The default Windows 10 settings can compromise your privacy, leaving your private data in the hands of Microsoft and malicious third parties.
Here are nine changes you should make to your Windows 10 privacy settings:
- Use a VPN to encrypt your browsing activity
- Turn off Activity History
- Limit Diagnostic Feedback and delete data
- Turn off Targeted Advertising
- Remove camera access
- Remove microphone access
- Control Contact Access
- Turn off lock screen notifications
- Turn off location tracking
This first point is overarching because regardless of the privacy settings you adjust, you need a VPN to encrypt your traffic and hide your identity.
From years of experience with VPNs, we recommend Surfshark — it’s cheap, fast and boasts many security features, including AES encryption and an ad, tracker, and malware blocker.
Surfshark
Read this article to discover easy-to-follow Windows 10 privacy settings to turn off.
Although Microsoft plans to phase out Windows 10 (Win10) by 2025, the operating system is one of the most used worldwide. It’s faster than previous Windows versions and packs security features to prevent viruses and malware. However, Windows 10’s default privacy settings leave much to be desired.
Chief among the privacy concerns is that Windows 10 gathers more information on users than necessary. Plus, it tracks users across multiple devices.
Our privacy experts have used Windows 10 since its launch and have discovered the best ways to protect your privacy. We’ll reveal all those tips in this article, but the first step in privacy protection — no matter your operating system — is using a VPN. A premium VPN assigns you an anonymous IP address and secures your internet connection with 256-bit AES encryption.
But first, let’s highlight the reasons for the privacy issues on Windows 10.
Why Windows 10 Is a Privacy Disaster
You should be concerned about your privacy when using Windows 10 because it collects too much user information. Here’s a snapshot of the main details Microsoft collects about you:
- Activity history: This includes how and when you use apps and services on Windows 10, websites you browse on Microsoft Edge, device activity, and keystrokes.
- Diagnostic data: This covers details about your device health, troubleshooting reports and crash reports.
- Location data: Windows 10 uses your device to determine your precise location and movements.
- Speech/voice clips: When activated, Windows 10 can record your voice clips which Microsoft workers and vendors will review.
Most of this data collection is used to create an advertising ID, enabling Microsoft to give you “tailored experiences.” In other words, you’ll see ads related to your interest. However, considering that Microsoft has been mired in data breaches, the privacy trade-off might not be worth it.
Here are some privacy controversies Microsoft has faced over the years from our news section:
- Microsoft Exchange Servers Breached in Novel OAuth Attacks
- Hackers Claim They Breached Microsoft, Leak 37GB of Source Code
- Microsoft Exposes 250 Million CSS Records in this Latest Security Breach
How to Ensure Windows 10 Privacy
Below, we walk through proven ways to protect your privacy while using Windows 10. We’ve added straightforward step-by-step guides to help you implement the tips.
1. Use a VPN to encrypt your browsing activity
Short for virtual private networks, a VPN is a must-have tool in your privacy toolkit, not just for a Windows desktop but for every operating system.
The best VPNs use military-grade AES encryption to encrypt your internet traffic, keeping hackers and eavesdroppers at bay. Even if malicious actors get access to your data, they’ll only see gibberish. A VPN gives you a new IP address, allowing you to use the internet anonymously.
We recommend using a VPN whenever browsing on Windows 10, especially if you’re connected to public WiFi. That’s because third parties can track you through an open WiFi connection, or one with weak, publicly available passwords.
While there are numerous VPNs on the market, choose Surfshark VPN. It’s one of the cheapest VPNs yet boasts excellent security and privacy features. This includes AES-256 encryption, a strict no-logs policy, secure protocols, and an ad, tracker and malware blocker.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
If you’d rather learn more about Surfshark first, you can also consult our full Surfshark review.
How to set up a VPN on Windows 10
Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing a VPN on Windows 10:
- Visit the VPN’s website and download the Windows app. You’ll need to create an account, but with Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee, you can give it a run for free.
- Open the VPN app, log in, and connect to a VPN server. Most VPNs have a large power button on their home screen; clicking on it will connect you to the best server.
- Open your browser and start using the internet.
If the VPN you choose doesn’t have an app for Windows, you can connect the VPN to Windows directly. We’ve outlined the steps to do that in our article “Setting Up a VPN Connection on Windows 10.”
2. Turn off Activity History
To prevent Windows 10 from keeping logs of your browsing history and use of apps, do the following:
- Click on the Windows Start button.
