Top 9 Privacy Tweaks to Secure Your Windows PC

Ah, Windows! The operating system that feels like a warm cup of coffee—ubiquitous, comforting, and occasionally spills all over your privacy. While Windows is designed to gather mountains of data to "enhance" your user experience, the trade-off is often your privacy. Thankfully, you can take back some control with a few critical tweaks. Whether you're a privacy warrior or just a bit squeamish about the idea of personalized ads following you around, this guide unveils nine key settings to help you lock down your Windows PC tighter than an NSA vault. Let’s dive in!

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1. Disable Location Services​

Did you know that Windows is tracking your location? While location services can be genuinely useful—like for weather apps or maps—allowing a slew of other apps access to your whereabouts is a bit... unsettling. Here's how you can tell these apps to mind their own business:
Steps to Disable:

• Go to Settings > Privacy & security > App permissions > Location.
• Toggle Location services off entirely, or manage permissions for specific apps.

Now, if you're someone who thinks your laptop doesn’t need to know if you’re in Brooklyn one minute and Miami the next, this one’s a no-brainer.

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2. Turn Off Ad Tracking​

Every Windows user is assigned an Advertiser ID. Think of it as your personalized bar code, helping Microsoft serve you ads based on your online activity. Cool for targeted deals? Maybe. Creepy? Definitely.
Steps to Opt-Out:

• Open Settings > Privacy & security > Windows permissions > General.
• Toggle off "Let apps show me personalized ads using my advertising ID."

You’ll still see ads (sorry, it’s not magic), but they won't be tailored to your every search, sneeze, and scroll.

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3. Disable Activity History​

Activity History logs everything—apps you've opened, files you've viewed, websites you’ve visited. It’s like keeping a diary of your digital life, except you didn’t sign up for it. Here’s how to slam that diary shut:
Steps to Disable:

• Head to Settings > Privacy & security > Activity History.
• Turn off "Store my activity history on this device."
• For bonus points, hit the Clear history button to remove existing records.

You’re officially off the radar (kind of).

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4. Disable Search History and Cloud Search Synced Results​

Ever notice how searching something in Windows brings up suggestions from the web or your OneDrive? That’s because Windows intertwines local and cloud search functionality like they’re long-lost lovers. If you’re not cool with that, set them straight:
Steps to Stop Search Spying:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Search permissions.
2. Under Cloud content search, turn both toggles off.
3. Turn off Search History on this device, and click "Clear device search history" for a fresh start.

You'll still get local search results but without the cloud creepiness.

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5. Restrict Diagnostic Data​

Diagnostic data is Microsoft’s way of knowing the intimate details of your life—how you use features, which errors you encounter, and more. It’s like an unsolicited surveillance roommate. Thankfully, you can downgrade the extent of these diagnostics:
Steps to Restrict:

• Navigate to Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback.
• Turn off Send optional diagnostic data.

This doesn’t break your systems; Windows will still work just fine. You’re just telling Microsoft to get out of your business.

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6. Disable Online Speech Recognition​

Cortana may have left the building, but speech recognition tools still lurk around your operating system. Unless apps like voice typing are part of your daily life, silencing the system’s ability to "listen" is advisable.
Steps to Turn Off:

• Head to Settings > Privacy & security > Speech.
• Toggle Online speech recognition to off.

You can still use basic voice recognition features locally.

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7. Disable Shared Experiences​

Microsoft loves to turn your devices into one big, happy family by syncing your activities across them. It's like having a communal diary across your phone, laptop, and tablet—great for some, awkward for others. If you're in the latter camp:
Steps to Disable:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings > Share across devices.
• Select Off.

Your data is now a solo act and won’t be swiping left and right across devices.

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8. Manage Camera and Microphone Permissions​

Allowing every Tom, Dick, and shady app developer to access your camera or mic? Hard pass. These are the most sensitive access points to your life, so scrutinizing permissions is crucial.
Steps to Review Permissions:

• Jump to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera (repeat for Microphone).
• Review which apps have access and toggle them off for those that don't need it.

No more worries about being accidentally recorded while talking to your cat.

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9. Take Control with the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard​

Even after tweaking settings locally, Microsoft’s servers might be hoarding your data. Enter the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard, a browser-based tool that lets you explore, manage, and delete clouds of data tied to your account.
How to Use It:

1. Visit Microsoft Privacy Dashboard in your browser.
2. Sign in using your Microsoft account credentials.
3. Wipe away data related to your location, search, voice, and more.

Make this part of your routine privacy hygiene, and suddenly, those concerning data trails don’t seem so daunting anymore.

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Why Bother with Privacy Settings?​

Sure, all this might seem like a chore. After all, Microsoft and other tech giants won’t technically "harm" you with your data. But understand this: tracking builds a powerful profile of your habits, preferences, and even weaknesses. Why let your operating system—and by extension, advertisers, hackers, or worse—know more about you than your family does?

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Quick Recap for the Cliff-Note Fans:​

Here's the lowdown:

1. Location Services: Turn them off unless needed.
2. Ad Tracking: Disable your Advertiser ID.
3. Activity History: Cut down your system's memory lane.
4. Cloud Search Sync: Keep searches local.
5. Diagnostics: Opt out of extra data collection.
6. Speech Recognition: Disable online features.
7. Shared Experiences: Break the sync loop.
8. App Permission Reviews: Shut off unnecessary camera/mic access.
9. Microsoft Privacy Dashboard: Audit and clean cloud data periodically.

These tips are about keeping you in control of your desktop experience. Microsoft may hand out useful tools, but that doesn’t mean it gets to collect the toll fee of your personal data.
So, what are you waiting for? Dive into your privacy settings now and give Big Brother a (polite) shove out the door! Have thoughts, questions, or tweaks I missed? Share below—I’m all ears!

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Source: MakeUseOf 9 Windows Privacy Settings You Should Change Right Now