• Do not use Express Settings. Hit Customize, and make sure everything is turned off.
  


• It's strongly preferred that you use a local account with Windows 10.
  

• Head to Settings > Privacy, and disable everything, unless there are some things you really need.
  


• While within the Privacy page, go to Feedback, select Never in the first box, and Basic in the second box.
  


• Head to Settings > Update and Security > Advanced Options > Choose how updates are delivered, and turn the first switch off.
  


• Disable Cortana by clicking the Search bar/icon.
  


• (Optional) Disable web search in Search by going to Settings, and turning off Search online and include web results.
  


• Change the name of your PC by going to Start (or hitting the Windows key), typing About PC, and clicking Rename PC.
  

• Open up the Command Prompt by launching cmd as an administrator, and enter the following:
  sc delete DiagTrack
  sc delete dmwappushservice
  echo "" > C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl
  


• FOR PRO AND ENTERPRISE USERS:
  


• Open up the Group Policy Editor by launching gpedit.msc as an administrator. Go through Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds. Double click Telemetry, hit Disabled, then apply. NOTE: This only truly works in the Enterprise edition, but the final step provides a decent enough workaround for Pro users.
  


• While still in the Group Policy Editor, go through Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive, double click Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage, hit Enabled, then apply.
  


• While still in the Group Policy Editor, go through Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender, double click Turn Off Windows Defender, hit Enabled, then apply.
  


• FOR HOME etc. USERS:
  


• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection, find the key 'AllowTelemetry' and put it on 0. (also check HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\)
  


• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive, find the key 'DisableFileSyncNGSC' and put it on 1. (also check HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\)
  


• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender, find the key 'DisableAntiSpyware' and put it on 1. (also check HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\)
  


• FOR ALL VERSIONS AGAIN:
  


• Open up the Registry Editor by launching regedit as an administrator. Go through
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection, select AllowTelemetry, change its value to 0, then apply.
  


• First, download the Take Ownership tweak and enable it. Then, head to the Hosts File by going through C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc, take ownership of the hosts file, and add all of the IPs from this page into the file.
  

• Replace Microsoft Edge/Internet Explorer with Firefox, Chromium, or any forks/variations of them.
  


• Replace Windows Media Player with VLC or MPC-HC
  


• Replace Groove Music with Foobar2000, Winamp, or MusicBee.
  


• Replace Photos/Windows Photo Viewer with ImageGlass or IrfanView.
  

(Jul 31, 2015 11:27 AM)webdev77 Wrote:  You should explain what some of this stuff does. It's not a good idea to follow random unexplained instructions.

(Jul 31, 2015 11:42 AM)Skorn Virus Wrote:  Lol I hope this is a joke... You guys are so paranoid over nothing.

(Jul 31, 2015 11:48 AM)The-One Wrote:  Oh sure, I'd like to be keylogged by the biggest company in the world who will probably sell the data to anyone who asks for it.

(Jul 31, 2015 11:51 AM)zасh Wrote:  If you're that paranoid go reinstall windows 7, or get linux.

I highly doubt Microsoft would be dumb enough to sell it keylogs..
And I'm pretty sure that 'keylogger' was only in place during
the trial installs, more than sure it's removed in the release version.

(Jul 31, 2015 11:53 AM)Skorn Virus Wrote:  Lol because you are such a huge hacker than being tracked by MS is going to land you into some big trouble? RIGGGGGHT..

There not going to report you messing around in Visual studio or MS paint. Or most certainly not you watching porn.. 🤣

*Hands you tin foil hat

(Jul 31, 2015 11:51 AM)zасh Wrote:  If you're that paranoid go reinstall windows 7, or get linux.

I highly doubt Microsoft would be dumb enough to sell it keylogs..
And I'm pretty sure that 'keylogger' was only in place during
the trial installs, more than sure it's removed in the release version.

(Jul 31, 2015 11:51 AM)zасh Wrote:  If you're that paranoid go reinstall windows 7, or get linux.

I highly doubt Microsoft would be dumb enough to sell it keylogs..
And I'm pretty sure that 'keylogger' was only in place during
the trial installs, more than sure it's removed in the release version.

(Jul 31, 2015 11:53 AM)The-One Wrote:  The files and services weren't removed in the release version, so yes, it is still there.

---

Its actually called privacy. I don't force you to take the following steps, its a choice. I don't want people to have random pictures and voice recordings let alone keystroke logs of me, if you do, than that's fine.

(Jul 31, 2015 11:56 AM)Adverse Wrote:  Did you not read the settings? "Send typing and inking data to Microsoft to improve the recognition and suggestion platform"