Microsoft Defender Antivirus • Release: 7 Benchmark Date: 05 Jan 2026
CAT II V-213432 WNDF-AV-000008
Microsoft Defender AV must be configured to disable local setting override for reporting to Microsoft MAPS.
Discussion
This policy setting configures a local override for the configuration to join Microsoft MAPS. This setting can only be set by Group Policy. If this setting is enabled, the local preference setting will take priority over Group Policy. If this setting is disabled or not configured, Group Policy will take priority over the local preference setting.
Check Procedure
This is applicable to unclassified systems. For other systems this is NA.
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> MAPS >> "Configure local setting override for reporting to Microsoft MAPS" is set to "Disabled" or "Not Configured".
Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet
Criteria: If the value "LocalSettingOverrideSpynetReporting" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.
If the value does not exist, this is not a finding.
If the value is 1, this is a finding. Fix Action
This is applicable to unclassified systems. For other systems this is NA. Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> MAPS >> "Configure local setting override for reporting to Microsoft MAPS" to "Disabled" or "Not Configured".