15 Best Tools For Your Windows 10 Privacy Settings Setup

All hail to Windows 10, whose features – admittedly with each update – are geared towards the greater convenience of its users. However, we all know that there’s no such thing as free lunch. If you have been enjoying Windows 10 because of its more refined experience overall, remember countless – and perhaps clueless – users who have inadvertently “allowed” Microsoft to collect data on their every Windows-related move. One of them might have even been you.

Of course, Windows 10 did come with a Settings app that gives privacy control to users. With this app, you can customise your settings in such a way that you achieve a certain layer of privacy for your device. This, however, does not completely disable Microsoft’s data collection.

In the cases where we’ve not provided options, we feel that those things have to do with the health of the system. In the case of knowing that our system that we’ve created is crashing, or is having serious performance problems, we view that as so helpful to the ecosystem and so not an issue of personal privacy, that today we collect that data so that we make that experience better for everyone.

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Why Bother With Your Windows 10 Privacy Settings Setup?

Imagine your manager constantly hovering over your shoulder while you’re working. How does it make you feel? Well, this is exactly what Microsoft is doing to your device 24/7 if you do not tweak your data privacy settings.

Having said that, if you are looking for ways to enhance your Windows 10 privacy settings setup (and you should!), we have rounded up 15 of the best Windows 10 privacy tools.

1. Ultimate Windows Tweaker

This is a popular tweaking freeware that lets you disable the following: Telemetry, Biometrics, Advertising ID, Bing search, Cortana, Windows Update sharing, Feedback requests, Password Reveal button, Steps Recorder, Inventory Collector and Application Telemetry, among many others. You can find the tweaking options under the freeware’s Security & Privacy section.

2. Ashampoo AntiSpy

This allows you to set up certain privacy settings and prevents Windows 10 from gathering and sending diagnostics including other data.

3. Spybot Anti-Beacon

This lets Windows 10 users to bolster the immunity of their computers and alters settings in order for Windows 10 to phone home less.

4. Win10 Spy Disabler

This software for your Windows 10 privacy settings setup helps you disable Windows services and programs that track your activities and collect your usage data.

5. DoNotSpy10

This allows several tweaks that let you track and access your data. A word of caution for this, however. It comes with a 3rd party offer, so download at your own risk.

6. O&O Shutup10

You can probably guess what it does by checking out its name – it tells Windows 10 to respect your privacy. Additionally, this portable tool lets you tweak privacy settings.

7. Destroy Windows Spying

This is an open source tool that allows you to get rid of Windows 10 apps that leak data, remove telemetry, block IP addresses, disable Windows Defender & Windows Updates, etc.

8. Disable Win Tracking

It provides some simple tweaks to disable tracking in Windows 10.

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9. Phrozensoft Windows Privacy Tweaker

The name is a giveaway: this tool lets you easily change all your Privacy Settings in Windows 10 to its optimum safety levels. This is achieved by letting you disable some Registry settings, Scheduled tasks, Windows Services, and more. Activate it and you will find yourself with no issues about your privacy and offline safety.

10. W10Privacy

This possible inclusion to your Windows 10 privacy settings setup is a simple tool that allows you to disable some Services, prevent app access and tighten your privacy settings.

11. BlackBird Privacy Tweaker

This tool is specifically designed for Windows 10, and is utilised to disable telemetry and enhance privacy.

12. Win.Privacy

This helps you address privacy concerns and disable Telemetry services of your computer.

13. Private Win10

also known as Private WinTen, this is an Advanced Privacy Tool for Windows 10.

14. Debotnet

This tool is a free portable one that can help end-users keep personal data private, and also offer changes to streamline Windows 10.

15. Spydish

As the name suggests, this final potential tool for your Windows 10 privacy settings setup will help you check and tweak Windows 10 privacy settings.

As with every freeware installation done on your device, be careful of any third-party offers. Additionally, make sure to create a system restore point before altering any settings on your Windows.

If Freeware Tools Don’t Cut It, You Can Always Go For Pentesting

Downloading freeware for your Windows 10 privacy settings setup might be good for your personal device. However, what if it’s an enterprise-wide system we are talking about? Penetration testing, aka pentesting or ethical hacking, is an excellent way to keep your operating systems, applications, and services in check.

By allowing a simulated cyber attack on your system on a regular basis (depending on your risk appetite), you are keeping your organisation’s privacy in tiptop shape, and your security free from possible vulnerabilities. Check out how Privacy Ninja can help you avoid data incidents that may put your reputation and reliability at stake. To learn more about this service, get started here.