But not only Windows 10 is using this method or technique to make their users satisfied every time they asked questions on virtual assistant or display relevant updates. Google has been using this for quite a while if you’re using Google now on your phone and connect your Google account, you will notice that all the updates that you see are based on your interest.
Not only that, websites with advertising are also using cookies to make the ads shown to every user in their interest. A cookie or Internet Cookie is a small piece of data sent from a website and stored on a user’s web browser while the user is browsing that website. You will notice that, for example, if you search for running shoes, your browser records it and when you visit a website with ads like Facebook you will see an ad related to your search.
In Windows 10, all these features are also available not only to make Cortana better serve you but also the advertisers to make all the ads you see relevant to your interest.
But if you’re not comfortable with this setup of Windows 10 and you think it’s evading your privacy, you can easily turn off this setting. Here’s how to stop Windows 10 from spying on you.
To minimize Windows 10’s data collection and increase privacy, you can adjust various settings to limit tracking, disable certain features, and use third-party tools for enhanced control. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Adjust Privacy Settings Go to Settings > Privacy: Review options under each section (e.g., General, Location, Camera). General Settings: Turn off options like “Let apps use advertising ID” to limit personalized ads and tracking. Location: Toggle off location tracking or set app permissions individually. Speech, Inking, & Typing: Disable “Getting to know you” to stop storing typing data and voice recordings. Diagnostics & Feedback: Set Diagnostics to Basic and turn off “Tailored experiences” to reduce data sent to Microsoft. Limit Background Apps Settings > Privacy > Background apps: Toggle off any apps you don’t want running in the background. This can also improve system performance.
Turn Off Cortana Settings > Cortana: Disable features related to Cortana, which can track searches, calendar info, and more. You may also need to remove Cortana’s permissions from Settings > Privacy > Speech, inking, & typing.
Disable Ad Tracking Settings > Privacy > General: Turn off “Let apps use advertising ID,” which assigns a unique ID to your device for ad tracking.
Adjust Microsoft Account Sync Settings Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings: Toggle off syncing settings to reduce data Microsoft collects across devices.
Disable Feedback Requests Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback: Set feedback frequency to “Never” to prevent prompts.
Use a Local Account Instead of a Microsoft Account If possible, create a Local Account rather than using a Microsoft account. This can limit data sync and tracking.
Use Third-Party Privacy Tools (Optional) Tools like O&O ShutUp10 and W10Privacy give fine-grained control over Windows 10 privacy settings. Use these carefully, as they disable services that may affect system functionality.
Disable Telemetry Services Open Services (Windows + R, type “services.msc”) and disable services like Connected User Experiences and Telemetry and Diagnostics Tracking Service. This reduces telemetry data sent to Microsoft.
Disable Windows Tips and Suggestions Settings > System > Notifications & actions: Turn off “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows,” which can reduce data usage for personalized suggestions.
Disable OneDrive if Unused Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and go to Settings. Under Account, select Unlink this PC if you don’t use OneDrive. Disabling OneDrive stops it from syncing files and gathering data.
Disable Windows Error Reporting Windows Error Reporting sends information to Microsoft when an error occurs. To disable it:
Go to Services (Windows + R, then type services.msc). Find Windows Error Reporting Service, double-click it, and set it to Disabled. Disable App Permissions Windows 10 apps can access your camera, microphone, contacts, and more. Limit this by going to Settings > Privacy and selecting each permission category (e.g., Camera, Microphone, Contacts) to turn off permissions for individual apps.
Stop Data Collection via Group Policy (Windows 10 Pro) If you have Windows 10 Pro, you can adjust privacy settings in Group Policy:
Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds. Double-click Allow Telemetry and set it to Disabled. Block Tracking with a Firewall Some users block Microsoft’s telemetry servers via their firewall or router to prevent data from reaching Microsoft servers. This can be done with a custom firewall rule, but proceed with caution as it can impact Windows features and updates.
Disable Activity History Windows 10 collects activity history across devices, which can be turned off:
Go to Settings > Privacy > Activity history. Uncheck Store my activity history on this device and Send my activity history to Microsoft. Clear activity history for your account by selecting Clear. Review and Clear Diagnostic Data Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback: You can review diagnostic data by enabling View diagnostic data. Once enabled, a Diagnostic Data Viewer app will let you see the data that Windows 10 collects.
To clear diagnostic data, scroll down in this section and select Delete under “Delete diagnostic data.”
Limit Web-Based Tracking in Microsoft Edge If you use Microsoft Edge:
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services. Turn on Tracking prevention and set it to Strict for maximum privacy. Consider turning off Personalized ads and Bing search suggestions. Disable Timeline and Clear Your Activity Data The Timeline feature in Windows 10 logs activity history across devices. Disable it by:
Going to Settings > Privacy > Activity history and unchecking Let Windows collect my activities. Clear previously collected activity data by clicking Clear under “Clear activity history.” Disable Wi-Fi Sense Windows 10 has a Wi-Fi Sense feature that shares Wi-Fi credentials with contacts (though it’s now somewhat limited):
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Turn off Connect to suggested open hotspots and Connect to networks shared by my contacts. Disable SmartScreen SmartScreen filters can help with security but collect browsing data.
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security. Open App & browser control and turn off SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge if you prefer not to use this feature. (Be cautious, as it helps protect against malicious sites.) Use Alternative Apps for Microsoft Services Some Microsoft services, like the Windows Mail app, sync data with Microsoft servers. Consider using alternatives like Thunderbird for email or Firefox/Chrome for browsing to reduce data tracking.
Disable Suggested Content in Settings Windows 10 can display “suggested content” based on your activity:
Go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions. Turn off Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows. Use a VPN for Added Privacy A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, adding another layer of privacy. While it doesn’t stop Windows tracking, it hides your internet activity from ISPs and makes it harder for third-party entities to track your IP address.
Regularly Review Privacy Updates from Microsoft Windows updates can change privacy settings, so it’s wise to periodically check Settings > Privacy after major updates and review any new or altered options.
These settings will help minimize tracking, though some data collection is inherent in Windows 10. Combining these changes with smart online practices and third-party privacy tools can further protect your privacy.
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