Spybot Anti-Beacon was initially designed to address the privacy concerns of users of Windows 10. They do not want to have information about their PC usage sent to Microsoft by various tracking (telemetry) features. It has since been modified to block similar tracking functionality in the Windows 7 to 8.1 operating systems. It’s simple to use and free of charge, and will also be part of a future Spybot – Search & Destroy.
Simply clicking on ‘Customize’ on the main screen of Anti-Beacon will give you a choice to select your level of privacy. There are various protection presets available: ‘None’ allows all tracking options, and ‘Full’ will disable all known tracking features included in Microsoft’s operating systems. ‘Recommended’ is the setting we prefer. But you may set any single option to permitted or blocked by yourself. Then your individual immunization is established.
It is easy to undo changes or set another level by choosing ‘Customize’ and the new level again. You may also have Anti-Beacon check your protection at every Windows start.
If you want to provide any feedback on Anti-Beacon, please don’t hesitate to send an email to our support or visit our forum and look for Anti-Beacon.
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O Spybot Anti-Beacon vem em duas opções: como uma instalação padrão ou como uma Edição Portátil compatível com PortableApps.
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Immunizers
Acer User Experience Improvement ProgramLet's read what Acer states about the Acer User Experience (AUE) Improvement Program does:
What Acer does not tell is which data exactly is collected and transmitted, which would be essential for any data collection. We recommend to disable this immediately if it was pre-installed by Acer on your computer. |
AdjustAdjust is an app analytics platform. They advertise their product for example with how this company used it:
It is used in popular software like Avira Antivirus or G-DATA Internet Security Light, rendering them Tracking Software or Spyware. |
Adobe MarketoQuoting Adobe:
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Apple TelemetryThis immunizer blocks a range of telemetry services from Apple products. While Apple telemetry can usually be disabled, some people feel better with this additional layer of stopping it. |
AppsflyerAppsflyer is a marketing analytics platform according to their own website:
It has been added because we encountered apps that do not inform the user about the use of AppsFlyer. Since any contacts to third parties can be regarded as sharing PII (Personally Identifiable Information) in the European Union (IP addresses are PII), software using third party web servers can be regarded as tracking, and without proper information, consent and control, as Spyware. |
Avast TelemetryAVG Antivirus is an antivirus application that uses tracking of user interactions. It uses Avast services for this tracking as well as its own. AVG Antivirus has an installer that points at an End User License Agreement. Before the user is able to read this, it has already started tracking the user. The End User License Agreement does not even allow copy and paste to save selected information for a later point, but is available online as well. Usage behaviour tracking is described as "information about your [...] use of Solutions".
Is it spyware?We use the ASCs definition of Tracking Software and Spyware:
Since the term adequate is not well defined in the ASCs context, we use both the European GDPR and compare Information, Consent and Control to what is standard for Windows itself.
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AVG TelemetryAVG Antivirus is an antivirus application that uses tracking of user interactions. AVG Antivirus has an installer that points at an End User License Agreement. Before the user is able to read this, it has already started tracking the user. The End User License Agreement does not even allow copy and paste to save selected information for a later point, but is available online as well. Usage behaviour tracking is described as "information about your [...] use of Solutions".
Is it spyware?We use the ASCs definition of Tracking Software and Spyware:
Since the term adequate is not well defined in the ASCs context, we use both the European GDPR and compare Information, Consent and Control to what is standard for Windows itself.
