[Bug]: Clear Defender scan (protection) history doesn't work

[pacifism628]

Description

The error #246 is still there. A good workaround is https://github.com/LesFerch/ClearDefenderHistory, but it requires reboot. Tested on Windows 11 22H2.

How can the bug be recreated?

@echo off
:: https://privacy.sexy — v0.13.8 — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:38:53 GMT
:: Ensure PowerShell is available
where PowerShell >nul 2>&1 || (
    echo PowerShell is not available. Please install or enable PowerShell.
    pause & exit 1
)
:: Ensure admin privileges
fltmc >nul 2>&1 || (
    echo Administrator privileges are required.
    PowerShell Start -Verb RunAs '%0' 2> nul || (
        echo Right-click on the script and select "Run as administrator".
        pause & exit 1
    )
    exit 0
)
:: Initialize environment
setlocal EnableExtensions DisableDelayedExpansion


:: ----------------------------------------------------------
:: ---------Clear Defender scan (protection) history---------
:: ----------------------------------------------------------
echo --- Clear Defender scan (protection) history
:: Clear directory contents (with additional permissions) : "%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$pathGlobPattern = "^""$($directoryGlob = '%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History'; if ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\*')) { $directoryGlob } elseif ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\')) { "^""$($directoryGlob)*"^"" } else { "^""$($directoryGlob)\*"^"" } )"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; <# Not using `Get-Acl`/`Set-Acl` to avoid adjusting token privileges #>; $parentDirectory = [System.IO.Path]::GetDirectoryName($expandedPath); $fileName = [System.IO.Path]::GetFileName($expandedPath); if ($parentDirectory -like '*[*?]*') { throw "^""Unable to grant permissions to glob path parent directory: `"^""$parentDirectory`"^"", wildcards in parent directory are not supported by ``takeown`` and ``icacls``."^""; }; if (($fileName -ne '*') -and ($fileName -like '*[*?]*')) { throw "^""Unable to grant permissions to glob path file name: `"^""$fileName`"^"", wildcards in file name is not supported by ``takeown`` and ``icacls``."^""; }; Write-Host "^""Taking ownership of `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; $cmdPath = $expandedPath; if ($cmdPath.EndsWith('\')) { $cmdPath += '\' <# Escape trailing backslash for correct handling in batch commands #>; }; $takeOwnershipCommand = "^""takeown /f `"^""$cmdPath`"^"" /a"^"" <# `icacls /setowner` does not succeed, so use `takeown` instead. #>; if (-not (Test-Path -Path "^""$expandedPath"^"" -PathType Leaf)) { $localizedYes = 'Y' <# Default 'Yes' flag (fallback) #>; try { $choiceOutput = cmd /c "^""choice <nul 2>nul"^""; if ($choiceOutput -and $choiceOutput.Length -ge 2) { $localizedYes = $choiceOutput[1]; } else { Write-Warning "^""Failed to determine localized 'Yes' character. Output: `"^""$choiceOutput`"^"""^""; }; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to determine localized 'Yes' character. Error: $_"^""; }; $takeOwnershipCommand += "^"" /r /d $localizedYes"^""; }; $takeOwnershipOutput = cmd /c "^""$takeOwnershipCommand 2>&1"^"" <# `stderr` message is misleading, e.g. "^""ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified."^"" is not an error. #>; if ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 0) { Write-Host "^""Successfully took ownership of `"^""$expandedPath`"^"" (using ``$takeOwnershipCommand``)."^""; } else { Write-Host "^""Did not take ownership of `"^""$expandedPath`"^"" using ``$takeOwnershipCommand``, status code: $LASTEXITCODE, message: $takeOwnershipOutput."^""; <# Do not write as error or warning, because this can be due to missing path, it's handled in next command. #>; <# `takeown` exits with status code `1`, making it hard to handle missing path here. #>; }; Write-Host "^""Granting permissions for `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; $adminSid = New-Object System.Security.Principal.SecurityIdentifier 'S-1-5-32-544'; $adminAccount = $adminSid.Translate([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]); $adminAccountName = $adminAccount.Value; $grantPermissionsCommand = "^""icacls `"^""$cmdPath`"^"" /grant `"^""$($adminAccountName):F`"^"" /t"^""; $icaclsOutput = cmd /c "^""$grantPermissionsCommand"^""; if ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 3) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no items available for deletion according to: ``$grantPermissionsCommand``."^""; exit 0; } elseif ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { Write-Host "^""Take ownership message:`n$takeOwnershipOutput"^""; Write-Host "^""Grant permissions:`n$icaclsOutput"^""; Write-Warning "^""Failed to assign permissions for `"^""$expandedPath`"^"" using ``$grantPermissionsCommand``, status code: $LASTEXITCODE."^""; } else { $fileStats = $icaclsOutput | ForEach-Object { $_ -match '\d+' | Out-Null; $matches[0] } | Where-Object { $_ -ne $null } | ForEach-Object { [int]$_ }; if ($fileStats.Count -gt 0 -and ($fileStats | ForEach-Object { $_ -eq 0 } | Where-Object { $_ -eq $false }).Count -eq 0) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no items available for deletion according to: ``$grantPermissionsCommand``."^""; exit 0; } else { Write-Host "^""Successfully granted permissions for `"^""$expandedPath`"^"" (using ``$grantPermissionsCommand``)."^""; }; }; $deletedCount = 0; $failedCount = 0; $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); Write-Host 'Iterating files and directories recursively.'; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-ChildItem -Path $expandedPath -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (-not (Test-Path $path)) { <# Re-check existence as prior deletions might remove subsequent items (e.g., subdirectories). #>; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path) (already deleted)."^""; $deletedCount++; continue; }; try { Remove-Item -Path $path -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop; $deletedCount++; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path)"^""; } catch { $failedCount++; Write-Warning "^""Unable to delete $($path): $_"^""; }; }; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted $($deletedCount) items."^""; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to delete $($failedCount) items."^""; }"
:: ----------------------------------------------------------


:: Pause the script to view the final state
pause
:: Restore previous environment settings
endlocal
:: Exit the script successfully
exit /b 0

Operating system

Windows 11 22H2

Script file

No response

Screenshots

No response

Additional information

No response