After you successfully Install Windows 10 from Microsoft and open Edge browser to do some searches, you'll be surprised to know that Bing already knows your Exact Location.

That's not all; You will also notice that all the banner ads are targeted toward your "likes" and "hobbies" even the ones nobody knows about.

You will notice again when you launch Cortana to ask what’s going on that she already knows your name and every other thing about you!

That's a bit shocking to be honest but truth is that you gave Windows 10 access to all your private information by accepting their privacy statement during Windows 10 installation. Sadly only a few people read ToS these days before accepting whatever it says.

The whole privacy statement of using Microsoft windows 10 is not something that I can list here so I am going to give you the summary of what you agreed to when you clicked the accept button.

By accepting the windows10 privacy statement, you agreed to allow Microsoft to use your personal information to:

1: To Operate Their Business and Provide (including improving and personalizing) The Services They Offer. What Microsoft is saying here is that Windows applications require your personal information in order to operate. Eg, Apps like map need your location to function properly. Cortana also uses your location and other personal information to work effectively and the only known way to stop it is to never use Cortana all.

Microsoft also collects your data to understand why apps crash in order to improve them. To achieve this means tracking your usage of these applications.

Here's an example to understand what I am driving at.

Let's assume Microsoft Office crashes while you are using it, Microsoft will need to see the very document that was open during the crash to be able to know what caused the crash and how to fix it.

2: To Send Communications, Including Promotional Communications: In other to send communications, Microsoft gathers your contact information ensure it can reach you should any of its primary means of communication fail.

It can be recalled that Microsoft disclosed recently in a privacy statement that it collects the phone numbers, emails, and mailing address of its users. They company said in that statement that it uses these informations mainly to send promotions.

Microsoft made this move because it wants you as a loyal customer but the good news is that these option can be disabled at any time. We will talk about that later.

3. To Display Advertising: This is a normal internet procedure to track users in other to sell ads. Google and Facebook both do it to generate revenue from ads and they also sell your demographic information to third-party advertisers but Microsoft goes a step further to run its interest-based advertising.

Microsoft gives every user a special advertising ID to make things easier. They also allow users to opt-out of interest-based ads by unchecking it in the settings but the truth and at same time bad news is that opting-out does not stop or minimize data collection nor does it result in less ads.

That is the summary of the Privacy Statement You agreed to while installing Windows 10, Now Let's go to how you can deny Microsoft Access To Your Personal Information.

Windows 10 Security Settings

Disable Tracking

Go to your privacy settings. Then from the Privacy menu you can decide what your computer does with the information from your location, microphone, camera etc.

Also, while in the privacy menu, look for Feedback & Diagnostics and change the Frequency to “never” and Diagnostic and Usage Data to “basic.” changing these two settings will help prevent Microsoft from gathering some random information.

Tame Edge To Protect Your Browser History

Microsoft's new browser Edge sends your Internet browsing history to Microsoft in order to “ help Cortana personalize your experience.”

this feature can be turned off by clicking on the ellipsis button in the top right corner of Edge, then go to Settings > Advanced Settings > View Advanced Settings, and turn off “Have Cortana Assist Me in Microsoft Edge.” that is under the Privacy Services.

Look for use page prediction to speed up browsing, improve reading and make my over all experience better" in the Privacy and Services Menu and turn it off.

Caution Cortana Seriously

Cortana is one of the most exciting parts of Windows 10. She is intelligent and accurate but she acts like a lady most times; too nosy and quite intrusive.

The company always brag about her ability to study and learn about you and create a more personalized experience, but they would never tell you what information Cortana gathers about you in other to do this.

Cortana keeps tracks of all your information, it records all your locations, contacts, speech and handwriting data etc and all your interactions with her are stored in the cloud. She never forgets.

Microsoft did this to make Windows 10 more personalized but that's just too creepy and I think Microsoft knows that too, that's why there's an option that allows you to clear all the interest data that Cortana and Bing know about you.

Don't Create Microsoft Account:

This is the most effective way to keep these guys off your personal information.

Skipping the option to create Microsoft account will store your activity and information in your computer, while having an account will create a link for Microsoft to put all of the data it gathers back to your identity.

That's all for now. Read all Microsoft's Privacy Statement here: www.microsoft.com/­en-us/-privacystatement/default.aspx



Source: http://www.naijatecharena.com/important-windows-10-security-settings-that-you-need-to-know/

owk

The Cortana is what is pushing me to upgrade my os. I just want to have an experience of her.