Windows 10 is the latest installment of the Windows operating system and includes a variety of new features, several of which are centered around increased control over privacy settings.
To manage your privacy settings in Windows 10, you can start by accessing the Settings app. You can do this by opening the Start menu and selecting the gear icon from the left-hand pane. From here, you can search for “privacy” to find the Privacy settings page.
On the main Privacy settings page, you’ll be able to view all of the available privacy categories and customize various settings for each. Additionally, at the top of the page, you can choose from an “Overview” or “Full” mode to adjust how much information is displayed for each option.
For example, under the General Privacy section, you can click “Customize Settings” to view and change individual options regarding the collection of data across Windows 10. This includes the ability to turn off the built-in location services and limit the use of advertising ID.
Under the Camera and Microphone section, you can manage which apps have access to your PC’s camera and microphone. You also have the ability to control access to any external video devices, such as a webcam.
The App Permissions section lets you control which apps have access to specific features or data on your PC. This includes things like location, calendar, contacts and other information.
The Account Info and Contacts section allows you to decide how your account information (including contacts, payment info, etc) is shared with apps and services.
The Speech, Inking, & Typing section allows you to control how Cortana, the virtual assistant in Windows 10, collects and shares data from your device. You can also decide whether or not to send error reports to Microsoft.
The Diagnostics & Feedback section lets you decide how Windows will collect information about how you use the system, such as performance and usage data, to improve the user experience. Here, you can also decide whether or not to send feedback to Microsoft.
The Activity History section allows you to view and manage information associated with activity on the device, such as app and website activity, task list activity, documents opened, and more. This section also includes the ability to delete activity history and clear cached data.
Finally, the Background Apps section gives you the ability to decide which apps can use resources while the PC is in the background.
By configuring the available options in these categories, you can better control your privacy settings in Windows 10 and ensure that your information and data are being protected.