exclusions

windows/keep-secure/configure-exclusions-windows-defender-antivirus.md

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ localizationpriority: medium
 author: iaanw
 ---
 
-# Exclude files and processes from Windows Defender AV scans
+# Configure file and folder exclusions in Windows Defender AV scans
 
 
 **Applies to:**
@@ -27,22 +27,25 @@ author: iaanw
 **Manageability available with**
 
 - Group Policy
-- System Center Configuration Manager 
 - PowerShell
 - Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
+- System Center Configuration Manager
 - Microsoft Intune
 - Windows Defender Security Center
 
 You can exclude certain files, folders, processes, and process-modified files from being scanned by Windows Defender AV. The exclusions apply to [scheduled scans](scheduled-catch-up-scans-windows-defender-antivirus.md), [on-demand scans](run-scan-windows-defender-antivirus.md), and [always-on real-time protection and monitoring](configure-real-time-protection-windows-defender-antivirus.md).
 
-Changes made via Group Policy to the exclusion lists will show in the lists in the [Windows Defender Security Center app](windows-defender-security-center-antivirus.md#exclusions).
+Changes made via Group Policy to the exclusion lists **will show** in the lists in the [Windows Defender Security Center app](windows-defender-security-center-antivirus.md#exclusions). However, changes made in the Windows Defender Security Center app **will not show** in the Group Policy lists.
 
-However, changes made in the Windows Defender Security Center app will not show in the lists in the Group Policy settings.
+You can add, remove, and review the lists for exclusions in [Group Policy](#gp), [System Center Configuration Manager, Microsoft Intune, and with the Windows Defender Security Center app](#man-tools).
 
-You can add, remove, and review the lists for exclusions in Group Policy, System Center Configuration Manager, Microsoft Intune, and with the Windows Defender Security Center app.
+You can also [use PowerShell cmdlets and WMI to configure the exclusion lists](#ps), although you will need to use several different cmdlets.
 
-You can also use PowerShell cmdlets and WMI to configure the exclusion lists, although you will need to use several different cmdlets.
+By default, local changes made to the lists (by users with administrator privileges) will be merged with the lists as defined (and deployed) by Group Policy, Configuration Manager, Intune, PowerShell, or WMI. The Group Policy lists will take precedence in the case of conflicts. You can [configure how locally and globally defined exclusions lists are merged](configure-local-policy-overrides-windows-defender-antivirus.md#merge-lists) to disable this setting.
 
+PowerShell can be used to [validate that your exclusion lists are working as expected](#validate).
+
+<a id="gp"></a>
 ## Use Group Policy to configure exclusion lists
 
 **Use Group Policy to configure file extension exclusions:**
@@ -66,7 +69,10 @@ You can also use PowerShell cmdlets and WMI to configure the exclusion lists, al
 
 ![The Group Policy setting for file exclusions](images/defender/wdav-extension-exclusions.png)
 <a id="exclude-paths-files"></a>
-**Use Group Policy to exclude specified paths or folders from scans:**
+**Use Group Policy to exclude specified files or folders from scans:**
+
+>[!NOTE]
+>The exclusion will apply to any file with the defined file name - regardless of its location. If a folder is defined in the exclusion, then all files and subdirectories under that folder will be excluded.
 
 1.  On your Group Policy management machine, open the [Group Policy Management Console](https://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc731212.aspx), right-click the Group Policy Object you want to configure and click **Edit**.
 
@@ -81,7 +87,7 @@ You can also use PowerShell cmdlets and WMI to configure the exclusion lists, al
 
     1. Set the option to **Enabled**. 
     2. Under the **Options** section, click **Show...**
-    3. Enter each path or file on its own line under the **Value name** column. If you are entering a file, ensure you enter a fully qualified path to the file, including the drive letter, folder path, filename, and extesnsion. Enter **0** in the **Value** column for all processes.
+    3. Enter each path or file on its own line under the **Value name** column. If you are entering a file, ensure you enter a fully qualified path to the file, including the drive letter, folder path, filename, and extension. Enter **0** in the **Value** column for all processes.
 
