This is a BETA version. Feedback wanted.
old version here: Windows 10 Privacy Settings
Windows 10 Privacy Settings
A companion guide for:
TweakHound’s
Tweaking Windows 10
Version BETA 4, last edited 17 May, 2018
Windows 10 Privacy Settings
Page 1 – Intro, Windows Insider Program, Use A Local Account
Page 2 – Windows 10 Built-In Privacy Settings
Page 3 – Telemetry, Cortana
Page 4 – Update & Security, Windows Defender
Page 5 – Services, Microsoft Browsers
Page 6 – Remove Ads And Annoyances
Page 7 – Apps To Tweak Privacy Settings
Windows 10 does a lot of communicating with Microsoft servers. Many people find this to be somewhere between an annoyance to an outright invasion of privacy. Some folks suspect it’s even worse than that. For its part, Microsoft steadfastly insists that they do not invade your privacy, that any information sent back to Microsoft is “anonymous”, and that it is for your own good. I will leave it up to you to decide.
This section will show you your privacy options, the settings I use, and 3rd party apps that can help you configure your settings.
It should be noted that turning off some settings can hamper the ability of some built-in and Microsoft Store apps to function properly. Since I don’t use these things I haven’t run into a single issue.
Windows Insider Program
This is a neat program for those that want updates before everyone else or Geeks that live on the bleeding edge. It also sends the maximum amount of data back to Microsoft. If privacy is a concern, then don’t use this.
More info: https://insider.windows.com/
Use A Local Account
If you are using a Microsoft Account and privacy is a concern you should switch to a Local Account. Be warned you will lose syncing. If this is important to you then skip this.
More info: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/getstarted-microsoft-account
Let switch to a Local account:
Choose All settings
Choose Accounts
Choose Sign in with a local account instead
Enter current user password
Enter the new User name, Password, and Password hint.
Sign out and finish.
A few thoughts:
I use both Ashampoo Antispy (action->deselect all settings) and then O&O ShutUp10 pretty much the same as Eric’s, but with few exceptions – Windows Defender and Microsoft SpyNet (disable all but Windows Defender disabled), Windows Update (disabled only peer to peer – 3 top), Location Services (if a third party app installed – all disabled), Windows Explorer (if OneDrive is used uncheck Microsoft OneDrive disabled), Cortana (if something like Classic Shell is used all disabled, if not uncheck Cortana reset and disabled).
Then in Settings:
1. System
Off: Notifications & actions, Tablet mode (especially if it’s desktop), Shared experiences.
Power and sleep->Additional power settings-> adjust to a proper value
2. Devices -> off Autoplay
3.Gaming if not used to game – off all
4. Privacy – off all (when you do it after Ashampoo and O&O it’s much less entries to turn off.
HTH
If user does all driver updates why not enable “Automatic driver updates through windows update disabled” in O&O Shutup.
Good guide, Eric. There’s so many privacy-related settings to keep track on in Win10 nowadays. I did notice one thing that you may want to change. In Settings -> Privacy you recommend turning all settings in all tabs to off. This would disable apps running in the background. But in O&O your settings will re-enable running apps in the background. I think the two should be changed so they are taking the same action.