homepage
Menu
Open menu
  • Training
    Go one level top Back

    Training

    • Courses

      Build cyber prowess with training from renowned experts

    • Hands-On Simulations

      Hands-on learning exercises keep you at the top of your cyber game

    • Certifications

      Demonstrate cybersecurity expertise with GIAC certifications

    • Ways to Train

      Multiple training options to best fit your schedule and preferred learning style

    • Training Events & Summits

      Expert-led training at locations around the world

    • Free Training Events

      Upcoming workshops, webinars and local events

    • Security Awareness

      Harden enterprise security with end-user and role-based training

    Featured: Solutions for Emerging Risks

    Discover tailored resources that translate emerging threats into actionable strategies

    Risk-Based Solutions

    Can't find what you are looking for?

    Let us help.
    Contact us
  • Learning Paths
    Go one level top Back

    Learning Paths

    • By Focus Area

      Chart your path to job-specific training courses

    • By NICE Framework

      Navigate cybersecurity training through NICE framework roles

    • DoDD 8140 Work Roles

      US DoD 8140 Directive Frameworks

    • By European Skills Framework

      Align your enterprise cyber skills with ECSF profiles

    • By Skills Roadmap

      Find the right training path based on critical skills

    • New to Cyber

      Give your cybersecurity career the right foundation for success

    • Leadership

      Training designed to help security leaders reduce organizational risk

    • Degree and Certificate Programs

      Gain the skills, certifications, and confidence to launch or advance your cybersecurity career.

    Featured

    New to Cyber resources

    Start your career
  • Community Resources
    Go one level top Back

    Community Resources

    Watch & Listen

    • Webinars
    • Live Streams
    • Podcasts

    Read

    • Blog
    • Newsletters
    • White Papers
    • Internet Storm Center

    Download

    • Open Source Tools
    • Posters & Cheat Sheets
    • Policy Templates
    • Summit Presentations
    • SANS Community Benefits

      Connect, learn, and share with other cybersecurity professionals

    • CISO Network

      Engage, challenge, and network with fellow CISOs in this exclusive community of security leaders

  • For Organizations
    Go one level top Back

    For Organizations

    Team Development

    • Why Partner with SANS
    • Group Purchasing
    • Skills & Talent Assessments
    • Private & Custom Training

    Leadership Development

    • Leadership Courses & Accreditation
    • Executive Cybersecurity Exercises
    • CISO Network

    Security Awareness

    • End-User Training
    • Phishing Simulation
    • Specialized Role-Based Training
    • Risk Assessments
    • Public Sector Partnerships

      Explore industry-specific programming and customized training solutions

    • Sponsorship Opportunities

      Sponsor a SANS event or research paper

    Interested in developing a training plan to fit your organization’s needs?

    We're here to help.
    Contact us
  • Talk with an expert
  • Log In
  • Join - it's free
  • Account
    • Account Dashboard
    • Log Out
  1. Home >
  2. Blog >
  3. Uncovering Windows Defender Real-time Protection History with DHParser
SANS_social_88x82.jpg
SANS Institute

Uncovering Windows Defender Real-time Protection History with DHParser

January 20, 2022

Whether you are a systems administrator performing regular threat hunting on your network, or you are an analyst examining a system after the smoke of an incident has cleared, Windows Defender’s DetectionHistory logs give an excellent look into what (and who) has been marked as potentially malicious. DetectionHistory Parser, or DHParser, takes data which previously only had limited availability on live systems, into an expanded dataset available for offline viewing.

A Quick Rundown on Windows DetectionHistory Logging

DetectionHistory files may be created and found on, at the very least, Windows 10 systems. The creation of these files is an after-product of Windows Defender's real-time protection (RTP) blocking threats, such as Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs), viruses, worms, trojans, etc. To block threats and generate DetectionHistory files, RTP must be turned on in the Windows Security app, under Windows Security > Virus and Threat Protection > Virus and Threat Protection Settings:

JKBlog_1.png

When a threat is detected, the user is presented first with a notification that Windows Defender has received a hit. A sample notification of what one would see is provided below:

JKBlog_2.PNG

The user’s decision to run this .exe or not has no impact on the creation of the DetectionHistory file. At this point, Windows Defender places a DetectionHistory binary file under [root]\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History\Service\ DetectionHistory\[numbered folder]\, where the name of the file is Windows’ generated DetectionID of the event. As long as the file exists in this directory, Windows Security recognizes it, and displays a few details in the "Protection History" tab. This can be found under Windows Security > Virus and Threat Protection > Current Threats/Protection History. If this DetectionHistory file shown here is deleted, the Windows Security blurb disappears along with it:

JKBlog_3.PNG

A great resource for attempting to generate these notifications on your own system can be found here. Included are benign PUA and malware files designed to set off antivirus software as a test.

DHParser Collections: How Is This Helpful?

As DFIR professionals, there are more resources at our disposal than ever before to deliver case findings to clients. However, there is more still that is obscured in mystery by binary files scattered across Windows, whose structure remains unknown. DetectionHistory files take this form as well, containing loads of unencrypted data about threats that once existed (or still exist) on a network. Because a binary file’s structure is generally unique to its purpose, specialized tools such as DHParser are created to iterate over the file structure and return its contents as human readable data.