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AvocetAvocet is an advertisement network. It has been added because we encountered apps that do not inform the user about the use of Avocet. Since any contacts to third parties can be regarded as sharing PII (Personally Identifiable Information) in the European Union (IP addresses are PII), software using third party web servers can be regarded as tracking, and without proper information, consent and control, as spyware. |
Blizzard Battle.Net TelemetryBlizzard Games like World of Warcraft have a dedicated telemetry server they contact. The file at Battle.net/Telemetry/Policies (location depends on OS, on Windows it's in %ProgramData%, on macOS it's in /Users/Shared/) gives a hint at the types of telemetry events that might be tracked, listing the following categories:
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CloudBees RollOut TelemetryCloudBees allows publishers to track rollout of software:
While in itself this is a useful feature, tracking through third party services requires information to the user. CloudBees was added because it was seen in use without user information. |
COMODO Internet Security TelemetryCOMODO Internet Security installs a scheduled task for telemetry. Users are not aware of this kind of tracking (Source). |
Dell SmartByte TelemetrySmartByte is a service intended to boost network speed while streaming on Dell computers. It sometimes comes preinstalled and users do not feel notified about it's telemetry, which caused it to be targeted by this immunizer. |
Epic Games TelemetryThis telemetry service was seen in what seems like offline games (for example Civilization V or VI) to track usage. |
FiksuFiksu was found to be used, among other trackers, by the password manager LastPass, on Android. |
Firebase CrashlyticsFirebase Crashlytics is a platform that allows developers to track crashes:
Our issue with Crashlytics is that it is often implemented to track more, often tracking and submitting even every application start:
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GOG (Good Old Games) TelemetryGood Old Games, a store for DRM free games, offers a dedicated client to manage a customers collection of games. Their product page even advertises:
At the same time, there are plenty of connections to insights-collector.gog.com, without information on what is done with this data. The option to remove this data with a single click was not found at the time of adding this immunizer. |
Google AnalyticsGoogle Analytics is an analytics platform used by many mobile and desktop apps. It has been added because we encountered apps that do not inform the user about its use. Since any contacts to third parties can be regarded as sharing PII (Personally Identifiable Information) in the European Union (IP addresses are PII), software using third party web servers can be regarded as tracking, and without proper information, consent and control, as Spyware. |
Google Chrome TelemetryGoogle Chrome can send anonymous (and non-anonymous) usage statistics and crashed-related data to Google. Quoting Google, they include:
This immunizer sets global group policies to block these. |
HockeyAppHockeyApp is, among other things, an analytics platform:
HockeyApp is transitioning into Microsofts newer App Center. It has been since we've seen this analytics platform used without user information, consent or control, e.g. by BitDefender security solutions, rendering them Spyware. |
Hotjar.com Behavior AnalyticsQuoting Hotjar:
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HP CEEmentHP CEEment is a telemetry module that is part of HP software. HP itself describes CEEment as:
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HP Touchpoint AnalyticsHP Touchpoint Analytics is a telemetry module pre-installed on HP devices. Reports about this can for example be found on ComputerWorld: HP stealthily installs new spyware called HP Touchpoint Analytics Client. Details on collected data can be found at this AskWoody post and include lists of installed hard- and software.
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Intel Computing Improvement ProgramUsing the Intel Computing Improvement Program, you share a lot of personal information with Intel. Here is an excerpt from their Privacy Policy, showing what kind of data gets collected and transmitted.
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Lavasoft Flow TelemetryAdAware Free is a antivirus/antimalware application that uses tracking of user interactions. Transparency of this tracking is lacking. The installer submits every page change of its user interface to a Lavasoft server, including installation and machine identification numbers and further system information. Their privacy policy does not mention this transmission of data. Referencing other AdAware software, the Privacy Policy admits to collect data during installation, but tries to describe the IP address as not tracing back to a user. Contrary to that, in the European Union, IP addresses are recognized as Personally Identifiable Information. Is it spyware?We use the ASCs definition of Tracking Software and Spyware:
Since the term adequate is not well defined in the ASCs context, we use both the European GDPR and compare Information, Consent and Control to what is standard for Windows itself.
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Lenovo Customer Feedback ProgramLenovo Customer Feedback Program can be preinstalled on Lenovo systems and communicates telemetry data over the Internet. Lenovo itself describes this telemetry:
It can be argued that transmitting data always involves IP addresses, which are regarded as PII by many legislations. |
Lenovo Experience ImprovementLenovo Experience Improvement collects telemetry data on Lenovo systems. The website Should I Remove It? describes it as:
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LibreOffice TelemetryLibreOffice has it's telemetry disabled by default currently, but is able to submit telemetry data to The Document Foundation when set up to do so. Use this immunizer to change its state from here instead of inside LibreOffice. |
LogMeIn Telemetry |
Malwarebytes TelemetryMalwarebytes is a antivirus/antimalware application that uses tracking of user interactions. Transparency of this tracking is mediocre. There is no explicit information during installation, but the user is able to opt-out in Malwarebytes' Settings. The help describes the collected data insufficiently:
Contrary to this general information, many clicks within the software are transmitted, including installation and machine identification numbers. Their Privacy Policy is at least pointing out behaviour tracking, though the full list is missing:
This immunizer was for Malwarebytes for Windows. Malwarebytes for MacOS shares this information with third party Crashlytics. Is it spyware?We use the ASCs definition of Tracking Software and Spyware:
Since the term adequate is not well defined in the ASCs context, we use both the European GDPR and compare Information, Consent and Control to what is standard for Windows itself.
