Saturday, May 28, 2016

[Windows 10 Tip] Disable Data Collection and Telemetry in Windows Defender

The most popular and talked about feature of Microsoft's latest operating systemWindows 10 is the data collection and telemetry. There is no doubt that Windows 10 is the best Windows version released ever and it comes with so many new features and enhancements. Also its faster and more reliable than any previous Windows version.
But people are worried about their privacy and automatic collection and sending of data to Microsoft. Although Microsoft has made it clear several times that the data is collected anonymously and only some basic data is collected to improve the operating system functionality and to make it better.
To help Windows 10 users in improving their privacy, Microsoft has provided several options in Settings app which can be customized to stop automatic data collection and telemetry in Windows 10. 
Today in this article, we are going to cover a built-in program in Windows 10 which deserves a separate article for it. The program we are talking about is Windows Defender, Microsoft's official antivirus and anti-spyware/malware program for Windows operating system.
Windows_Defender_Windows_10.png
Windows Defender provides antivirus and anti-spyware protection to Windows 10 users so you don't need to use any extra security software in Windows 10. But there are a few options in Windows Defender which automatically sends some user data to Microsoft. Fortunately you can customize those options to turn off the sending of data to Microsoft.
So if you are using Windows 10 and Windows Defender program and want maximum privacy, you can disable these telemetry options to stop automatic data sending to Microsoft.
For your convenience, we have divided this tutorial in following 4 parts:
  • PART 1: Turn Off Telemetry Options Using Settings App
  • PART 2: Turn Off Automatic Sample Submission to Microsoft Using Group Policy
  • PART 3: Turn Off Automatic Sample Submission to Microsoft Using Registry Editor
  • PART 4: Disable Windows Defender Completely
So without wasting time lets start the tutorial:
PART 1: Turn Off Telemetry Options Using Settings App
Microsoft automatically collects some sample files from Windows Defender to improve the antivirus and anti-malware protection and to make Windows Defender better. Microsoft also collects information about suspicious items found by Windows Defender in your computer to provide cloud-based protection.
You can disable both these features to stop automatic sending of any data or file samples to Microsoft using following steps:
1. Open Start Menu and click on Settings option. It'll open Settings app. Alternatively, you can direct open Settings app using WIN+I hotkey.
2. Now click on "Update & security" icon and in Windows Defender tab, set following two options to Off:
  • Get better, faster protection by sending Microsoft info about potential security problems Windows Defender finds - Off
  • Help us make Windows Defender better by sending Microsoft samples so we can improve our anti-virus and malware measures. Turn this off to be prompted before sending samples to Microsoft- Off
Disable_Cloud_Protection_Sample_Submission_Windows_Defender.png
That's it. Now Windows 10 will not send info about security problems and will always prompt you before sending samples to Microsoft.
PART 2: Turn Off Automatic Sample Submission to Microsoft Using Group Policy
Turning off the second option "Automatic sample submission" as mentioned above doesn't disable the automatic sending of sample data to Microsoft. It just sets the sending option to always prompt before sending. So in other words, Windows Defender will still continue sending samples to Microsoft but after your approval.
If you want to completely disable this automatic sample submission feature in Windows Defender, you can use following method:
1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type gpedit.msc in RUN and press Enter. It'll open Group Policy Editor.
2. Now go to:
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender -> MAPS
3. In right-side pane, double-click on "Send file samples when further analysis is required" option, set it to Enabled and then select "Never send" from the drop-down box. Apply the changes.
Disable_Windows_Defender_MAPS_Samples_Options.png
4. You can also double-click on "Join Microsoft MAPS" option, set it to Enabled and then select "Disabled" from the drop-down box. Apply the changes. It'll opt you out of MAPS (Microsoft Antimalware Protection Service).
Close Group Policy Editor and restart your computer.
PART 3: Turn Off Automatic Sample Submission to Microsoft Using Registry Editor
Windows 10 Home edition doesn't contain Group Policy Editor. If you are using Home edition of Windows 10 or if you can't use or don't want to use Group Policy Editor, you can take help of Registry Editor for the same task.
1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type regedit in RUN and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.
2. Now go to following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
3. Create a new key under Windows Defender key and set its name as Spynet
4. Now in right-side pane, create new DWORD SubmitSamplesConsent and set its value to 2
5. Again create a new DWORD SpynetReporting and set its value to 0
Disable_Windows_Defender_Telemetry_Options.png
That's it. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer to take effect. Now Windows Defender will no longer send any sample data to Microsoft.
PART 4: Disable Windows Defender Completely
If you don't want to use Windows Defender and want to permanently disable Windows Defender in Windows 10, following steps will help you:
PS: We recommend you to not disable Windows Defender as it provides antivirus and anti-spyware protection. If you really want to disable Windows Defender, make sure to install another antivirus and anti-spyware program in your computer.
METHOD 1: Disable Windows Defender Using Group Policy Editor
1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type gpedit.msc in RUN and press Enter. It'll open Group Policy Editor.
2. Now go to:
Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender
3. In right-side pane, double-click on "Turn off Windows Defender" option and set it toEnabled.
Turn_Off_Windows_Defender_Windows_10.png
METHOD 2: Disable Windows Defender Using Registry Editor
1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type regedit in RUN and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.
2. Now go to following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
3. In right-side pane, create a new DWORD DisableAntiSpyware and set its value to 1
Disable_Windows_Defender_Windows_10.png
That's it. Restart your computer to take effects. Above mentioned both methods will permanently disable Windows Defender in Windows 10.
NOTE: If you are not familiar with Registry editing tasks, we are also providing ready-made Registry script to do the task automatically. Download following ZIP file, extract it and run .REG file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it:
The ZIP file also contains Registry script to restore default Windows Defender options.

1 comment:

  1. no longer current. menus have changed, cant find have of the settings

    ReplyDelete