DoNotSpy11

kelper · Apr 8, 2023

Has anyone tried this program? It's not signed so you have to go through a few hoops to install it. My AV does not object. I got it from MajorGeeks.

Helmut · Apr 8, 2023

All of those are just Windows 11 Settings.

So essentially you are installing bloatware to do the same job, another pointless "manager". I call it paranoiaware.

kelper · Apr 8, 2023

Helmut said:
All of those are just Windows 11 Settings.

So essentially you are installing bloatware to do the same job, another pointless "manager". I call it paranoiaware.

The question was, "Have you tried it?"

OAT · Apr 8, 2023

kelper said:
The question was have you tried it.

I have installed it. So the jury is still out.
It looks like WinAero options to disable ads cover a good share of those on offer in this program.
Testing this one will be tough to see if it pays dividends on my system as I use my hosts file to block most ads to begin with.

kelper · Apr 8, 2023

I ticked all the boxes apart from red items. I have had to untick a few such as biometrics as this stopped Hello using the fingerprint sensor and 'Discover' in Edge as I like Bing AI and the new Image Creator.

inoperable · Apr 8, 2023

@kelper: try Get Blackbird - Windows privacy, security and performance, it is really good at getting rid of microsoft telemetry crap.
It needs caution though, I suggest you try to run in (its a terminal app only) with

Code:

blackbird -?

and initially do a

Code:

blackbird.exe -scan

Do not run it without any arguments since it will do the default trimming incl. services and that can be
really bad. Just go through the help screen to see which sections you want to run.

I personally do

Rich (BB code):

blackbird.exe -backup

and then

Code:

blackbird.exe -scan

to
check what is going on - after backup I run it with

Code:

blackbird -tasks -registry -nohost -e

all autologgers will be disabled if you just use

Code:

blackbird -registry

Also I recommend to grab wpd from WPD, blackbird is however the most comprehensive
privacy tool I'm aware off.

kelper · Apr 8, 2023

I think I will not use any of these tools. I can't feel any performance boost. DuckDuckGo seems optimum for what I need. It was more a bit of idle curiosity.

TM21 · Apr 8, 2023

Spy! As in "Spyware"?
I have two programs, that I've used for years, to keep the spyware down to a minimum.
The first program, "Spyware Blaster" works with the Hosts file to passively block spyware.
It's free, and only requires the operator to update it once every week or so.
I like programs that are simple, and FREE!

The next program "Super Anti Spyware" is a more Active program that will find and remove both Tracking Cookies, and Trojans as well. I actually enjoy running the updates and scans with "SAS" so I just use the FREE version. If I wanted SAS to get its own updates and run its own scans, automatically, I'd have to buy the program.
But I get the protection I want for FREE, so why waste my money?

I was doing a PC tune-up for a neighbor one day, and I installed and ran SAS, for the first time ever, on that PC, and it found and removed just over 140,000 Tracking Cookies! Yikes! I left the program there, and showed them how to run it.

Spartan · Apr 8, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
Spy! As in "Spyware"?
I have two programs, that I've used for years, to keep the spyware down to a minimum.
The first program, "Spyware Blaster" works with the Hosts file to passively block spyware.
It's free, and only requires the operator to update it once every week or so.
I like programs that are simple, and FREE!

The next program "Super Anti Spyware" is a more Active program that will find and remove both Tracking Cookies, and Trojans as well. I actually enjoy running the updates and scans with "SAS" so I just use the FREE version. If I wanted SAS to get its own updates and run its own scans, automatically, I'd have to buy the program.
But I get the protection I want for FREE, so why waste my money?

I was doing a PC tune-up for a neighbor one day, and I installed and ran SAS, for the first time ever, on that PC, and it found and removed just over 140,000 Tracking Cookies! Yikes! I left the program there, and showed them how to run it.

I use SAS since more than 10 years to remove tracking cookies. I have a lifetime PRO license but never need it as I don't need its real time protection since there are better security programs for that but it's the only program I know that can effectively get rid of tracking cookies without messing with your site logins.

inoperable · Apr 9, 2023

Microsoft Windows -> Spyware as a System™ :lmao:

TM21 · Apr 9, 2023

Some time ago, I added two items to my Computer Tune-Up Utilities disk.
One was how to kill WUDO, and the other one was how to KILL Cortana.
Both can be huge security holes, if left unchecked.
However, killing Cortana has to be done with care, so as not to damage other Windows functions, that are closely tied to it.

When I install Windows xx , I allow it to get the initial Updates, to install the video drivers, etc.
As soon as that's done, MS Updates gets permanently turned OFF, as well as WUDO and Cortana.

So far (with fingers crossed) I've not had any problems with the Initial MS Updates.
But, that ends my affiliation with MS. (and, for safety, there is NO Camera or microphone on any of my computers)
And I don't have a 'Smart TV' or even a 'Smart refridgerator'.

Wisewiz · Apr 9, 2023

Tried this one a while back.

O&O ShutUp10++: Improve Windows data protection

Enable recommended privacy options and make Windows 10/11 leaner and more private with just a few clicks.

www.oo-software.com

But I, like you @kelper, simply decided I didn't really see any benefit, and didn't want to block things I might need down the road.

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