Ways you can increase your privacy in Windows 10

Some of you are concerned about Windows in general and Microsoft in particular knowing too much about you. The alarmists runneth amok in the wake of the launch of the good ship Windows 10. Hey! It’s really good press – nothing attracts readers more than scaring them will all sorts of cloak and dagger stuff

On the other hand, why not take a few easy steps to shore up your privacy in Windows 10? If you don’t use apps that require your location, or need to know your handwriting, voice and speech patterns and so on, why not just turn all this stuff off if you don’t need it. You may, like me, live in a safe neighborhood, but I still lock my doors at night.

So for those of you who the alarmist have frightened and for those of who would like to play it safe and have no need of the apps that need your location etc., then this is for you.

The first thing you need to do is know where the Privacy settings are. You can get to Privacy settings by clicking on the start button and choosing settings then choose Privacy. If you don’t see settings, burn your computer. No.No! Just type Settings in the search in the start menu.

Above: The Settings  / Privacy dialog.

Below: Up close and Personal.

Above: The clever On / Off switches which Microsoft borrowed from Android and Apple. Turn them all off if you want. I left the last one checked so you can see hat “On” looks like. Of course, you’ll know as soon as  you go to Privacy settings because guess what? Microsoft has every one of those turned on by default in Windows 10.

If you click on “Manage my Microsoft advertising and other personalization info.” (highlighted in green above)…the Web page below opens in …your browser. Well not so much in “YOUR” browser, it opens in Microsoft Edge.

Getting up close and personal (below), you can see the options you have to turn off more options to enhance your privacy. See? More clever On / Off buttons. These setting apply only to Microsoft Edge – so if you’re using Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer, you’ll have to dig into those browsers’ settings…but I don’t think you’re going to find On / Off buttons though.

If you’re a lawyer or just bored and have nothing else to read, click on “Some other things you should know. Read the privacy statement.” It’s an entertaining read for a long rainy night 🙂

Well be back with more ways to enhance your privacy with Windows 10, so stay tuned. Right now I have to report to EB for my nightly castor oil and flogging.