Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest upgrade to its operating system comes bundled with telemetry and tracking services that are enabled by default.

While the company is insisting that it was 'not spying' but simply trying to enhance the program by understanding what users do, Windows 10 is constantly collecting users’ data, sharing Wi-Fi passwords to contacts (albeit with encryption), and collects data and usage patterns exhibited by every user of Windows 10.

Read more here.

Be careful. One piece of software recommended on that site will give you malware.

@Tarun: Yes, that's what I had mentioned in red in the article plus a possible 'cure' for the removal of the OpenCandy adware.

I personally wouldn't risk it. Unfortunately people don't always read the warnings.

Also, welcome back. Quite a long break you took.

Nice to hear from you again, Fred. It's been awhile.

 

You can improve Win 10 privacy quite a bit with the Privacy settings, which are easy to find (Start > Settings > Privacy). That won't stop MS from collecting user data, though.

@greenknight. Thank you for your kind words of welcome.

Yes, it has been awhile, but I've transformed myself into a thriller writer of sorts. The first, 'Lange Schaduwen' ('Long Schadows') is, of course, written in the Dutch language. See here for the cover. Currently writing the sequel, titled 'Stille Wateren' ('Silent Waters').

That's great, hope you sell a million copies!

Windows Privacy Tweaker has been updated to version 1.2

Changelog:

• Better Microsoft Windows Smartscreen fix support
• Better 64bit systems support
• Added option for "Remote Assistance Connections to this Computer"

Download here.

If it still "offers" OpenCandy, I'm still blacklisting it.

Yes, Tarun, DoNotSpy offers OpenCandy and I shall remove it from the post. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

However, Windows Privacy Tweaker is strickly ad-free.

 

Ah, two different softwares. My mistake.

@Tarun  It was a risk I took to mention two seperate programs that addressed the same problem. I accept that it could have caused some problems and removed the one that offered OpenCandy. You were right to mention the issue.