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McAfee TelemetryMcAfee Total Protection is an antivirus application that uses tracking of user interactions. The McAfee installer references a privacy policy while user behaviour tracking has already started to submit installer usage. It at least points at user behaviour tracking:
While the McAfee user interface boasts with headlines like My Privacy, there is no setting related to telemetry at all. Is it spyware?We use the ASCs definition of Tracking Software and Spyware:
Since the term adequate is not well defined in the ASCs context, we use both the European GDPR and compare Information, Consent and Control to what is standard for Windows itself.
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McAfee TelemetryMcAfee Total Protection is an antivirus application that uses tracking of user interactions. The McAfee installer references a privacy policy while user behaviour tracking has already started to submit installer usage. It at least points at user behaviour tracking:
While the McAfee user interface boasts with headlines like My Privacy, there is no setting related to telemetry at all. Is it spyware?We use the ASCs definition of Tracking Software and Spyware:
Since the term adequate is not well defined in the ASCs context, we use both the European GDPR and compare Information, Consent and Control to what is standard for Windows itself.
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Microsoft Active Protection Service (previously SpyNet)Now called Windows Defender Antivirus cloud protection, it includes key telemetry events. Microsoft describes it as:
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Microsoft BingThis immunizer blocks part of Windows' built in telemetry services by blocking IPs (Internet addresses) associated with the telemetry using the Windows Firewall. |
Microsoft BiometricsWindows supports biometric features like fingerprint scanners. You can disable Biometrics using this immunizer, if you feel unsafe about your biometric data on your computer. |
Microsoft Clipboard Cloud SharingWindows 10 October 2018 update (also called 1809) allows to synchronize your clipboard with the cloud to be able to access it from all machines you are logged into. While this can be a helpful feature for some, others use password managers to store sensible data, and use the clipboard to paste it into software or websites. We regard the cloud sharing of clipboard information to be an unnecessary risk. We recommend to use this protection. |
Microsoft CortanaCortana is Microsofts voice assistant. To be able to give you answers on your personal data, it needs access to it. If you do not intend to use Cortana, we recommend that you use this immunizer to disable it. |
Microsoft Cortana RestrictionsThis immunizer adds restrictions to Microsofts voice assistant Cortana, including for example blocked access to contacts. |
Microsoft Edge Do-Not-TrackThis immunizer forces the Microsoft Edge browser to communicate your wish to not be tracked to all visited websites. |
Microsoft Edge TelemetryDo you want to share your browsing history with Microsoft? Microsoft has a long policy describing what data it collects and stores:
eBook reading telemetry is also covered by Edge:
Even by default, basic diagnostic data would be transmitted. We recommend to disable this telemetry. |
Microsoft Map Auto-UpdateWindows 10 includes a Maps app, which sports an offline mode. To avoid the offline maps to be updated automatically without your consent, we recommend to disable auto updates. This will ensure no updates will take place on metered connections (where Windows does not recognize you're on such a connection) or while doing things that require a highly responsive Internet, like gaming. |
Microsoft Office 15 (2013) (via Group Policy)Microsoft Office 2013 (also called Office 15) includes telemetry options that collect a range of personal information, including:
You can use this immunizer to let Office know it should not collect or transmit telemetry data. |
Microsoft Office 15 (2013) (via Scheduled Task)Microsoft Office 2013 (also called Office 15) includes telemetry options that collect a range of personal information, including:
You can use this immunizer to disable the scheduled tasks that are involved in this telemetry. |
Microsoft Office 16 (2016) (via Group Policy)Microsoft Office 2016 (also called Office 16) includes telemetry options that collect a range of personal information, including:
You can use this immunizer to let Office know it should not collect or transmit telemetry data. |
Microsoft Office 16 (2016) (via Scheduled Task)Microsoft Office 2016 (also called Office 16) includes telemetry options that collect a range of personal information, including:
You can use this immunizer to disable the scheduled tasks that are involved in this telemetry. |
Microsoft Office 17 (2019)Microsoft Office 2019 (also called Office 17) includes telemetry options that collect a range of personal information, including:
