Disable Windows Security Health Agent (WSHA)

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 Windows Security Health Agent (WSHA).

WSHA is a component that transmits a client's security health state to a network policy server 1. It sends a summary of Windows Update-related information 2. This data transmission may raise privacy concerns for users who wish to limit the information shared with Microsoft or network administrators.

By disabling WSHA, this script improves privacy by preventing the automatic sending of system health and update information. It may also slightly increase system performance by reducing background processes.

However, disabling WSHA may reduce security by limiting the ability of network administrators to assess and maintain the security health of connected devices. This could potentially leave systems more vulnerable to threats.

Caution

Disabling this agent may interfere with your organization's security policies and leave your system more vulnerable to threats.

Technical Details

The Windows Security Health Agent is implemented through the library file located at %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\SecurityHealthAgent.dll 3 4.

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

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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 Windows Security Health Agent (WSHA).
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

:: Soft delete files matching pattern: "%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\SecurityHealthAgent.dll" with additional permissions 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$pathGlobPattern = "^""%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\SecurityHealthAgent.dll"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; $renamedCount   = 0; $skippedCount   = 0; $failedCount    = 0; Add-Type -TypeDefinition "^""using System;`r`nusing System.Runtime.InteropServices;`r`npublic class Privileges {`r`n    [DllImport(`"^""advapi32.dll`"^"", ExactSpelling = true, SetLastError = true)]`r`n    internal static extern bool AdjustTokenPrivileges(IntPtr htok, bool disall,`r`n        ref TokPriv1Luid newst, int len, IntPtr prev, IntPtr relen);`r`n    [DllImport(`"^""advapi32.dll`"^"", ExactSpelling = true, SetLastError = true)]`r`n    internal static extern bool OpenProcessToken(IntPtr h, int acc, ref IntPtr phtok);`r`n    [DllImport(`"^""advapi32.dll`"^"", SetLastError = true)]`r`n    internal static extern bool LookupPrivilegeValue(string host, string name, ref long pluid);`r`n    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack = 1)]`r`n    internal struct TokPriv1Luid {`r`n        public int Count;`r`n        public long Luid;`r`n        public int Attr;`r`n    }`r`n    internal const int SE_PRIVILEGE_ENABLED = 0x00000002;`r`n    internal const int TOKEN_QUERY = 0x00000008;`r`n    internal const int TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES = 0x00000020;`r`n    public static bool AddPrivilege(string privilege) {`r`n        try {`r`n            bool retVal;`r`n            TokPriv1Luid tp;`r`n            IntPtr hproc = GetCurrentProcess();`r`n            IntPtr htok = IntPtr.Zero;`r`n            retVal = OpenProcessToken(hproc, TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES | TOKEN_QUERY, ref htok);`r`n            tp.Count = 1;`r`n            tp.Luid = 0;`r`n            tp.Attr = SE_PRIVILEGE_ENABLED;`r`n            retVal = LookupPrivilegeValue(null, privilege, ref tp.Luid);`r`n            retVal = AdjustTokenPrivileges(htok, false, ref tp, 0, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);`r`n            return retVal;`r`n        } catch (Exception ex) {`r`n            throw new Exception(`"^""Failed to adjust token privileges`"^"", ex);`r`n        }`r`n    }`r`n    public static bool RemovePrivilege(string privilege) {`r`n        try {`r`n            bool retVal;`r`n            TokPriv1Luid tp;`r`n            IntPtr hproc = GetCurrentProcess();`r`n            IntPtr htok = IntPtr.Zero;`r`n            retVal = OpenProcessToken(hproc, TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES | TOKEN_QUERY, ref htok);`r`n            tp.Count = 1;`r`n            tp.Luid = 0;`r`n            tp.Attr = 0;  // This line is changed to revoke the privilege`r`n            retVal = LookupPrivilegeValue(null, privilege, ref tp.Luid);`r`n            retVal = AdjustTokenPrivileges(htok, false, ref tp, 0, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);`r`n            return retVal;`r`n        } catch (Exception ex) {`r`n            throw new Exception(`"^""Failed to adjust token privileges`"^"", ex);`r`n        }`r`n    }`r`n    [DllImport(`"^""kernel32.dll`"^"", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]`r`n    public static extern IntPtr GetCurrentProcess();`r`n}"^""; [Privileges]::AddPrivilege('SeRestorePrivilege') | Out-Null; [Privileges]::AddPrivilege('SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege') | Out-Null; $adminSid = New-Object System.Security.Principal.SecurityIdentifier 'S-1-5-32-544'; $adminAccount = $adminSid.Translate([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]); $adminFullControlAccessRule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule( $adminAccount, [System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemRights]::FullControl, [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlType]::Allow ); $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (Test-Path -Path $path -PathType Container) { Write-Host "^""Skipping folder (not its contents): `"^""$path`"^""."^""; $skippedCount++; continue; }; if($revert -eq $true) { if (-not $path.EndsWith('.OLD')) { Write-Host "^""Skipping non-backup file: `"^""$path`"^""."^""; $skippedCount++; continue; }; } else { if ($path.EndsWith('.OLD')) { Write-Host "^""Skipping backup file: `"^""$path`"^""."^""; $skippedCount++; continue; }; }; $originalFilePath = $path; Write-Host "^""Processing file: `"^""$originalFilePath`"^""."^""; if (-Not (Test-Path $originalFilePath)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, file `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"" not found."^""; $skippedCount++; exit 0; }; $originalAcl = Get-Acl -Path "^""$originalFilePath"^""; $accessGranted = $false; try { $acl = Get-Acl -Path "^""$originalFilePath"^""; $acl.SetOwner($adminAccount) <# Take Ownership (because file is owned by TrustedInstaller) #>; $acl.AddAccessRule($adminFullControlAccessRule) <# Grant rights to be able to move the file #>; Set-Acl -Path $originalFilePath -AclObject $acl -ErrorAction Stop; $accessGranted = $true; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to grant access to `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; if ($revert -eq $true) { $newFilePath = $originalFilePath.Substring(0, $originalFilePath.Length - 4); } else { $newFilePath = "^""$($originalFilePath).OLD"^""; }; try { Move-Item -LiteralPath "^""$($originalFilePath)"^"" -Destination "^""$newFilePath"^"" -Force -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Successfully processed `"^""$originalFilePath`"^""."^""; $renamedCount++; if ($accessGranted) { try { Set-Acl -Path $newFilePath -AclObject $originalAcl -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to restore access on `"^""$newFilePath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to rename `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"" to `"^""$newFilePath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $failedCount++; if ($accessGranted) { try { Set-Acl -Path $originalFilePath -AclObject $originalAcl -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to restore access on `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; }; }; if (($renamedCount -gt 0) -or ($skippedCount -gt 0)) { Write-Host "^""Successfully processed $renamedCount items and skipped $skippedCount items."^""; }; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to process $($failedCount) items."^""; }; [Privileges]::RemovePrivilege('SeRestorePrivilege') | Out-Null; [Privileges]::RemovePrivilege('SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege') | Out-Null"

