In today’s digital age, safeguarding your privacy on your Windows 10 or 11 computer is more important than ever. As a beginner, you might find the settings overwhelming, but don’t worry. This guide will take you through seven effective strategies to enhance your privacy step-by-step.
1. How to Disable Targeted Ads?
Windows collects data to provide personalized ads. Here’s how you can opt out:
– Go to ‘Settings’ by clicking on the Start menu and then the gear icon.
– Select ‘Privacy’ and then ‘General’ from the sidebar.
– Toggle off the option that says, “Let apps use advertising ID to make ads more interesting to you based on your app usage.”
By doing this, Windows will stop using your data to show personalized ads.
2. How to Manage Location Settings?
Managing your location settings is crucial for protecting your privacy:
– In ‘Settings,’ click on ‘Privacy.’
– Navigate to ‘Location’ on the sidebar.
– If you don’t need location services, toggle off the ‘Location’ option.
– For more control, you can decide which apps can use your location by scrolling down to ‘Choose which apps can access your precise location’ and toggling apps individually.
3. How to Control App Permissions?
Apps can access your microphone, camera, and other sensitive parts of your system. Here’s how to manage these permissions:
– Open ‘Settings’ and click on ‘Privacy.’
– Select ‘App permissions’ from the sidebar, then choose the specific permission types like Camera, Microphone, etc.
– Switch off permissions for apps that don’t need access.
4. How to Configure Microsoft Edge Privacy Settings?
Microsoft Edge comes with several privacy settings you can tweak:
– Open Edge and click the three dots in the upper-right corner.
– Select ‘Settings’ and then ‘Privacy, search, and services.’
– Choose a tracking prevention level: Basic, Balanced, or Strict. Balanced is recommended for most users.
– Consider clearing browsing data regularly by going to ‘Clear browsing data’ within the same menu.
5. How to Use Windows Security?
Windows Security offers built-in features to protect your device:
– Go to ‘Settings’ and select ‘Update & Security.’
– Click on ‘Windows Security’ and then ‘Open Windows Security.’
– Check the ‘Virus & threat protection’ and ‘Firewall & network protection’ settings to ensure they are active.
6. How to Use Account Protection?
Securing your account is vital for overall privacy:
– In ‘Windows Security,’ navigate to ‘Account protection.’
– Ensure that sign-in options like Windows Hello Fingerprint, Face Recognition, or a PIN are set up for enhanced security.
7. How Can Glary Utilities Help?
For an easy, all-in-one solution, consider using Glary Utilities, which simplifies privacy management through its user-friendly interface:
– Download and install Glary Utilities from its official website.
– Open Glary Utilities and navigate to the ‘Privacy & Security’ section.
– Use the ‘Tracks Eraser’ tool to remove traces of your online activities.
– Explore the ‘Security Process Manager’ to monitor and manage running applications and services that may compromise your privacy.
By following these steps, even a beginner can enhance their privacy on a Windows 10 or 11 machine with ease. Remember, taking small steps towards privacy can make a big difference in protecting your personal information.