![]() ![]() But in a serious slight against all users, each major Windows 10 update resets your privacy settings to default. You can spend time turning every privacy off or restricting access to your data. Users now have more direct control over how apps and other services interact. Microsoft is more open with its data collection and privacy settings. If Windows 10 privacy settings do concern you, you're in for a long battle. "Each major Windows 10 update resets your privacy settings to default." Microsoft has been gathering information in Windows since at least 2009, and maybe even before that. The French government agrees, too, as does the European Union's data protection watchdog and the Netherlands' Data Protection Authority.īut data gathering within your Windows operating system isn't a startling new revelation. The Electronic Frontier Foundation strongly asserts that Windows 10 violates your privacy. It boils down to one question: does Microsoft violate your privacy by default? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer as your relationship with Windows 10 privacy varies from your neighbors, friends, family, and so on. ![]() However, nor does Microsoft's addition of advertising within File Explorer (this is easily turned off) and vaguely worded EULAs that worry users about constant system scanning (the EULA in question is not permitting this behavior). Is Microsoft overstepping the boundaries of operating system data collection? Misleading stories regarding integrated keyloggers and spyware certainly do not help. The major issue leveled at Windows 10 concerns data collection. However, Microsoft stuck to its guns in regard to alleged privacy infringements, adding greater control over individual elements but not completely removing any of the perceived privacy infringing features. When Windows 10 hit the shelves back in 2015, numerous features came under immediate attack from privacy advocates and Microsoft critics alike. Windows 10 has long come under attack for its approach to user privacy. The latter deals with how individual Windows 10 apps use identification, data collection, and other privacy-related app permissions. The former deals with how Microsoft collects and uses your data to streamline your Windows 10 experience. You will note that Microsoft has split the privacy menu into two sections: Windows Permissions and App Permissions. ![]() It’s also small, portable and entirely free, so if you’re interested, just grab a copy and give it a try.To access Windows 10 Settings, press the keyboard shortcut Windows key + I, then head to Privacy or go to Start > Settings > Privacy. Still, there’s nothing here that can’t be fixed, and W10Privacy’s explanations of what each tweak does are well worth having. There’s no way to disable/ enable a group of settings at once there’s no "Cancel" option if you hit "Set changed settings" by mistake the interface and general implementation need a lot of work. There are some useful bonus features, too, including the ability to uninstall most of the standard Windows apps. ![]() There’s not just a vague "block telemetry" option: instead you can choose to "block IP addresses of known Microsoft telemetry servers" through either a firewall rule or your HOSTS file, in both full-strength and lightweight versions.Įach action is color-coded, too, as either green (safe to set), amber (check carefully) or red (don’t do this unless you’re really sure), reducing the chance that you’ll cause some major problems. W10Privacy gives you quite fine control over some areas. If that’s not enough, hovering the mouse over that action displays a tooltip with more information. While the competition often leaves you uncertain what a particular option will do, W10Privacy has some very clear descriptions : "Do not let apps use my camera", "Do not let apps access my name, picture and other account into", and so on. There’s a lengthy list of tweaks you can apply, for instance - approaching 100 - all neatly organized across several tabs: Privacy, Telemetry, Network, Services and more. ![]()
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