Spybot Anti-Beacon

Privacy protection moved to the spotlight ever since the release of Windows 10. The telemetry settings included in the latest OS iteration are supposedly designed to improve the overall experience, but more and more users are concerned about their private data and the way Microsoft uses it. As a consequence, the number of applications that can block tracking services are now increasing, and one of them goes by the name of Spybot Anti-Beacon.

Features:

• Blocks telemetry-related hosts and services


• Restricts the telemetry group policy


• Automatically blocks apps that use the advertising ID


• Can tamper with other group policies to prevent data collection


• Disables web search and Cortana


• Removes OneDrive


• Blocks the remote registry service


• Provides undo options for each setting

Easy to Use:

No installation is required when using Spybot Anti-Beacon, so just double-click on the executable file to launch it. Usage is very simple, and no restore point is automatically created, although you are advised to create one beforehand, just to be on the safe side of things.

Custom Settings:

There are various settings Spybot Anti-Beacon can tamper with. Choose the ones you want with the checkboxes provided, which are not visible unless you choose to 'Show Options'. Customize your privacy settings according to your preferences.

Revert Changes:

Spybot Anti-Beacon displays short explanations of the changes it makes. An universal 'Undo' button is available to revert the modifications anytime you want.

Spybot Anti-Beacon is a new attempt to reach the privacy protection goal when using Windows 10, providing a quick and easy way to disable telemetry services, configure group policies, and block hosts.

However, there is still room for improvement to meet the users' requirements. At the moment, there are competitor applications that do more. For instance, it would be great to have the application disable the access of apps to wireless connections, block localization access and services, disable the automatic Windows updates or the feedback reminders.