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Disable Defender Antivirus Watson event reporting

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script prevents Defender from sending Watson events to Microsoft.

Watson events are automatically sent reports to Microsoft when a program or service crashes or fails 1. By default, these reports are sent automatically 1 2 3. This script specifically targets reporting behavior of Defender Antivirus 3 without affecting other applications or services that may use Watson events.

Disabling Watson events enhances privacy by preventing the automatic submission of potentially sensitive information about system crashes and failures 1. This practice is recommended by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) for additional privacy and security 1.

After running this script, Microsoft will no longer receive automatic Watson event reports 1 2 3. This change improves privacy but may limit Microsoft's ability to diagnose and fix system issues.

This script modifies the following registry keys:

  • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting!DisableGenericRePorts 1 2 3
  • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Antimalware\Reporting!DisableGenericRePorts 4

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​

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 ▶

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 Watson event reporting.
  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
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting!DisableGenericRePorts"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting'; $data = '1'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting' /v 'DisableGenericRePorts' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting!DisableGenericRePorts"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting'; $data = '1'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting' /v 'DisableGenericRePorts' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
  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
:: Delete the registry value "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting!DisableGenericRePorts"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting' /v 'DisableGenericRePorts' /f 2>$null"
:: Delete the registry value "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting!DisableGenericRePorts"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting' /v 'DisableGenericRePorts' /f 2>$null"

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