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Remove "Windows Security" icon from taskbar

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script removes the Windows Security icon from the system tray.

Windows Security is an interface introduced in Windows 10, version 1703 1. It was previously named Windows Defender Security Center 1. It offers a unified interface to manage security settings and monitor system status 1 2.

The icon in the system tray is controlled by the SecurityHealthSystray.exe file 3 4.

Caution

Removing the icon may hide important security alerts and make accessing security settings less convenient.

Technical Details​

The script modifies the registry to stop this file from running on startup, effectively removing the icon. It specifically removes the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run!SecurityHealth registry key. This key exists in modern Windows versions (tested on Windows 11 22H2 and Windows 10 22H2) with a default value of %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\SecurityHealthSystray.exe.

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

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Disable Windows Security interface category. This category offers scripts to disable or modify different aspects of the Windows Security user interface, formerly known as Windows Defender Security Center. Windows Security is a centralized interface managing various Windows security features. It evolved from **Windows... 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: Remove "Windows Security" icon from taskbar.
  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
:: Delete the registry value "SecurityHealth" from the key "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyName = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'; $valueName = 'SecurityHealth'; $hive = $keyName.Split('\')[0]; $path = "^""$($hive):$($keyName.Substring($hive.Length))"^""; Write-Host "^""Removing the registry value '$valueName' from '$path'."^""; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $path)) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no action needed, registry key does not exist.'; Exit 0; }; $existingValueNames = (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path).PSObject.Properties.Name; if (-Not ($existingValueNames -Contains $valueName)) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no action needed, registry value does not exist.'; Exit 0; }; try { if ($valueName -ieq '(default)') { Write-Host 'Removing the default value.'; $(Get-Item -LiteralPath $path).OpenSubKey('', $true).DeleteValue(''); } else { Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path -Name $valueName -Force -ErrorAction Stop; }; Write-Host 'Successfully removed the registry value.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the registry value: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"
  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
:: Restore the registry value "SecurityHealth" in key "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" to its original value 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$data = '%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\SecurityHealthSystray.exe'; $rawType = 'REG_EXPAND_SZ'; $rawPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'; $value = 'SecurityHealth'; $hive = $rawPath.Split('\')[0]; $path = "^""$($hive):$($rawPath.Substring($hive.Length))"^""; Write-Host "^""Restoring value '$value' at '$path' with type '$rawType' and value '$data'."^""; if (-Not $rawType) { throw "^""Internal privacy$([char]0x002E)sexy error: Data type is not provided for data '$data'."^""; }; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $path)) { try { New-Item -Path $path -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host 'Successfully created registry key.'; } catch { throw "^""Failed to create registry key: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; $currentData = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path -Name $value -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -ExpandProperty $value; if ($currentData -eq $data) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no changes required, the registry data is already as expected.'; Exit 0; }; try { $type = switch ($rawType) { 'REG_SZ' { 'String' }; 'REG_DWORD' { 'DWord' }; 'REG_QWORD' { 'QWord' }; 'REG_EXPAND_SZ' { 'ExpandString' }; default { throw "^""Internal privacy$([char]0x002E)sexy error: Failed to find data type for: '$rawType'."^""; }; }; Set-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path -Name $value -Value $data -Type $type -Force -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully restored the registry value.'; } catch { throw "^""Failed to restore the value: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"

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