How to Maintain Privacy While Using Windows 10

Thanks to Fox For Live for giving me the privilege to share my thoughts and advice on Windows 10. It covers a wide variety of topics, all of which makes the site a great hub for staying up to date on world matters. Once you’re done reading about how you can maintain your privacy, consider taking a look at this article about some of the smallest and best laptops currently available.

Windows 10 has been very popular since it released in July. With new features that bring the best of Windows 7 and Windows 8 together, it’s a nice upgrade. However, when you put a new virtual assistant into the mix, as well as apps similar to those available on your smartphone, you might run into some problems.

On your smartphone, it’s a given that apps might need access to your contact list, camera, gallery or location, but when your computer is asking for a bit too much, things start to get rather strange. It’s unlikely that you store all of your files on your smartphone, so you might not be as worried about allowing apps to access anything and everything. Your computer, on the other hand, tends to have all of your personal information stored on it, including all of your important files and photos.

The concern about Windows 10 is that Microsoft could be learning a lot more about you than is really necessary. Of course, they can then do whatever they please with any details you hand over, including using them against you in court or turning them over to the government. Though that’s not entirely likely to occur, there’s still something a little unnerving about a large corporation tracking nearly everything you do on your computer.

So how can you maintain privacy but still reap the benefits of using the newest version of Windows?

Avoid Using Cortana

The main thing that will protect your privacy on Windows 10 is simply not using some of the features. One you should try to avoid is Cortana, Windows new virtual assistant. Though it’s convenient to be able to have Windows perform searches for you automatically whenever you tell it to, you might want to think twice about whether it’s really worth the risk.

Cortana uses voice recognition in order to assist you so everything you say to her is basically being recorded. She can also read your emails, view your calendar and contacts, and pick up on your typing habits. Location cannot be turned off so long as Cortana is turned on, meaning she knows where you are and where you go if you’re using a mobile device.

Some of these “features” have real purposes and uses, but if privacy is what you want, then Cortana isn’t right for you. I can appreciate what Microsoft was trying to do with Cortana, but the tradeoff just isn’t worth it.

If for some reason you did use Cortana at some point, you can delete anything she’s saved about you in her Notebook by going to her settings. Microsoft even lets you delete what is stored on their servers (we’re assuming they don’t have backups, but no one can know aside of Microsoft).

Privacy Settings

Fortunately Microsoft, despite having multiple ways to acquire your data, gives you numerous options to decline their invasion of your privacy. Under the Settings section of Windows 10, you’ll find the “Privacy” options.

Under the Privacy section, you’ll have control over just about everything as it relates to your privacy, from whether you share your location with apps to whether or not programs can access things, such as your microphone, contacts or calendars. These options actually have a slight edge over the Android platform, even if apps require certain permissions, you can still deny them.

Some apps won’t function properly if they don’t have access to what they need (and Microsoft warns you about this), but you at least have the option. In addition, there is a link in the General tab to allow you access to what Microsoft stores about you with regard to advertising (this is a web link).

Just remember that while you can configure what access apps will have, traditional privacy and security vulnerabilities still exist despite the upgrade to Windows 10. For those, you’ll need some extra software.

Safety Software

Although there is an option to setup a Virtual Private Network (VPN) on Microsoft, you’ll want to acquire a software license because paid VPNs offer considerably better speed and security. A VPN, if you haven’t used one before, is a remote connection that makes you anonymous and encrypts your connection. According to SecureThoughts.com, it’s easily one of the best ways to maintain your privacy under any circumstances.

Though there are many different services, ExpressVPN is one of the best. It offers connections to multiple regions and servers, allowing you to access geo-restricted services and providing you with anonymity in the swarm of other users connecting to the same locations.

Chances are you already have an anti-virus program, but if you’re paying for a personal use license, you may want to consider a free option. Panda, Avast and AVG all have free to use software that has optional premium features (they’re generally unnecessary for home use). An anti-virus programprotects your privacy by preventing malware from hijacking your computer.

Today, most malware focuses on stealing information or scaring you into paying for things. Windows 10 has its own firewall enabled by default, but it may be worth using a third party firewall as Microsoft’s software tends to be inferior to aftermarket products when it concerns security. Plus, Microsoft may be one of the number one threats to your privacy anyway.

Offline

Whether you’re using Windows 10 on a traditional PC, tablet or smartphone, physical access to your device is still one of the easiest ways to have your privacy compromised. It may be family members, co-workers or someone you don’t know. The result may be the same if you don’t secure your machine with some form of login.

Any device you believe may come into contact with others should be secured with a password. If you value your privacy, make it a good one; strong passwords contain a minimum of eight characters (longer is better) and should contain both uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as numbers and/or symbols. Passphrases are particularly good as they are easy to remember but very difficult to guess.

Longer passwords are also considerably less likely to be brute forced (via just entering passwords until you get the right one) and next to impossible if they are varied enough.

Still a Great Operating System

Though Windows 10 certainly has some shortcomings with regards to respecting its users’ privacy, the many features and settings make it one of the best additions to Microsoft’s lineup. Of course, this is cemented heavily in the first year by the nature of it being free, but it will likely continue to be worthwhile even once they start charging.

Should you decide to upgrade, or already have Windows 10, just be sure you always check your options; much of your privacy is under your own control.