You can use this immunizer to let Office know it should not collect or transmit telemetry data. |
Microsoft Office TelemetryMicrosoft Office includes telemetry options that collect a range of personal information, including:
You can use this immunizer to let Office know it should not collect or transmit telemetry data. |
Microsoft OneDrive (via Group Policy)OneDrive is Microsofts online storage that can be used like a local drive in Windows. If you do not use OneDrive, we recommend to use this immunizer to let Windows know you do not intend to use OneDrive. |
Microsoft OneDrive (via System Service)OneDrive is Microsofts online storage that can be used like a local drive in Windows. If you do not use OneDrive, we recommend to disable the OneDrive services. |
Microsoft Visual StudioUsers of Visual Studio might find unexpected Internet connections from the IDE, performed by Azure Application Insights. Microsoft describes it as:
The amount of monitoring is described as:
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Microsoft Windows Hard Disk Health TelemetryMicrosoft Window monitors the health of your hard disks as part of its telemetry. This causes your disks to spin up once per hour. To avoid this part of Windows' telemetry, you can use this immunizer. |
Microsoft Windows SpotlightWindows Spotlight shows information on the lockscreen (e.g. changing backgrounds), action center and in settings. To reduce communications were not necessary, we disable Spotlight in the places mentioned above when you select the maximum level. |
MixpanelMixpanel is an app analytics platform allowing to analyze user behaviour:
It is used in popular software like Avira Antivirus, rendering them Tracking Software or Spyware. |
MopubMopub is an advertisement network. It has been added because we encountered apps that do not inform the user about the use of Mopub. Since any contacts to third parties can be regarded as sharing PII (Personally Identifiable Information) in the European Union (IP addresses are PII), software using third party web servers can be regarded as tracking, and without proper information, consent and control, as Spyware. |
Mozilla Firefox Sponsored SitesTrackign done on new tabs in Firefox. Described by Mozilla as:
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Mozilla Firefox TelemetryMozilla Firefox can send a wide range of information to Mozilla in case of crashes and on a daily basis. To quote the official public wiki of the Mozilla project:
You can view the data Firefox would transmit by visiting about:telemetry within Firefox. This immunizer ensures that this transmission is disabled. |
Mozilla Firefox Telemetry (via Configuration)This will help to stop the telemetry in Mozilla Firefox by creating or updating the global Firefox configuration to not use telemetry. Mozilla publishes telemetry information it collects on its Telemetry portal, where the interested user can read about the information Mozilla collects during everyday use of the Firefox browser. |
Mozilla Firefox Telemetry (via Group Policy)Mozilla Firefox can send a wide range of information to Mozilla in case of crashes and on a daily basis. To quote the official public wiki of the Mozilla project:
You can view the data Firefox would transmit by visiting about:telemetry within Firefox. This immunizer ensures that this transmission is disabled. |
NVidia Telemetry Scheduled TaskThe Nvidia GeForce Experience includes a telemetry package (source) that's reporting back some data well described in their GeForce Experience Privacy Policy:
This has been added because it's clearly Tracking Software. |
NVidia Telemetry System ServiceThe Nvidia GeForce Experience includes a telemetry package (source) that's reporting back some data well described in their GeForce Experience Privacy Policy:
This has been added because it's clearly Tracking Software. |
Online-Metrix |
Paddle Revenue Delivery Platform Analytics |
RedShellRedShell is a tracking module that comes shipped with games like Civilization VI, The Elder Scrolls Online, the Total War series and more. |
Trend Micro TelemetryTrend Micro Maximum Security is an antivirus application that uses tracking of user interactions. Trend Micro is open about the data it collects. Its installer has a page dedicated to data handling, which refers to the target="_blank">Trend Micro Maximum Security Data Collection Notice. This notice is very detailed. It reveals that Google Analytics is used by the product and cannot be disabled:
It also reveals that user behaviour tracking ("User interaction with product UI”) can be disabled by disabling "Share computer performance information with Trend Micro". Since Trend Micro is open about user behaviour tracking and allows to disable it, it does not fall into the Spyware category. Due to it still including tracking, this immunizer was added. Is it spyware?We use the ASCs definition of Tracking Software and Spyware:
Since the term adequate is not well defined in the ASCs context, we use both the European GDPR and compare Information, Consent and Control to what is standard for Windows itself.
