Join Microsoft MAPS

This policy setting allows you to join Microsoft MAPS. Microsoft MAPS 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 security intelligence and help it to protect your computer. This information can include things like location of detected items on your computer if harmful software was removed. The information will be automatically collected and sent. In some instances, personal information might unintentionally be sent to Microsoft. However, Microsoft will not use this information to identify you or contact you.

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.

If you enable this setting, you will join Microsoft MAPS with the membership specified.

If you disable or do not configure this setting, you will not join Microsoft MAPS.

In Windows 10, Basic membership is no longer available, so setting the value to 1 or 2 enrolls the device into Advanced membership.