- Click to open your Windows settings. It’s the gear button just above the power button. You can also find “Settings” by typing it into the Windows search box.
- Click on the “Privacy” tab.
- Click on “Activity History” and uncheck the boxes by “Store my activity history on this device” and “Send my activity history to Microsoft.” Click “Clear” under “Clear Activity History” to remove all traces of your previous activity.
3. Limit Diagnostic Feedback and delete data
Microsoft claims it needs to access diagnostic data to keep Windows 10 secure and updated and improve its services. For that reason, you’ll have to send a minimum amount of data to the company. Sadly, Microsoft doesn’t let you turn off diagnostic feedback completely. However, you can stop your device from sending unnecessary information.
- Go to “Start,” “Settings,” and “Privacy.”
- Click on “Diagnostics & feedback.”
- Select “Required diagnostic data.”
- If you choose to send optional diagnostic data instead, be sure to toggle the button under “Improve inking and typing” off.
- If you want to remove all diagnostic data that Microsoft has collected from your device, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click ” Delete” under “Delete diagnostic data.”
4. Turn off Targeted Advertising
One of Microsoft’s income streams is targeted advertising. As we already mentioned, when you use Windows 10, Microsoft creates an advertising ID to track your behavior and interests. This profile is eventually sold to advertisers, and you never know where it might end up.
You can use the best ad blockers, but if you want to stop Microsoft’s targeted ads natively, follow the steps below:
- Go to “Start,” “Settings,” “Privacy,” and then “General.”
- Move the slider to “off.”
It’s worth mentioning that a VPN with an ad blocker can stop ads and trackers from ruining your browsing experience. Again, Surfshark is an excellent choice, since it has an ad blocker.
5. Remove camera access
Ever heard of the term “camfecting?” It’s another name for camera hacking, which has become common in today’s ever-evolving cybercrime landscape.
Rogue characters can access your Windows 10 webcam, which they often use to monitor users often for identity theft or even sextortion.
One of the ways hackers access computer webcams is to install an app remotely on your device and monitor your device remotely. Thankfully, on Windows 10, you can decide which apps access your camera. We recommend periodically checking the apps that have access and removing the ones that don’t need it.
Here are the steps to follow to turn off camera access:
- Go to “Start,” “Settings,” and then “Privacy.”
- On the right-hand side of your screen, click “Camera” under “App permissions.”
- If you want to stop all the apps, including Microsoft apps and desktop apps, from accessing the camera, click “Change” under “Allow Access to the camera on this device.” Toggle the button to “off.”
- You can permit specific app access to the camera but block others. To do that, scroll down, find the specific apps you want to block, and toggle the on or off button next to them.
- At the bottom of the page, Windows 10 has another setting to allow or disallow desktop apps from accessing your camera. Microsoft doesn’t clarify which apps it will block, but it’s worth turning off if you want absolute privacy.
This is one of the key steps to preventing camera hacking. Other webcam protection tips include covering your camera, updating your operating system, and using antivirus software to thwart phishing attacks.
In our years of testing antivirus software, Norton antivirus has been the standout option, thanks to its top-notch malware detection ability and easy-to-use apps. You can check out our full Norton 360 review or click the link below to visit their website.
6. Remove microphone access
Microphone hacking is not as common as camera hacking, but as long as the possibility is there, you should take steps to prevent it. Anyone who gets access to your microphone can monitor and listen in on your conversations.
The steps to change your microphone access is similar to changing your camera settings.
- Open “Start,” “Settings,” and then “Privacy.”
- Under “App permissions,” click “Microphone.”
- Click “Change” under “Allow access to the microphone on this device” and toggle the button off. This will prevent all apps from accessing your microphone.
- To prevent individual apps from accessing the microphone, scroll down and select the apps you want to access the microphone or otherwise.
Think about whether the app might need the microphone to work before revoking access. For instance, Skype might need the microphone, while Microsoft Photos likely doesn’t need it.
7. Control Contact Access
The contacts in your Microsoft account synced across different devices could be at the mercy of third parties in Windows 10. Here’s how to ensure no one gets access to your Microsoft contacts and uses them for untoward reasons:
- Go to “Start,” “Settings,” and then “Privacy.”
- Click “Contacts” under “App permissions.”
- To stop the device and all apps from accessing your contact, toggle the slider under “Allow apps to access your contacts” to off.