 7. Click **OK**. 
 
@@ -89,9 +95,11 @@ You can also use PowerShell cmdlets and WMI to configure the exclusion lists, al
 
 **Use Group Policy to exclude files that have been used or modified by specified processes from scans:**
 
->[!NOTE] You can exclude files that are opened by specified processes from being scanned. The specified process won't be excluded - but any files that are opened by that process will be. If you need to exclude the process itself, [exclude it as a file](#exclude-paths-files).  
+>[!NOTE] 
+>You can exclude files that are opened by specified processes from being scanned. The specified process won't be excluded - but any files that are opened by that process (regardless of where they are or what they are named) will be excluded. If you need to exclude the process itself, [exclude it as a file](#exclude-paths-files).  
 >You can only exclude files modified by processes if the process is an executable.  
 
+
 1.  On your Group Policy management machine, open the [Group Policy Management Console](https://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc731212.aspx), right-click the Group Policy Object you want to configure and click **Edit**.
 
 3.  In the **Group Policy Management Editor** go to **Computer configuration**.
@@ -105,16 +113,16 @@ You can also use PowerShell cmdlets and WMI to configure the exclusion lists, al
 
     1. Set the option to **Enabled**. 
     2. Under the **Options** section, click **Show...**
-    3. Enter each process on its own line under the **Value name** column. Ensure you enter a fully qualified path to the process, including the drive letter, folder path, filename, and extesnsion. The process must be an executable. Enter **0** in the **Value** column for all processes.
+    3. Enter each process on its own line under the **Value name** column. Ensure you enter a fully qualified path to the process, including the drive letter, folder path, filename, and extension. The process must be an executable. Enter **0** in the **Value** column for all processes.
 
 7. Click **OK**. 
 
 ![The Group Policy setting for specifying process exclusions](images/defender/wdav-process-exclusions.png)
 
-
+<a id="ps"></a>
 ## Use PowerShell cmdlets and WMI to configure exclusion lists
 
-Excluding and reviewing file extensions, paths and files (including processes), and files opened by processes with PowerShell requires using a combination of four  cmdlets and the appropriate exclusion list parameter. The cmdlets are all in the Defender module.
+Excluding and reviewing file extensions, paths and files (including processes), and files opened by processes with PowerShell requires using a combination of four  cmdlets and the appropriate exclusion list parameter. The cmdlets are all in the [Defender module](https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro/powershell/windows/defender/defender).
 
 There are three exclusion lists:
 - ExclusionExtension
@@ -127,48 +135,111 @@ You can modify each of the lists with the following cmdlets:
 - Remove-MpPreference to remove or delete items from the defined list
 - Get-MpPreference to review the items in the list, either all at once with all other Windows Defender AV settings, or individually for each of the lists
 
+>[!IMPORTANT]
+>If you have created a list, either with `Set-MpPreference` or `Add-MpPreference`, using the `Set-MpPreference` cmdlet again will overwrite the existing list. 
 
-The format for the command is:
+The following matrix provides sample commands based on what you want to exclude, and whether you want to create a list, add to the list, or remove items from the list.
 
