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Enable security against PowerShell 2.0 downgrade attacks

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

See: The Windows PowerShell 2.0 feature must be disabled on the system. | stigviewer.com

Overview of default feature statuses​

MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2:

Feature nameMicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2
Display nameWindows PowerShell 2.0 Engine
DescriptionAdds or Removes Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine
Default (Windows 11 ≥ 23H2)🟢 Enabled
Default (Windows 10 ≥ 22H2)🟢 Enabled

MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2Root:

Feature nameMicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2Root
Display nameWindows PowerShell 2.0
DescriptionAdds or Removes Windows PowerShell 2.0
Default (Windows 11 ≥ 23H2)🟢 Enabled
Default (Windows 10 ≥ 22H2)🟢 Enabled

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Safe for General Use

This script is recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.

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 Security improvements category. This category encompasses a range of scripts designed to improve the security of your system by enforcing security best practices. These scripts help protect your system against various types of cyber threats and unauthorized access. 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: Enable security against PowerShell 2.0 downgrade attacks.
  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
:: Disable the "MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2" feature
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$featureName = 'MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2'; $feature = Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "^""$featureName"^"" -Online -ErrorAction Stop; if (-Not $feature) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is not found. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; if ($feature.State -eq [Microsoft.Dism.Commands.FeatureState]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is already disabled. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; try { Write-Host "^""Disabling feature: `"^""$featureName`"^""."^""; Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "^""$featureName"^"" -Online -NoRestart -LogLevel ([Microsoft.Dism.Commands.LogLevel]::Errors) -WarningAction SilentlyContinue -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable the feature `"^""$featureName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; Exit 1; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled the feature `"^""$featureName`"^""."^""; Exit 0"
:: Disable the "MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2Root" feature
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$featureName = 'MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2Root'; $feature = Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "^""$featureName"^"" -Online -ErrorAction Stop; if (-Not $feature) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is not found. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; if ($feature.State -eq [Microsoft.Dism.Commands.FeatureState]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is already disabled. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; try { Write-Host "^""Disabling feature: `"^""$featureName`"^""."^""; Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "^""$featureName"^"" -Online -NoRestart -LogLevel ([Microsoft.Dism.Commands.LogLevel]::Errors) -WarningAction SilentlyContinue -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable the feature `"^""$featureName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; Exit 1; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled the feature `"^""$featureName`"^""."^""; Exit 0"
  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
:: Revert the 'MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2' feature to its default settings
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$featureName = 'MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2'; $ignoreMissingOnRevert =  $false; $disabledByDefault =  $false; $feature = Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "^""$featureName"^"" -Online -ErrorAction Stop; if (-Not $feature) { if ($ignoreMissingOnRevert) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is not found. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; Write-Error "^""Failed to revert changes to the feature `"^""$featureName`"^"". The feature is not found."^""; Exit 1; }; if ($feature.State -eq [Microsoft.Dism.Commands.FeatureState]::Enabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is already enabled. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; if ($disabledByDefault) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is already disabled and this is the default configuration."^""; Exit 0; }; try { Write-Host "^""Enabling feature: `"^""$featureName`"^""."^""; Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "^""$featureName"^"" -Online -NoRestart -LogLevel ([Microsoft.Dism.Commands.LogLevel]::Errors) -WarningAction SilentlyContinue -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to enable feature `"^""$featureName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; Exit 1; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully enabled the feature `"^""$featureName`"^""."^""; Exit 0"
:: Revert the 'MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2Root' feature to its default settings
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$featureName = 'MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2Root'; $ignoreMissingOnRevert =  $false; $disabledByDefault =  $false; $feature = Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "^""$featureName"^"" -Online -ErrorAction Stop; if (-Not $feature) { if ($ignoreMissingOnRevert) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is not found. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; Write-Error "^""Failed to revert changes to the feature `"^""$featureName`"^"". The feature is not found."^""; Exit 1; }; if ($feature.State -eq [Microsoft.Dism.Commands.FeatureState]::Enabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is already enabled. No action required."^""; Exit 0; }; if ($disabledByDefault) { Write-Output "^""Skipping: The feature `"^""$featureName`"^"" is already disabled and this is the default configuration."^""; Exit 0; }; try { Write-Host "^""Enabling feature: `"^""$featureName`"^""."^""; Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "^""$featureName"^"" -Online -NoRestart -LogLevel ([Microsoft.Dism.Commands.LogLevel]::Errors) -WarningAction SilentlyContinue -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to enable feature `"^""$featureName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; Exit 1; }; Write-Output "^""Successfully enabled the feature `"^""$featureName`"^""."^""; Exit 0"

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