eq 10) -and ($osVersion.Build -lt 22000) }; function Test-IsWindows11 { ($osVersion.Major -gt 10) -or (($osVersion.Major -eq 10) -and ($osVersion.Build -ge 22000)) }; <# ------ Set-MpPreference ------ #>; if(($setDefaultOnWindows10 -and (Test-IsWindows10)) -or ($setDefaultOnWindows11 -and (Test-IsWindows11))) { if((Get-MpPreference -ErrorAction Ignore).$propertyName -eq $defaultValue) { Write-Host "^""Skipping. `"^""$propertyName`"^"" is already configured as desired `"^""$defaultValue`"^""."^""; exit 0; }; $command = Get-Command 'Set-MpPreference' -ErrorAction Ignore; if (!$command) { Write-Warning 'Skipping. Command not found: "^""Set-MpPreference"^"".'; exit 1; }; if(!$command.Parameters.Keys.Contains($propertyName)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping. `"^""$propertyName`"^"" is not supported for `"^""$($command.Name)`"^""."^""; exit 0; }; try { Invoke-Expression "^""$($command.Name) -Force -$propertyName `$defaultValue -ErrorAction Stop"^""; Write-Host "^""Successfully restored `"^""$propertyName`"^"" to its default `"^""$defaultValue`"^""."^""; exit 0; } catch { if ($_.FullyQualifiedErrorId -like '*0x800106ba*') { Write-Warning "^""Cannot $($command.Name): Defender service (WinDefend) is not running. Try to enable it (revert) and re-run this?"^""; } else { Write-Error "^""Failed to set using $($command.Name): $_"^""; }; exit 1; }; }; <# ------ Remove-MpPreference ------ #>; $command = Get-Command 'Remove-MpPreference' -ErrorAction Ignore; if (!$command) { Write-Warning 'Skipping. Command not found: "^""Remove-MpPreference"^"".'; exit 1; }; if(!$command.Parameters.Keys.Contains($propertyName)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping. `"^""$propertyName`"^"" is not supported for `"^""$($command.Name)`"^""."^""; exit 0; }; try { Invoke-Expression "^""$($command.Name) -Force -$propertyName -ErrorAction Stop"^""; Write-Host "^""Successfully restored `"^""$propertyName`"^"" to its default."^""; exit 0; } catch { if ($_.FullyQualifiedErrorId -like '*0x800106ba*') { Write-Warning "^""Cannot $($command.Name): Defender service (WinDefend) is not running. Try to enable it (revert) and re-run this?"^""; } else { Write-Error "^""Failed to set using $($command.Name): $_"^""; }; exit 1; }"
:: Delete the registry value "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine!MpBafsExtendedTimeout"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine' /v 'MpBafsExtendedTimeout' /f 2>$null"
:: Delete the registry value "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine!MpBafsExtendedTimeout"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine' /v 'MpBafsExtendedTimeout' /f 2>$null"

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