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Windows 10 Privacy Settings

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************ This version is now expired. Updated version here: https://www.tweakhound.com/2020/12/30/tweaking-windows-10-version-20h2/

 

 

 

 

 

Windows 10 Privacy Settings

A companion guide for:

TweakHound’s


Tweaking Windows 10

Version 4.0, 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.

My Desktop Pet Peeve

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thI still do computer work as a side job. One of my pet peeves is seeing stuff stored on the desktop. I’m not talking a couple of files for a few days, I’m talking docs, pics, pdfs, mp3s, videos, etc. I see dozens and dozens flooding the desktop. It’s chaotic and ugly. It makes backups harder too. Need to use System Restore? All the files on your desktop will be gone!
Put your stuff in the folders they belong in!
bang your head metal health will drive you mad

Dual Boot openSUSE Leap and Windows 10 UEFI

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This is how I dual-boot my Windows 10 rig with openSUSE Leap.
This article is virtually unchanged from: Dual Boot openSUSE 13.2 and Windows 8.1 UEFI

Notes:
– BACKUP your computer with a disk image before attempting this!
– Please do not contact me with questions on this topic.
That’s what the openSUSE forums are for.
– For how I dual-boot with a standard BIOS (legacy) see here: Dual-Boot openSUSE 12.3 And Windows (article is NOT compatible with BTRFS)

Interesting Links
openSUSE:UEFI
BCD System Store Settings for UEFI
Dual booting with Windows 8, not as painful as expected.

Preparation
1 – Full disk image backup using Acronis True Image.
2 – Make or leave unpartitioned space on OS drive for openSUSE. (If you can’t do this without a tutorial, well…..)
3 – Make UEFI boot usb flash drive with Rufus.

Installation
Pardon the odd screenshots. I used Vmware player for this article.

I should note that I am not a believer in using multiple partitions for my Linux installs.

Boot up, go through setup until you get to the partitioning section.
I do not use BTRFS and I always use Create Partition Setup…
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Choose Custom Partitioning (for experts) and click Next

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Right-click on the DRIVE where you want to install openSUSE and choose Add Partition
Make a swap partition, 2-4GB is fine.

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Below are the options I use. Ext4 for file system, noatime, discard* (=trim)
*note – I am not using discard at the moment because it was causing errors on my Samsung 850 Pro SSD.

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This next step is critical as your system will not boot without it.

Right-click on the Windows EFI boot partition and choose Edit

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Choose Mount partition
Choose /boot/efi
Click Finish

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Done?  click Accept

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Last chance to bail…
Click Next

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I don’t use Secure Boot. It can be disabled here:

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Boot Screen:

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Everything should run just peachy until you boot into Windows again.

Windows will usually try and make its bootloader default again which means openSUSE isn’t an option.

While in Windows, open an Elevated Command Prompt and copy/paste this command (source):

bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \EFI\opensuse\shim.efi

That’s it!

It’s A Matter Of Honor

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thpinpostlogo

honor
noun
1.honesty, fairness, or integrity in one’s beliefs and actions:
a man of honor.

Last week Microsoft doubled down on trying to force Windows 10 on Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. This despite the outrage that has sprung up around the internet since GWX and it’s related telemetry issues came to fore.
In his blog post, Terry Myerson claimed “you can choose to upgrade or decline the offer”. That’s a statement the Washington D.C. spin doctors would love.
1 – By default Windows 7 and 8 downloads and installs updates to examine your computer and send that info back to Microsoft. They never ask you, they just do it.
2 – Starting next year, Microsoft will make Windows 10 a recommended update. Most folks computers are set to “Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates.” This means starting next year Microsoft will download Windows 10 to your computer WITHOUT ASKING YOU.
[Read more…] about It’s A Matter Of Honor