Malicious Windows Defender DisableAntiSpyware Registry Modification

ATT&CK techniques

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the DisableAntiSpyware registry value being set to disable Microsoft Defender which Black Basta operators use to blind endpoint protection before deploying ransomware. Disabling Defender through this policy value is a strong defense evasion indicator that precedes further malicious activity.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Microsoft Defender Tampering via Registry Values

Malicious Windows Defender Tampering via Set-MpPreference (via ps_script)

Suspicious Antivirus Uninstallation via msiexec (via process_creation)

Suspicious Defender Exclusion Added via Add-MpPreference (via process_creation)

Malicious Reboot to Safe Mode via bcdedit SafeBoot Configuration

Suspicious rundll32 Execution Without Command Line Arguments (via process_creation)

Malicious EDRKillShifter Defense Evasion Tool Execution Linked to RansomHub

Suspicious RDP Enablement via netsh Firewall Rule

Suspicious Kernel Driver Written to AppData Temp Linked to RansomHub EDR Killers

Malicious Windows Defender DisableAntiSpyware Registry Modification

Pivot detection · T1685 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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