+<table>
+<tr><th>Configuration action</th><th>Type of exclusion</th><th>PowerShell command</th></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td rowspan="3">Create or overwrite a list</td><td>File extensions that should be excluded from scans</td><td>
+Set-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension ".extension1, .extension2, .extension3"</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Files (including processes) and paths that should be excluded from scans</td><td>
+Set-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "c:\example, d:\test\process.exe, c:\test\file.bat"</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Files opened by the specified processes (executables)</td><td>
+Set-MpPreference -ExclusionProcess "c:\example\test.exe"</td></tr>
+
+
+
+<tr><td rowspan="3">Add to a list</td><td>File extensions that should be excluded from scans</td><td>
+Add-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension ".extension4, .extension5"</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Files (including processes) and paths that should be excluded from scans</td><td>
+Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "d:\test, d:\example\file.png"</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Files opened by specified processes (executables)</td><td>
+Add-MpPreference -ExclusionProcess "f:\test\sample.exe"</td></tr>
+
+
+
+
+<tr><td rowspan="3">Remove items from a list</td><td>File extensions that should be excluded from scans</td><td>
+Remove-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension ".extension1, .extension4, .extension5"</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Files (including processes) and paths that should be excluded from scans</td><td>
+Remove-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "c:\example, d:\example\file.png"</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Files opened by specified processes (executables)</td><td>
+Remove-MpPreference -ExclusionProcess "c:\example\test.exe"</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+### Review the exclusion lists with PowerShell
+
+You can retrieve the items in any of the lists in two ways:
+- Retrieve the status of all Windows Defender AV preferences. Each of the three lists will be displayed on separate lines, but the items within the list will be combined into the same line.
+- Write the status of all preferences to a variable, and only call the specific list you are interested in. Each use of `Add-MpPreference` is written to a new line.
+
+In both instances the items are sorted alphabetically.
+
+The following sequence of code examples helps to show how this works.
+
+1. Create an example list of extensions that should be excluded from scans:
     ```PowerShell
-
-
-**Use PowerShell cmdlets to create a new list of file extension exclusions:**
-
-
-1. Review the current list of exclusions:
-
-```PowerShell
-Get-MpPreference
-
-
-Set-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension
-Add-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension
-Remove-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension
+    PS C:\> Set-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension ".test1, .test2"
     ```
 
->[!IMPORTANT]
->Use the `Set-MpPreference` cmdlet to create a list. This will overwrite the existing list. 
->Use `Add-MpPreference` to add items to the list, and `Remove-MpPreference` to remove or delete items from the list.
->Assigning `Get-MpPreference` to a variable and then querying `ExclusionExtension` will place the items from each instance of `Add-MpPreference` on its own line. Using `Get-MpPreference` on its own will place all items together. 
+2. Add some additional extensions:
+
+    ```PowerShell
+    PS C:\> Add-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension ".test40, test50"
+    ```
+
+3. Add another set of extensions:
+
+    ```PowerShell
+    PS C:\> Add-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension ".secondadd1, .secondadd2"
+    ```
+
+4. Review the list as a combined list:
+    ```PowerShell
+    PS C:\> Get-MpPreference
+    ```
+
+    ![PowerShell output for Get-MpPreference showing the exclusion list alongside other preferences](images/defender/wdav-powershell-get-exclusions-all.png)
+
+
+5. Use a variable to store and retrieve only the exclusions list:
+
+    ```PowerShell
+    PS C:\> $WDAVprefs = Get-MpPreference
+    PS C:\> $WDAVprefs.ExclusionExtension
+    ```
+
+    ![PowerShell output showing only the entries in the exclusion list](images/defender/wdav-powershell-get-exclusions-variable.png)
+
 
 See [Use PowerShell cmdlets to configure and run Windows Defender Antivirus](use-powershell-cmdlets-windows-defender-antivirus.md) and [Defender cmdlets](https://technet.microsoft.com/itpro/powershell/windows/defender/index) for more information on how to use PowerShell with Windows Defender Antivirus.
 