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TrendMicro TelemetryTrend Micro Maximum Security is an antivirus application that uses tracking of user interactions. Trend Micro is open about the data it collects. Its installer has a page dedicated to data handling, which refers to the target="_blank">Trend Micro Maximum Security Data Collection Notice. This notice is very detailed. It reveals that Google Analytics is used by the product and cannot be disabled:
It also reveals that user behaviour tracking ("User interaction with product UI”) can be disabled by disabling "Share computer performance information with Trend Micro". Since Trend Micro is open about user behaviour tracking and allows to disable it, it does not fall into the Spyware category. Due to it still including tracking, this immunizer was added. Is it spyware?We use the ASCs definition of Tracking Software and Spyware:
Since the term adequate is not well defined in the ASCs context, we use both the European GDPR and compare Information, Consent and Control to what is standard for Windows itself.
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Twilio Segment Customer Data PlatformTwilio describes Segment as a cross-platform analytics data collector:
Segment is one of a bunch of trackers used without user notice in LastPass, as reported for example on AndroidPolice, referencing e.g. Exodus and researcher Mike Kuketz. |
Vivaldi Do-Not-TrackThe Vivaldi browser allows to set the Do Not Track flag that can be transmitted to all visited websites. We recommend this setting for all users. |
VMWare Customer Experience Improvement ProgramVMWare has a tracking system called VMWare CEIP in recent versions of the virtualization solution VMWare Workstation. They describe it as:
And details on what gets collected is available as well:
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Wacom Experience ProgramWacom tablet drivers includes code that uses Google Analytics to track your computer usage. After public exposure, they now include a description on their website:
More details about what is collected follows.
The Experience Program now seems to be optional and the user informed before it is in use. |
Windows Account LocationThis setting allows you to control whether Windows is allowed to access your accounts location. This can be a useful feature, e.g. for finding lost devices - disable only if you are sure you do not need location based services like this. |
Windows Application Compatibility Program Inventory |
Windows Application Impact Telemetry (via Group Policy)AIT stands for Application Impact Telemetry. AIT is a part of Microsofts Customer Experience Improvement Program, which is described by Microsoft with these words.
This immunizer will disable the AIT part of CEIP. |
Windows Application Impact Telemetry (via Scheduled Task)AIT stands for Application Impact Telemetry. AIT is a part of Microsofts Customer Experience Improvement Program, which is described by Microsoft with these words.
This immunizer will disable the AIT part of CEIP. |
Windows Application Suggestions and Auto-InstallationWindows Consumer Features will automatically install some apps suggested by Microsoft. We highly recommend to use this immunizer to block this Windows 10 feature. |
Windows Background Access ApplicationsUsing the Background Access Applications immunizer, you can stop Microsoft Windows 10 from starting some apps in the background. We recommend this option to give you more control over what runs on your computer at any given time. |
Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) (via Group Policy)CEIP stands for Customer Experience Improvement Program. If enabled, it collects and sends user experience data to Microsoft to improve future versions of Windows. It is described by Microsoft with these words.
We can disable CEIP using Group Policies. |
Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) (via Scheduled Task)CEIP stands for Customer Experience Improvement Program. It collects and sends user experience data to Microsoft to improve future versions of Windows. It is described by Microsoft with these words.
