privacy-settings/Privacy Settings/Windows-10.md

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Windows 10 Privacy Settings

Go to Settings.

System

Notifications & actions

  • Show notifications on the lock screen: Off
  • Show reminders and incoming VoIP calls on the lock screen: Off
  • Suggest ways I can finish setting up my device to get the most out of Windows: Off
  • Get tips, tricks and suggestions as you use Windows: Off

Shared experiences

  • Nearby sharing: Off (Enable this only when needed. Remember to turn it off when no longer required.)
  • Share across devices: Off

Remote Desktop

This feature is not available in Home editions

  • Off (Enable this only when needed. Remember to turn it off when no longer required.)
  • Require device to use Network Level Authentication to connect: On

Devices

Typing

  • Spelling
    • Autocorrect misspelled words: Off
    • Highlight misspelled word: Off
  • Typing
    • Show text suggestions as I type on the software keyboard: Off
  • Hardware keyboard
    • Show text suggestions as I type: Off
    • Autocorrect misspelled words I type: Off
  • Multilingual text suggestions
    • Show text suggestions based on the recognized languages you're typing in: Off

AutoPlay

  • Use AutoPlay for all media and devices: Off

Phone

Network & Internet

Wi-Fi

  • Random hardware addresses (if available): On

Personalization

Lock screen

  • Background: select Picture or Slideshow
  • Get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen: Off

Start

  • Show suggestions occasionally in Start: Off

Apps

Apps & features

Uninstall anything you don't use like XBox, candy crush, some other preinstalled apps/games etc. Be sure not to uninstall anything important. If you have doubts about any app, search the net.

Accounts

Your info

This section is applicable only if you've signed in with a Microsoft account

Delete your account picture and set it to default as mentioned below:

  • Choose a file > Browse files
  • Go to C:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPictures and delete your picture. (Replace JohnDoe with your username)
  • Go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures and select guest.png.

NOTE: AppData is a hidden folder by default. To enable: in file explorer on top click View > select Hidden items.

Sign-in options

  • Require sign-in: When PC wakes up from sleep
  • Privacy
    • Show account details such as my email address on the sign-in screen: Off

Permissions & History

  • Cloud content search
    • Microsoft account: Off
    • Work or school account: Off
  • History
    • Search history on this device: Off
    • Clear device search history

Privacy

General

  • All off

Speech

  • Online speech recognition: Off

Inking & typing

  • Getting to know you: Off

Diagnostics & feedback

  • Diagnostic data: Required diagnostic data
  • Improve inking & typing recognition: Off
  • Tailored experiences: Off
  • Delete diagnostic data: Delete

Activity history

  • Send my activity history to Microsoft: Off

App permissions

  • Review each permission and disable accordingly (choose which apps can have access to camera, microphone, gps, notifications etc. If any app doesn't need something, turn it off.)
  • App diagnostics > Change > Off

Update & Security

Delivery Optimization

  • Allow downloads from other PCs: Off

Windows Security

  • Virus & threat protection > Virus & threat protection settings > Manage settings > All protections on (Except automatic sample submission)
  • Firewall & network protection > All firewalls should be on for domain, public and private networks.

Encrypted DNS

Win key + r > type ncpa.cpl > press enter

Right click on Ethernet or Wifi depending on what you are using > Properties

  • Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties > select Use the following DNS server addresses:

    • Preferred DNS server: enter IPv4 address of a provider from this list

      Example: For Quad9, enter 9.9.9.9

    • Alternate DNS server: enter alternate IPv4 address of the same provider as above or a different provider

      Example: For Quad9, enter 149.112.112.112

    Click OK

  • Select Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) > Properties > select Use the following DNS server addresses:

    • Preferred DNS server: enter IPv6 address of a provider from this list

      Example: For Quad9, enter 2620:fe::fe

    • Alternate DNS server: enter alternate IPv6 address of the same provider as above or a different provider

      Example: For Quad9, enter 2620:fe::9

    Click OK



Disable ads in file explorer

Open file explorer > click View on top > Options > Change folder and search options

  • Click View on top of the new popup >
    • Uncheck Show sync provider notifications
    • Click Apply
    • Also click Apply to Folders on top (if available)

Disable telemetry service

Press Win key + r > type services.msc > press enter

  • Double-click on Connected User Experiences and Telemetry >
    • Service Status: Stopped (Click on Stop, if service is running)
    • Startup Type: Disabled
    • Click OK

Right click on taskbar > Search > uncheck Show search highlights

Press Win key + r > type regedit > press enter > Yes

  • Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search
  • In the left navigation window, right click on Search > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value > name it BingSearchEnabled
  • Double click it and make sure Value data is set to 0
  • Open Task Manager > Processes > select Windows Explorer > Right click > Restart