Safer Networking, the developers of Spybot have released a new tool for Windows 10, called Spybot Anti-Beacon, that allows Windows 10 users to immunize their computers and changes settings so that Windows phone home less.
Concerns have been raised about Windows 10 Privacy settings, with users fearing rightly or wrongly that Windows collects a lot of data, which it send home to Microsoft. Seeing that there was currently no good tool that can safely disable tracking in Windows 10, Spybot decided to release this tool.
Seeing the bunch of incomplete or broken scripts to disable tracking in Windows 10, and the tools that install adware or worse in exchange for their function, we wrapped disabling tracking up in a small tool that’s free and clean, says Spybot.
Spybot Anti-Beacon
You will have to download the portable tool from Dropbox, as Spybot has preferred to host the download there. Once you have downloaded the tool, run the executable file. You will see the following window. Create a system restore point first and then click on Immunize.
This will disable the following:
- Telemetry Hosts
- Telemetry Services
- Consumer Experience Improvements Program
- Application Impact Telemetry
- Steps Recorder
- Wi-Fi Sense
- Apps using advertising ID
- P2P Windows Updates outside the local network.
The tool, unfortunately, does not give you the option to select the feature/s that you may want to disable. If you wish to reverse the changes, click Undo, or go back to the created system restore point.
This download has been hosted by Spybot on Dropbox as well on its website.
Incidentally, our Ultimate Windows Tweaker also lets you tweak Windows privacy settings easily.
Here is a list of Windows Privacy Tools & Fixers that help you further harden your privacy.