-**Use Windows Management Instruction (WMI) to configure file extension exclusions:**
+### Use Windows Management Instruction (WMI) to configure file extension exclusions
 
-Use the [**Set** method of the **MSFT_MpPreference**](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn455323(v=vs.85).aspx) class for the following properties:
+Use the [ **Set**, **Add**, and **Remove** methods of the **MSFT_MpPreference**](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn455323(v=vs.85).aspx) class for the following properties:
 
 ```WMI
-DisableAutoExclusions
+ExclusionExtension
+ExclusionPath
+ExclusionProcess
 ```
 
+The use of **Set**, **Add**, and **Remove** are analogous to their counterparts in PowerShell: `Set-MpPreference`, `Add-MpPreference`, and `Remove-MpPreference`.
+
 See the following for more information and allowed parameters:
 - [Windows Defender WMIv2 APIs](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn439477(v=vs.85).aspx)
 
-
-
-
-
+<a id="man-tools"></a>
 ## Use System Center Configuration Manager, Intune, or the Windows Defender Security Center app to configure exclusion lists
 
 
@@ -232,28 +303,41 @@ DisableAutoExclusions
 See the following for more information and allowed parameters:
 - [Windows Defender WMIv2 APIs](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn439477(v=vs.85).aspx)
 
+## Use wildcards in exclusion lists
+
+You can use the asterisk **\***, question mark **?**, or environment variables (such as %APPDATA%) as wildcards when defining items in the exclusion lists.
+
+You cannot use a wildcard in place of a drive letter.
 
 
+The following table describes how the wildcards can be used and provides some examples.
+
+Wildcard | Use | Example use | Example matches
+---|---|---|---
+**\*** (asterisk) | Replaces any number of chararacters | <ul><li>C:\MyData\my\*.zip</li><li>C:\somepath\\\*\Data</li><li>.t\*t</li></ul> | <ul><li>C:\MyData\my-archived-files-43.zip</li><li>C:\somepath\folder1\folder2\Data</li><li>.test</li></ul>
+**?** (question mark) | Replaces a single character | <ul><li>C:\MyData\my\*.zip</li><li>C:\somepath\\\*\Data</li><li>.t\*t</li></ul> | <ul><li>C:\MyData\my1.zip</li><li>C:\somepath\P\Data</li><li>.txt </li></ul>
+Environment variables | The defined variable will be populated as a path when the exclusion is evaluated |  <ul><li>%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\CustomLogFiles</li><li>%APPDATA%\Data\file.png</li></ul> | <ul><li>C:\ProgramData\CustomLogFiles\Folder1\file1.txt</li><li>C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Data\file.png</li></ul>
 
 
+<a id="validate"></a>
+## Validate exclusions lists with the EICAR test file
 
+You can validate that your exclusion lists are working by using PowerShell with either the `Invoke-WebRequest` cmdlet or the .NET WebClient class to download a test file.
 
+In the following PowerShell snippet, replace *test.txt* with a file that conforms to your exclusion rules. For example, if you have excluded the .testing extension, replace *test.txt* with *test.testing*. If you are testing a path, ensure you run the cmdlet within that path.
 
+```PowerShell
+Invoke-WebRequest "http://www.eicar.org/download/eicar.com.txt" -OutFile "test.txt"
+```
 
+If Windows Defender AV reports malware, then the rule is not working. If there is no report of malware, and the downloaded file exists, then the exclusion is working. You can open the file to confirm the contents are the same as what is described on the [EICAR testfile website](http://www.eicar.org/86-0-Intended-use.html).
 
+You can also use the following PowerShell code, which calls the .NET WebClient class to download the testfile - as with the `Invoke-WebRequest` cmdlet, replace *c:\test.txt* with a file that conforms to the rule you are validating:
 
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+```PowerShell 
+$client = new-object System.Net.WebClient
+$client.DownloadFile("http://www.eicar.org/download/eicar.com.txt","c:\test.txt")
+```
 
 
 ## Related topics

windows/keep-secure/configure-local-policy-overrides-windows-defender-antivirus.md

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ Scan | Configure local setting override for the scan type to use for a scheduled
 
 
 
-
+<a id="merge-lists"></a>
 ## Configure how locally and globally defined threat remediation and exclusions lists are merged
 
 You can also configure how locally defined lists are combined or merged with globally defined lists. This setting applies to [exclusion lists](configure-exclusions-windows-defender-antivirus.md) and [specified remediation lists](configure-remediation-windows-defender-antivirus.md).