We can disable the Scheduled Tasks that exist for CEIP. |
Windows Device LocationThis setting allows you to control whether Windows is allowed to access your device location. This can be a useful feature, e.g. for finding lost devices - disable only if you are sure you do not need location based services like this. |
Windows Error ReportingWindows Error Reporting, or simply WER, transmits information about crashing applications to Microsoft. We usually recommend to keep using this feature, but if you want to deactivate it, you can use this immunizer. |
Windows Feedback (via Firewall)Windows Feedback is a feedback and telemetry system build into Windows 10. Unless you want to actively participate by providing Feedback to Microsoft, we recommend to use this immunizer to disable Windows Feedback. |
Windows Feedback (via Group Policy)Windows Feedback is a feedback and telemetry system build into Windows 10. Unless you want to actively participate by providing Feedback to Microsoft, we recommend to use this immunizer to disable Windows Feedback. |
Windows Handwriting Data SharingMicrosoft can collect your handwriting information on tablet computers to improve their handwriting recognition. It is described by Microsoft as:
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Windows Location |
Windows Lock Screen CameraAs a security measure, we recommend to disable access to attached cameras on Windows' lock screen. |
Windows Optional TelemetryThis immunizer blocks even more Windows servers than those blocked by Telemetry Hosts. It is recommended only to those wanting maximum privacy and a minimum of Windows background connections. |
Windows Personalized AdsThe Windows Advertising ID is used by Microsoft to provide so called relevant ads. It allows apps to track your identity over app borders. Microsoft describes the ID with these words:
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Windows Remote RegistryThe Remote Registry service allows your computer registry (a configuration storage) to be accessed and modified from remote computers. This can be useful in corporate networks, but we recommend to disable it on private computers. |
Windows SensorsThe immunizer allows you to disable the Sensors feature of Windows. This feature provides application with access to features like your location. This immunizer can block useful features like auto-adjustment of screen brightness and should be used only when maximum privacy is your goal. |
Windows Sensors TelemetryThe immunizer allows you to disable the Sensors feature of Windows. This feature provides application with access to features like your location. This immunizer can block useful features like auto-adjustment of screen brightness and should be used only when maximum privacy is your goal. |
Windows Steps RecorderSteps Recorder is a Windows tool to record your screen. This can have legit reasons, e.g. when you want to record some steps to provide them to a support instance. If you feel saver if it cannot run and record, use this immunizer, which uses a group policy to stop it. |
Windows Steps RecorderThe Steps Recorder can record usage steps, including pictures of your screen. Microsoft describes its purpose with these words:
We recommend to disable this feature unless you are asked to use Steps Recorder by a trusted person. |
Windows Tailored Experience |
Windows Telemetry (via Firewall)This immunizer sets the Diagnostics Tracking (also called Connected User Experiences and Telemetry) to be blocked in the Windows' Firewall. Microsoft describes it as:
It is required if you want to use the achievements system in some Windows games. If you do not rely on this feature, we recommend to disable this option. |
Windows Telemetry (via Group Policy)This immunizer applies a Windows setting that lets Windows know it should not use telemetry. |
Windows Telemetry (via Hosts)This immunizer blocks access to a few dozen Internet servers that are contacted by Windows to submit telemetry data. |
Windows Telemetry (via System Service)This immunizer disables the Diagnostics Tracking in Windows, also called Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. Microsoft describes it as:
It is required if you want to use the achievements system in some Windows games. If you do not rely on this feature, we recommend to disable this option. |
Windows Update Bandwidth SharingMicrosoft might use your computer and bandwidth to share their updates with other Windows users. This they call Delivery Optimization. Microsoft described Delivery Optimization with these words:
We set this to the useful setting that shares updates within your local file, not allowing to share updates over your Internet connection, to avoid slowdowns and possible additional costs for your bandwidth. |
Windows User ActivitiesMicrosoft describes the activity history on their website as:
We recommend that you use this immunizer to disable this feature. |
Windows Web SearchThe Windows start menu has a web search integrated. This means that all keywords you type into the start menu to search for apps or documents might be searched for on the Internet. Since Internet connections are rarely anonymous, this would allow Microsoft to create profiles of your local searches. We recommend to disable this option. |
Windows Wi-Fi Sense Hotspot SharingWiFi sense is a Microsoft system that tracks your usage of wireless networks and initially was designed to automatically share your networks with friends or even friends of friends without sharing passwords. In Windows 10 version 1803, Wi-Fi Sense was removed. We recommend to apply the immunizer for Wi-Fi Sense to stop sharing your network details with Microsoft. |
Windows Wireless Device Sharing and SyncingBy using this immunizer, you can stop apps sharing and syncing non-explicitly paired wireless devices over uPnP. This immunizer is recommended. |