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

:: Restore files matching pattern: "%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\SecurityHealthAgent.dll" with additional permissions 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$revert = $true; $pathGlobPattern = "^""%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\SecurityHealthAgent.dll.OLD"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; $renamedCount   = 0; $skippedCount   = 0; $failedCount    = 0; Add-Type -TypeDefinition "^""using System;`r`nusing System.Runtime.InteropServices;`r`npublic class Privileges {`r`n    [DllImport(`"^""advapi32.dll`"^"", ExactSpelling = true, SetLastError = true)]`r`n    internal static extern bool AdjustTokenPrivileges(IntPtr htok, bool disall,`r`n        ref TokPriv1Luid newst, int len, IntPtr prev, IntPtr relen);`r`n    [DllImport(`"^""advapi32.dll`"^"", ExactSpelling = true, SetLastError = true)]`r`n    internal static extern bool OpenProcessToken(IntPtr h, int acc, ref IntPtr phtok);`r`n    [DllImport(`"^""advapi32.dll`"^"", SetLastError = true)]`r`n    internal static extern bool LookupPrivilegeValue(string host, string name, ref long pluid);`r`n    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack = 1)]`r`n    internal struct TokPriv1Luid {`r`n        public int Count;`r`n        public long Luid;`r`n        public int Attr;`r`n    }`r`n    internal const int SE_PRIVILEGE_ENABLED = 0x00000002;`r`n    internal const int TOKEN_QUERY = 0x00000008;`r`n    internal const int TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES = 0x00000020;`r`n    public static bool AddPrivilege(string privilege) {`r`n        try {`r`n            bool retVal;`r`n            TokPriv1Luid tp;`r`n            IntPtr hproc = GetCurrentProcess();`r`n            IntPtr htok = IntPtr.Zero;`r`n            retVal = OpenProcessToken(hproc, TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES | TOKEN_QUERY, ref htok);`r`n            tp.Count = 1;`r`n            tp.Luid = 0;`r`n            tp.Attr = SE_PRIVILEGE_ENABLED;`r`n            retVal = LookupPrivilegeValue(null, privilege, ref tp.Luid);`r`n            retVal = AdjustTokenPrivileges(htok, false, ref tp, 0, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);`r`n            return retVal;`r`n        } catch (Exception ex) {`r`n            throw new Exception(`"^""Failed to adjust token privileges`"^"", ex);`r`n        }`r`n    }`r`n    public static bool RemovePrivilege(string privilege) {`r`n        try {`r`n            bool retVal;`r`n            TokPriv1Luid tp;`r`n            IntPtr hproc = GetCurrentProcess();`r`n            IntPtr htok = IntPtr.Zero;`r`n            retVal = OpenProcessToken(hproc, TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES | TOKEN_QUERY, ref htok);`r`n            tp.Count = 1;`r`n            tp.Luid = 0;`r`n            tp.Attr = 0;  // This line is changed to revoke the privilege`r`n            retVal = LookupPrivilegeValue(null, privilege, ref tp.Luid);`r`n            retVal = AdjustTokenPrivileges(htok, false, ref tp, 0, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);`r`n            return retVal;`r`n        } catch (Exception ex) {`r`n            throw new Exception(`"^""Failed to adjust token privileges`"^"", ex);`r`n        }`r`n    }`r`n    [DllImport(`"^""kernel32.dll`"^"", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]`r`n    public static extern IntPtr GetCurrentProcess();`r`n}"^""; [Privileges]::AddPrivilege('SeRestorePrivilege') | Out-Null; [Privileges]::AddPrivilege('SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege') | Out-Null; $adminSid = New-Object System.Security.Principal.SecurityIdentifier 'S-1-5-32-544'; $adminAccount = $adminSid.Translate([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]); $adminFullControlAccessRule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule( $adminAccount, [System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemRights]::FullControl, [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlType]::Allow ); $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (Test-Path -Path $path -PathType Container) { Write-Host "^""Skipping folder (not its contents): `"^""$path`"^""."^""; $skippedCount++; continue; }; if($revert -eq $true) { if (-not $path.EndsWith('.OLD')) { Write-Host "^""Skipping non-backup file: `"^""$path`"^""."^""; $skippedCount++; continue; }; } else { if ($path.EndsWith('.OLD')) { Write-Host "^""Skipping backup file: `"^""$path`"^""."^""; $skippedCount++; continue; }; }; $originalFilePath = $path; Write-Host "^""Processing file: `"^""$originalFilePath`"^""."^""; if (-Not (Test-Path $originalFilePath)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, file `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"" not found."^""; $skippedCount++; exit 0; }; $originalAcl = Get-Acl -Path "^""$originalFilePath"^""; $accessGranted = $false; try { $acl = Get-Acl -Path "^""$originalFilePath"^""; $acl.SetOwner($adminAccount) <# Take Ownership (because file is owned by TrustedInstaller) #>; $acl.AddAccessRule($adminFullControlAccessRule) <# Grant rights to be able to move the file #>; Set-Acl -Path $originalFilePath -AclObject $acl -ErrorAction Stop; $accessGranted = $true; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to grant access to `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; if ($revert -eq $true) { $newFilePath = $originalFilePath.Substring(0, $originalFilePath.Length - 4); } else { $newFilePath = "^""$($originalFilePath).OLD"^""; }; try { Move-Item -LiteralPath "^""$($originalFilePath)"^"" -Destination "^""$newFilePath"^"" -Force -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Successfully processed `"^""$originalFilePath`"^""."^""; $renamedCount++; if ($accessGranted) { try { Set-Acl -Path $newFilePath -AclObject $originalAcl -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to restore access on `"^""$newFilePath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to rename `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"" to `"^""$newFilePath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $failedCount++; if ($accessGranted) { try { Set-Acl -Path $originalFilePath -AclObject $originalAcl -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to restore access on `"^""$originalFilePath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; }; }; if (($renamedCount -gt 0) -or ($skippedCount -gt 0)) { Write-Host "^""Successfully processed $renamedCount items and skipped $skippedCount items."^""; }; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to process $($failedCount) items."^""; }; [Privileges]::RemovePrivilege('SeRestorePrivilege') | Out-Null; [Privileges]::RemovePrivilege('SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege') | Out-Null"

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