- Alternatively, move further down the page and move the slider beside every app on or off to control access.
8. Turn off lock screen notifications
Restricting screen notifications is another way to protect your privacy and avoid interruptions while using your device.
As you may have already guessed, you can do that in the same way as the others above.
- Go to “Start,” “Settings,” and “Privacy.”
- Click on “Notifications” under “Apps and permissions.”
- Toggle the button under “Allow apps to access your notifications” off.
9. Turn off location tracking
Location settings are some of the most intrusive invasions of your privacy. While other privacy intrusions track your activity online, location data tracks you even offline. Location services give Windows 10 access to information about what you do when you aren’t using your computer.
Visit a gynecologist in a new, regular pattern, and Microsoft can analyze the information to predict you are pregnant. Microsoft may know about your pregnancy before you tell even those closest to you.
Plus, your location is one of the most important details that hackers look out for. It allows them to trace you and undertake their malicious activities.
To adjust your location settings, do the following:
- Go to “Start,” “Settings,” and “Privacy.”
- Under app permissions, click “Location.” This will take you to the location page.
- Click “Change” under “Allow access to location on this device” and move the slider to “off.” This will prevent all apps and services from accessing your location.
- If you don’t want to block your locations system-wide, you can determine which Windows apps will access your location or otherwise. To do that, scroll down the location page and move the slider beside the apps on or off.
- Other available location options include setting a default location for your PC, geofencing, and clearing your location history.
App Permissions: What Windows 10 Privacy Settings Should I Turn Off?
By now, you’d have noticed that most of the changes follow the same format. As a result, we won’t bore you with repetitive steps.
Rather, here are the 22 Windows 10 privacy settings you can change or toggle under app permissions:
- Location
- Camera
- Microphone
- Voice activation
- Notifications
- Account info
- Contacts
- Calendar
- Phone calls
- Call history
- Tasks
- Messaging
- Radios
- Other devices
- Background apps
- App diagnostics
- Automatic file downloads
- Documents
- Pictures
- Videos
- File system
Changing any of these settings follows the same process as the examples we showed above.
Using the Microsoft privacy dashboard
Aside from making changes to the privacy settings of your Windows 10 device, you can also view and erase the data Microsoft has on you. You can do this through the privacy dashboard.
Follow these steps to use your privacy dashboard:
- Log into your Microsoft account and click on “Privacy.”
- Scroll to “Manage your activity data.” Click the drop-down button beside the information you want to view. You can either download the data or erase it.
Final Thoughts on Windows 10 Privacy Settings
Changing your privacy settings in Windows 10 is a simple process. Click the start button, head to “Settings,” and select “Privacy.”
This will take you to the Windows 10 Privacy tab, where you can tweak various privacy settings, including your location, camera, microphone, contacts, and calls.
Note that changing your privacy settings might affect the function of some apps and features. Understand the potential issues before turning off each privacy setting. If you’re not sure about the extent of the impact, contact the app’s customer service.
You can also upgrade to Windows 11, which seems to have more security and privacy features. We put together a complete Windows 11 guide to get you started.
If you want to change your privacy settings on other devices, here are some helpful articles:
- Tips for Changing Your Mac Privacy Settings
- Ways to Change Your iPad and iPhone Privacy Settings
- How to Configure Your Router for Maximum Security and Privacy
Whatever you do, be sure that you use a VPN to safeguard your device and internet traffic. As a quick reminder, Surfshark does the job better than most VPNs.
If you still have questions about what Windows 10 privacy settings to change, we’re here to help. We compiled the most common questions about Windows 10 privacy. Click on a question to reveal the answer.
To protect your privacy on Windows 10, turn off app access to your location, contacts, microphone, contacts, camera, and targeted advertising.
This will reduce the chances of any third party accessing your data. Regardless of the privacy settings you change, you need a secure VPN service to encrypt your traffic and hide your identity.
To make Windows 10 secure and private, limit which apps have access to your location, camera, contacts, among others.
In addition, use a VPN to encrypt and anonymize your traffic. This is particularly vital if you’re using public Wi-Fi. Read our article on what Windows 10 privacy settings to change.
Windows 10 tracks virtually everything you do on the operating system, including location, browsing history, apps you use, your typing patterns, and speech.
You can change most of these privacy settings by going to Windows Start, Settings, and Privacy. We’ve explained the steps to changing these setting in our article on Windows privacy settings.
