# Is it possible to disable elastic defend ransomware canary?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-disable-elastic-defend-ransomware-canary/375481>\
**Category:** Elastic Security\
**Created:** [March 5, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-disable-elastic-defend-ransomware-canary/375481 "2025-03-05T20:10:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bobr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@bobr](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/bobr)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-disable-elastic-defend-ransomware-canary/375481/1 "2025-03-05T20:10:22Z")

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We have tried setting 'windows.advanced.ransomware.canary' to false but shortly after a new Windows workstation agent is enrolled we are still seeing the pair of canary directories created. We do not have a 'Platinum' account, so ransomware protection isn't even enabled. Is it possible to prevent the creation of these directories?

C:\aaAntiRansomElastic-DO-NOT-TOUCH-def...  
C:\zzAntiRansomElastic-DO-NOT-TOUCH-def...

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**Author:** ![mager](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/mager/32/108879_2.png) [@mager](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/mager)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-disable-elastic-defend-ransomware-canary/375481/2 "2025-03-06T15:25:55Z")

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Yes, setting the `windows.advanced.diagnostic.enabled` advanced policy option to `false` should prevent the creation of those canary directories. Please let us know if you experience any further issues!

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**Author:** ![bobr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@bobr](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/bobr)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-disable-elastic-defend-ransomware-canary/375481/3 "2025-03-06T16:23:50Z")

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Thank you! This worked and removed the directories without needing to uninstall/reinstall the agents.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/is-it-possible-to-disable-elastic-defend-ransomware-canary/375481/4 "2025-04-03T16:23:57Z")

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