Okay, so I'm going to do my best to remember and not sound too silly with this, but; way back when (a few years ago) do you all remember when certain updates \ patches were coming out with Windows 7 and 8 that had some security \ privacy concerns? It seems like another lifetime ago, but I remember it was enough for me to lock everything down pretty tight. No updates, ran a couple of scripts, uninstalled \ prevented the updates in question from installing, and a few other measures. Well if you can imagine, though that's hardly the best option, I've never had any issues with all that. Now having said that; I remember reading Windows 10 had the same questionable privacy violating components baked in. (Blame my quarantine brain for not remembering the specifics!) So if an effort to save me more embarrassment with this post, ha, does anyone remember what I'm talking about? Also, now that I'm ready to move on to a new laptop with W10 Home, what should I know \ do in regards to the above concerns? (If I can even do anything?!) Thank you in advance!
@zapjb - I do believe that sounds familiar! It's been so long but whatever it was \ the controversy surrounding potential (real) privacy violations, it was enough to get me to lock down W7. (My friend is also a stone breaker, so he didn't help either!) @trott3r - My main concern was \ is any component of the OS that can't be controlled \ changed \ reset that digs into and or violates the user's privacy. If it is telemetry that I'm thinking of, when it became part of W7 \ W8 updates, that's when I was like yeah no, not a fan!
I use this program after trying several because it breaks it down with explanation for EVERY checkmark and has a lot of features! (Safe to disable all with green or yellow) https://www.w10privacy.de/english-home/
This seems to be what you are looking for: Win10 Spy Disabler This software is completely free http://www.site2unblock.com/ Changelog: v1.5.0.0 - 10 March 2019 + Improved some tweaks for the new Windows 10 OS + Added a banned on the right (this will help us to support the development) + Improved the main setup/uninstaller script + Fixed some issues reported by users v1.4.0.0 - 25 March 2016 + Fixed changing of startup type of services + Added option to undo selected changes (except apps removal) + Added more options to improve Windows 10 privacy + Added a new tab to singularly disable Windows tracking options + By default, are checked only the options to disable Windows tracking
Hey thank you; however the first program \ link looks like a German program still in development, and the second link is to a web proxy. This is what I was thinking, that I found having dug around some old files! https://www.softorbits.com/windows-10-privacy-protector/
Here highly regarded: O&O ShutUp10 1.8.1410 Author: O&O Software GmbH Date: 05/12/2020 11:00 AM Size: 1.10 MB License: Freeware Requires: 10|8|7|Vista|XP https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/oo_shutup10.html or Spybot Anti-Beacon 3.5.0.0 https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/spybot_anti_beacon_for_windows_10.html
+1 for O&O ShutUp10. Tried a few different ones, liked this one the best. Whatever tool you use, make sure to run it again after every monthly update, as sometimes some telemetry gets enabled again. ShutUp10 will automatically compare settings since the last time it was run, so you can enable any changed settings again with 1 click. I'm moving away to Linux, but still use Windows for some purposes, so I still use ShutUp10.
Did anyone ever come up with a way to PREVENT Win 10 Pro from updating automatically? Not talking about delays, an absolute NO updates unless I manually request one. I have always hated the auto update (required) on 10 Pro.
This is the only program (that I know of) that does the job completely and 100% of the time: https://www.novirusthanks.org/products/win-update-stop/ Acadia
Thank you. I downloaded it and will try it out in a VM to see how it performs! Hoping to put it on a bare metal OS. I have always missed having complete control as to when I update.
Hey, so I dug into the programs and reviews a bit more, and it seems like both O&O ShutUp10 and Windows 10 Privacy Tool are pretty popular \ do what needs to be done. However since using both are kind of like using a belt and suspenders, I’m curious to see if anyone that has used both thinks. (With the understanding from above posts that O&O seems to be preferred.) I’m also curious if it’ll be necessary to disable updates, or to continue on with them while also checking the privacy programs to see if anything was changed. Thanks again!
Running 2 of the same type of privacy tools is sort of redundant and may conflict with each other sort of how we were all taught not to run 2 real-time anti-virus'. And I believe what the others said that were helping you is install one of the privacy utilities, set it up how you want it, and after each time Windows updates recheck the privacy utility in case Windows updates changed any of the settings you chose. I don't think others were suggesting you to disable updates. I am also concerned about privacy, I just do what I can with the knowledge I have and try to learn new software like ublock origin and Linux. Lots of times I've messed up Firefox by getting too gung-ho with privacy but I just click that reset button and keep trying.
i prefer O&O Shutup, simple and clean and not that intrusive like others. i use another firewall - its additional and i left windows firewall default settings which has no disadvantages. W10FC is very simpel, not blown, nothing else. about telemetry - if some experiences issues, either with software or hardware should not turn it off. MS is not able to fix it when not submitted. on the other hand it could be off if anything is running fine. one important to mention - dont - or never - pimp it up with tuning suites. this will threaten windows. less is more!
@SAustn2 - Great, that was my thinking too but the ole OCD kicks in and well, he we are! @Brummelchen - Yeah I'll start with that then, and does the additional FW help in making sure private info \ etc isn't going out? And ha, I tend to think less is more as well!
