Disable "Malicious Software Reporting Tool" diagnostic data
- 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 prevents Microsoft's Malicious Software Reporting Tool (MSRT) from transmitting diagnostic data.
Malicious Software Reporting Tool is a component of the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) 1. The MSRT is designed to detect and remove specific, prevalent malware from Windows computers 2. The tool is integrated into Defender Antivirus 3. It's also downloaded and run automatically by Windows Update in the background 2.
This tool raises significant privacy concerns:
- It continuously sends data to Microsoft 3.
- Microsoft is reported to share the data from this tool with government agencies, including police, to track citizens 1 2 4.
- Since August 2016 (version 5.39), the tool sends a Heartbeat Report to Microsoft each time it runs, even when the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) is turned off 5. A heartbeat report is a small packet of data sent regularly to inform Microsoft that the tool is active and functioning.
Disabling the diagnostic data transmission affects:
- Privacy: Enhances user privacy by preventing Microsoft from collecting and sharing data from MSRT.
- System Performance: May slightly improve system performance by reducing background network activity.
- Security: May slightly reduce Microsoft's ability to track and respond to malware threats. However, the core antivirus functionality stays intact.
Technical Details
This reporting occurs even when the DiagTrack
service is disabled 5.
Users can verify the MSRT's reporting behavior by examining the log file at %SYSTEMROOT%\debug\mrt.log
5.
This script configures HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MRT!DontReportInfectionInformation
registry key
to halt this data sharing with Microsoft 3 5 6.
- 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 trackingDecreased Security
Some security features will be disabled or limitedThis script can be reversed, this action allows you to can restore the system security.
- 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
- Full Disclosure: Microsot DID DISCLOSE potential Backdoor. seclists.org. (2024).
Original: https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2008/May/52
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240823092939/https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2008/May/52 - Download Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool 64-bit from Official Microsoft Download Center. www.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240823092946/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=9905 - Manage connections from Windows 10 and Windows 11 Server/Enterprise editions operating system components to Microsoft services - Windows Privacy. Microsoft Learn. (2023).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/privacy/manage-connections-from-windows-operating-system-components-to-microsoft-services
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20230911110911/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/privacy/manage-connections-from-windows-operating-system-components-to-microsoft-services#24-microsoft-defender-antivirus - Microsoft Botnet-hunting Tool Helps Bust Hackers - PCWorld Business Center. www.pcworld.com. (2010).
Original: https://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/145257/microsoft_botnethunting_tool_helps_bust_hackers.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20100419062105/https://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/145257/microsoft_botnethunting_tool_helps_bust_hackers.html - Telemetry from the Malicious Software Removal Tool @ AskWoody. www.askwoody.com. (2023).
Original: https://www.askwoody.com/2016/telemetry-from-the-malicious-software-removal-tool
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231009134353/https://www.askwoody.com/2016/telemetry-from-the-malicious-software-removal-tool/ - Disable Malicious Software Reporting tool diagnostic data. admx.help. (2023).
Original: https://admx.help
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231009135123/https://admx.help/?Category=Windows10_Telemetry&Policy=Microsoft.Policies.Win10Privacy::DontReportInfection
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 "Malicious Software Reporting Tool" diagnostic data" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on thebutton above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 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
Help
How to apply or restore "Disable "Malicious Software Reporting Tool" diagnostic data" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Disable "Malicious Software Reporting Tool" diagnostic data
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 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.
- Apply
- Revert
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MRT!DontReportInfectionInformation"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MRT'; $data = '1'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\MRT' /v 'DontReportInfectionInformation' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
Ijo6IERlbGV0ZSB0aGUgcmVnaXN0cnkgdmFsdWUgXCJIS0xNXFxTT0ZUV0FSRVxcUG9saWNpZXNcXE1pY3Jvc29mdFxcTVJUIURvbnRSZXBvcnRJbmZlY3Rpb25JbmZvcm1hdGlvblwiXG5Qb3dlclNoZWxsIC1FeGVjdXRpb25Qb2xpY3kgVW5yZXN0cmljdGVkIC1Db21tYW5kIFwicmVnIGRlbGV0ZSAnSEtMTVxcU09GVFdBUkVcXFBvbGljaWVzXFxNaWNyb3NvZnRcXE1SVCcgL3YgJ0RvbnRSZXBvcnRJbmZlY3Rpb25JbmZvcm1hdGlvbicgL2YgMj4kbnVsbFwiIg==
Help
How to apply or restore "Disable "Malicious Software Reporting Tool" diagnostic data" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Command Prompt
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as Administrator. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.Some changes require a system restart to take effect
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About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
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.