Detections
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18.9.47.3.2 Ensure 'Join Microsoft MAPS' is set to 'Disabled'

Warning! Audit Deprecated

This audit has been deprecated and will be removed in a future update.

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Information

This policy setting allows you to join Microsoft Active Protection Service (MAPS), which Microsoft renamed to Windows Defender Antivirus Cloud Protection Service and then Microsoft Defender Antivirus Cloud Protection Service. Microsoft MAPS / Microsoft Defender Antivirus Cloud Protection Service is the online community that helps you choose how to respond to potential threats. The community also helps stop the spread of new malicious software infections. You can choose to send basic or additional information about detected software. Additional information helps Microsoft create new definitions and help it to protect your computer.

Possible options are:

(0x0) Disabled (default)

(0x1) Basic membership

(0x2) Advanced membership

Basic membership will send basic information to Microsoft about software that has been detected including where the software came from the actions that you apply or that are applied automatically and whether the actions were successful.

Advanced membership in addition to basic information will send more information to Microsoft about malicious software spyware and potentially unwanted software including the location of the software file names how the software operates and how it has impacted your computer.

The recommended state for this setting is: Disabled.

Rationale:

The information that would be sent can include things like location of detected items on your computer if harmful software was removed. The information would be automatically collected and sent. In some instances personal information might unintentionally be sent to Microsoft. However, Microsoft states that it will not use this information to identify you or contact you.

For privacy reasons in high security environments, it is best to prevent these data submissions altogether.

Impact:

None - this is the default behavior.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration, set the following Device Configuration Policy to Disabled:

To access the Device Configuration Policy from the Intune Home page:

Click Devices

Click Configuration profiles

Click Create profile

Select the platform (Windows 10 and later)

Select the profile (Administrative Templates)

Click Create

Enter a Name

Click Next

Configure the following Setting

Path: Computer Configuration\Windows Components\Microsoft Defender Antivirus\MAPS
Setting Name: Join Microsoft MAPS
Configuration: Disabled

Select OK

Continue through the Wizard to complete the creation of the profile (profile assignments, applicability etc.)

Note: More than one configuration setting from each of the Configuration profiles (ex: Administrative Templates, Custom etc.) can be added to each Device Configuration Policy.

Default Value:

Disabled. (Microsoft MAPS / Microsoft Defender Antivirus Cloud Protection Service will not be joined.)

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/4291

Item Details

References: CSCv7|9.2

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 59ebd149a344c25fa91c049c2d04621dd444d789cd75e874ab8d47a76d1e9f87