JKBlog_4.PNG

Typical usage of dhparser.exe

Not only does DHParser return meaningful, analysis-ready JSON data, but it can also recursively search a directory on your system for DetectionHistory files, processing each one found in the same manner. Getting results takes only a few seconds, and the various data points could be easily linked to other indicators of compromise in your investigations.

Since DHParser’s capabilities are fully offline, running the tool against a mounted logical image as part of a forensic triage becomes trivial. DHParser requires read access to the directory being searched for DetectionHistory files, as other file parsing applications do. As [root]\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\ often is protected, you can ensure DHParser has access by copying the DetectionHistory directory out of your image or live system, onto your desktop.

JKBlog_5.PNG

Example of a collection generated by dhparser.exe

As you can see, not only are we given the threat name (Trojan/ThreatTrackingThreatName), malicious file location (file), and detection timestamp (ThreatTrackingStartTime), but even file hashes for the malicious file (ThreatTrackingSha256, ThreatTrackingMD5), and the parent process (SpawningProcessName) responsible for spinning up the threat in question. The given hashes could be run against a list of known bad file hashes, for a quick win in discovering which detections from Windows Defender are truly malicious. This list of fields above is not exhaustive, as other threat types include more types of data, including registry keys (regkey, uninstall) for potentially malicious applications (PUAs).

DetectionHistory files also update as the given user responds to the threat (quarantines, removes, allows, etc.) with a ThreatStatusID. In certain cases, especially those involving insider threats, a ThreatStatus showing that a user allowed (or restored) a system threat would be critical to the timeline of an incident. More information is available for each ThreatStatus on Microsoft's MSFT_MpThreatDetection class documentation.

Conclusion

DHParser is an excellent way to gather more complete information on the nature of threats picked up by Windows’ native AV software. Hopefully, the brief introduction to the DetectionHistory artifact has inspired you to dig deeper into what data Windows Defender’s logs can offer to DFIR professionals. If you are interested in the more technical aspects of the DetectionHistory binary file structure, I’ve included a deeper dive on the GitHub repo for DHParser. Happy Hunting!


Share:
TwitterLinkedInFacebook
Copy url Url was copied to clipboard
Subscribe to SANS Newsletters
Receive curated news, vulnerabilities, & security awareness tips
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Spain
Belgium
Denmark
Norway
Netherlands
Australia
India
Japan
Singapore
Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cote D'ivoire
Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard And McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, Republic Of
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States Of
Moldova, Republic Of
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Bartholemy
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome And Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
St. Helena
St. Pierre And Miquelon
Suriname
Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania, United Republic Of
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad And Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks And Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City State
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands (British)
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Wallis And Futuna Islands
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

By providing this information, you agree to the processing of your personal data by SANS as described in our Privacy Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recommended Training

  • FOR572: Advanced Network Forensics: Threat Hunting, Analysis, and Incident Response™
  • FOR608: Enterprise-Class Incident Response & Threat Hunting™
  • FOR508: Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics

Tags:
  • Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Related Content

Blog
DFIR blog image.png
Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting
August 22, 2024
A Visual Summary of SANS DFIR Summit 2024
Check out these graphic recordings created in real-time throughout the event for SANS DFIR Summit 2024
No Headshot Available
Alison Kim
read more
Blog
Spring 2024 Update FOR585 Smartphone Forensic Analysis In Depth
Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting
April 26, 2024
Spring 2024 Update: Explore the Latest Enhancements to SANS FOR585: Smartphone Forensic Analysis In-Depth
We are excited to announce the latest update to the SANS Institute's FOR585: Smartphone Forensic Analysis In-Depth!
Heather_Mahalik_370x370.png
Heather Barnhart
read more
Blog
Blog: Google Chrome Platform Notification Analysis
Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting
February 29, 2024
Google Chrome Platform Notification Analysis
In this post, Chad Tilbury uses the new Arsenal Recon LevelDB Recon tool to examine the Chrome Platform Notifications database.
370x370_Chad-Tilbury.jpg
Chad Tilbury
read more
  • Company
  • Mission
  • Instructors
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Press
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Policies
  • Training Programs
  • Work Study
  • Academies & Scholarships
  • Public Sector Partnerships
  • Law Enforcement
  • SkillsFuture Singapore
  • Degree Programs
  • Get Involved
  • Join the Community
  • Become an Instructor
  • Become a Sponsor
  • Speak at a Summit
  • Join the CISO Network
  • Award Programs
  • Partner Portal
Subscribe to SANS Newsletters
Receive curated news, vulnerabilities, & security awareness tips
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Spain
Belgium
Denmark
Norway
Netherlands
Australia
India
Japan
Singapore
Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cote D'ivoire
Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard And McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, Republic Of
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States Of
Moldova, Republic Of
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Bartholemy
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome And Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
St. Helena
St. Pierre And Miquelon
Suriname
Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania, United Republic Of
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad And Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks And Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City State
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands (British)
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Wallis And Futuna Islands
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

By providing this information, you agree to the processing of your personal data by SANS as described in our Privacy Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
  • Contact
  • Careers
© 2025 The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies, Inc. d/b/a SANS Institute. Our Terms and Conditions detail our trademark and copyright rights. Any unauthorized use is expressly prohibited.
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn