DoNotSpy78

The tracking and telemetry settings in Windows 10 have triggered a long-debated controversy related to privacy violation, which made security-concerned users stay pat with older iterations of the operating system.

Even so, Microsoft has rolled out a few updates for Windows 7 and 8 in the fall of 2015 that include data collection and behavior tracking features, all under the same pretext: to enhance the user experience. Some of the updates in question are optional, but some are ‘recommended’, which means they are installed if Windows Updates is set to 'Automatic'.

If you are one of the users who decided to stick with Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 and wants to stay in control of your computer’s privacy settings, you can try out DoNotSpy78.

Similar to its Windows 10-dedicated counterpart (DoNotSpy10), DoNotSpy78 is specifically designed for Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 users, providing them with one-click access to privacy and security settings that otherwise are either inaccessible or difficult to modify.

The purpose of DoNotSpy78 is to help users disable certain functions in Windows that might affect privacy protection, either by storing data they don’t want to be revealed or by sharing information with Microsoft’s servers.

Once you run it, DoNotSpy78 reveals a surprisingly simple interface that comprises a list of functions in Windows, with ticking boxes next to each. Practically, to disable / enable them, you just have to select them and press ‘Apply’, no restart required.

Hovering the mouse over each option allows you to read about the setting and its effects, which comes quite in handy for anyone, since applying certain settings substantially modifies the OS.

The most important settings are displayed in orange or red, namely disabling biometrics, location, the steps recorder, and Windows Defender. DoNotSpy78 can also deactivate error and infection reporting and other data collecting and sharing options, program usage tracking, sensors, telemetry, Windows Registration requests, and the list does not end here.

DoNotSpy78 can also configure Internet Explorer to send the ‘Do Not Track’ header to all the websites you visit or allow you to cancel your participation in the Help Experience Improvement Program.

DoNotSpy78 is very similar to DoNotSpy10, aiming to grant full control over privacy-related settings in Windows. It is easy to use, does not require a system reboot, and comprises enough functions to help those who installed those controversial updates in the fall of 2015. However, as it happens with DoNotSpy10, it does not guarantee that Microsoft won’t receive any data from your computer, especially if you install updates to come.