How to Avoid Spying on Windows 10: Options and Programs

Since Microsoft launched Windows 10, one of the biggest complaints that Redmond has received from users has had to do with the privacy offered by the operating system. The truth is that in previous versions there were already certain functions that were responsible for collecting user data to send to the company’s servers.

With the arrival of Windows 10, the amount of information collected was reduced, but this has not made it sufficient for most users. If you want to prevent Windows 10 from collecting information about you , this is all we can do to disable spy functions in the system.

To do this, as we will show below, we can make certain changes to the system settings and settings, but it is also true that we can find tools developed by third parties that will help us disable all these functions much faster And simple. However, each one must choose whether he prefers to make these changes himself or if he prefers to rely on the effectiveness of these applications.

spying-on-windows-10

Prevent Windows 10 from spying on you by deactivating these options

The first thing we should do is review the system privacy settings. For it:

  • We open the Windows 10 Configuration page.
  • We enter the Privacy section.
  • Within the General tab: we must review all the permissions that we are giving the system about our activity, language, applications we use, etc.
  • In the Location option we can deactivate the options that allow the system and certain applications to access our location.
  • The same can be done in the sections:
    • Camera
    • Microphone
    • Handwriting and writing input customization
    • Account info
    • Contacts
    • Messages
    • Other devices
    • Application Diagnostics

privacidad Windows 10

From the options of the system configuration page and within the Privacy section, we can also choose the amount of diagnostic data that we want to send to Microsoft. This data, according to the company itself, is used to keep Windows 10 safe and up to date, troubleshoot and make improvements. In this case, we must choose the Basic option so that we only send information about the device, the configuration and if it is working correctly.

diagnostico Windows 10

Another important change to improve privacy in Windows 10 is to disable system tracking services. For it:

  1. We open a Run window, Win + R.
  2. We write services.msc and press Enter.
  3. We look for diagnostic services.
  4. We double click and in the Startup Type we select the Disabled option.
  5. We keep the changes.

servicios Windows 10

We can also deactivate data collection with the Windows 10 registry. On this occasion, what we have to do first of all is a backup of the system registry in case something goes wrong, being able to recover it and leave everything as it was. Once this is done:

  1. We open the Windows registry. We write regedit in a Run window and press Enter.
  2. We navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Policies / Microsoft / Windows / DataCollection path .
  3. We create a new 32-bit DWORD value.
  4. We give it the name AllowTelemetry .
  5. We set its value to 0 .

registro Windows 10

Although with all this we can disable telemetry or functions with which Windows 10 collects information about us, there is another additional method with which we can prevent its activation in the future. It consists directly in blocking system access to Microsoft servers. For this, what we have to do is modify the hosts file of our system.

Specifically, to prevent our team from accessing Microsoft servers, these are the steps to follow:

  1. We open the notebook with administrator permissions.
  2. Select the menu option File> Open.
  3. We navigate to the hosts file path, C: / Windows / System32 / drivers / etc.
  4. We indicate in File type, All files (*. *).
  5. Open the hosts file and paste the following at the end of it:

127.0.0.1 vortex.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 vortex-win.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 redir.metaservices.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 choice.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 choice.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 services.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 sqm.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 watson.ppe.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.appex.bing.net
127.0.0.1 telemetry.urs.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 settings-sandbox.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 vortex-sandbox.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 survey.watson.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 watson.live.com
127.0.0.1 watson.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 statsfe2.ws.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 corpext.msitadfs.glbdns2.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 compatexchange.cloudapp.net
127.0.0.1 cs1.wpc.v0cdn.net
127.0.0.1 a-0001.a-msedge.net
127.0.0.1 statsfe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net
127.0.0.1 sls.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net
127.0.0.1 fe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net
127.0.0.1 diagnostics.support.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 corp.sts.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 statsfe1.ws.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 pre.footprintpredict.com
127.0.0.1 i1.services.social.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 i1.services.social.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 feedback.windows.com
127.0.0.1 feedback.microsoft-hohm.com
127.0.0.1 feedback.search.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 rad.msn.com
127.0.0.1 preview.msn.com
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ads.msn.com
127.0.0.1 ads1.msads.net
127.0.0.1 ads1.msn.com
127.0.0.1 a.ads1.msn.com
127.0.0.1 a.ads2.msn.com
127.0.0.1 adnexus.net
127.0.0.1 adnxs.com
127.0.0.1 az361816.vo.msecnd.net
127.0.0.1 az512334.vo.msecnd.net

We save the changes and we can close the Notepad.

It is important to keep in mind that any system update can cause some of the system configuration settings to be reset to the default values. Therefore, we deactivate Windows Update or we will have to review each and every one of these options after any important update.

Applications to disable spying in Windows 10

If we prefer, we can use many tools that have been developed precisely to disable all spy functions of Windows 10. Below we show some of the most popular and used.

DoNotSpy 10

A very simple tool to handle. In a single screen, it shows us a list with all the options that allows us to deactivate to end the spying of Windows 10. As easy as marking everything that interests us and clicking on the Apply button. Download DoNotSpy 10 .


Private winten

A tool designed more for advanced users, since it does not show much help and we may not know very well what we are activating or deactivating or its consequences. However, it is also very effective in preventing Windows 10 from collecting certain information from us. Private Winten Download


W10Privacy

It has an interface similar to DoNotSpy, but in this case all the options it offers us to configure the privacy and spying functions of Windows 10 are organized by tabs. We simply have to mark everything we want to deactivate and finally, click on the button. Download W10Privacy.


O&O ShutUp10

A similar look also has ShutUp10. In this case, all the privacy options and spy functions of Windows 10 are organized by sections and are accompanied by a switch so that we can enable or disable them easily. Download O&O ShutUp10 .


Windows Privacy Tweaker

It also has a very simple interface organized in three main tabs Services, Programmer and Registration . In each of them, we will find a list of tasks, being those shown in red those that are able to access our private information and therefore, we must deactivate. Download Windows Privacy Tweaker .


WPD

WPD is a portable application that allows us to make certain adjustments to the configuration and features of Windows 10 in terms of privacy. All these options are divided into 4 groups, privacy, firewall, applications and settings. Next to all the options there is a switch to activate or deactivate them and an icon with an interrogation that briefly explains what each one refers to. WPD download .

espiar windows 10


Win10 Spy Disabler

Another very simple tool to manage and that allows us to deactivate certain system settings that have to do with the collection of user data or spying on Windows 10. In four tabs we will find all the options, which we can mark and unmark at will . Win10 Spy Disabler Download

espiar windows 10


Win10 SpyStop

Although a priori offers us less options or settings than to activate or deactivate at our whim, the truth is that Win10 SpyStop is capable of disabling Windows 10 telemetry, remote access and diagnostics and blocking the host files used for data collection by part of Microsoft. Therefore, more than enough to avoid the main spying activities of Windows 10. Download Win10 SpyStop .

espiar windows 10