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Windows Impair Defense Disable Win Defender Network Protection

The following analytic detects modifications to the Windows registry that disable Windows Defender Network Protection. It leverages data from the Endpoint.Registry data model, specifically monitoring changes to the…

Description

The following analytic detects modifications to the Windows registry that disable Windows Defender Network Protection. It leverages data from the Endpoint.Registry data model, specifically monitoring changes to the EnableNetworkProtection registry entry. This activity is significant because disabling Network Protection can leave the system vulnerable to network-based threats by preventing Windows Defender from analyzing and blocking malicious network activity. If confirmed malicious, this action could allow attackers to bypass security measures, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the network.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
ContainersESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.

Log source category
sysmon_eventid_13

Known benign triggers

  • It is unusual to turn this feature off a Windows system since it is a default security control, although it is not rare for some policies to disable it. Although no false positives have been identified, use the provided filter macro to tune the search.

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