Microsoft’s new and more aggressive monitoring of Windows systems has caused considerable discussion. Whether you believe all the telemetry is a privacy concern or not, you might be interested in an easy way to block the extensive information gathering. The developers at the well-known anti-spyware company Spybot have now provided a free utility called Spybot Anti-Beacon that makes configuring many privacy settings very convenient.
The utility can be used in Windows 7, 8.x, and 10 and comes as either an installer version or a version designated as portable. The portable application actually comes as an EXE installer that places a number of files in a folder. Also the portable is labeled version 1.4 while the installed is version 1.5. I tried both and there seem to be a few added configurations in version 1.5. Normally, I go for portable apps but in this case I would choose the installer version. The download and descriptive pages for each can be reached from this link. The downloads are 1.6 MB for the portable version and 2.6 MB for the installer version. Space actually used when installed is larger at around 4-8 MB.
Because of its nature, the program has to be run with administrative rights and will trigger a UAC challenge. The interface is easy to use. Examples of the interface for Windows 7 and for Windows 10 are shown in the first two graphics below. If changing the settings causes any problems, they are easily undone with the click of a button. Unfortunately, users of Home versions of Windows will not have the group policy settings.
Top comments
Istanbul_Kop
4 Nov 1519#2
Seems good. Anything to block those pig molesting milk snatchers in 10 Downing Street?
buggerM3
4 Nov 1510#12
Facebook uses spyware as part of its interface, so it can track where you have been and what you have typed to show you targeted advertisements
So the answer if you want to remain anonymous is to get off the Web and start writing letters and reading books at the library instead
tafkas
5 Nov 159#18
Wow, I could make a killing on tinfoil in this topic.
waqasahmed to dabcorp
6 Nov 158#33
Why not let the gov't put cameras inside your home and inside your car? After all, they're only concerned with crime. Having cameras inside your car, means they can see who has crashed in to you
Having one inside your home, means that they can see if any burglars come in
Assuming you wouldn't want that, why would you be OK with the gov't spying on you in your house, using a laptop?
Do you have something to hide, dabcorp?
All comments (46)
antdav
4 Nov 153#1
Istanbul_Kop
4 Nov 1519#2
Seems good. Anything to block those pig molesting milk snatchers in 10 Downing Street?
difficult_guy to Istanbul_Kop
4 Nov 151#13
hahah you made me laugh.....
pedropecker to Istanbul_Kop
5 Nov 15#21
LOL It will not block anything they want to do??
I would be Interested to know if it will block all the personal data windows 10 collects and sends to the microsoft mafia!!
I hope you do not use Google then Gorgo2015, as they record EVERYTHING you put into their search engine and if you use Google Chrome, even before you send the search request, they already know what you typed, as it communicates with Google at every keystroke.
How's that for spying????
When it comes to 'Privacy', I think only UNIX, &/or the many various variants of LINUX are like the key here? (anything &/or everything else can be basically taken with a pinch of salt ..... )
carme24
5 Nov 15#17
Thanks
tafkas
5 Nov 159#18
Wow, I could make a killing on tinfoil in this topic.
Istanbul_Kop to tafkas
5 Nov 151#20
Just make sure you declare any additional income you make from selling said tinfoil. If you don't, Big Bad Dave will come crashing through your door and put you to work in Poundland.
Babbler
5 Nov 153#19
So instead of MS spying on you you install an app that potentially lets someone else do the spying. Nice!
dabcorp
5 Nov 15#22
if you have nothing to hide you shouldn't be worried. this software is build for terrorists or some other scums. people who trying to hide something like terrorists, pedophiles etc. just think it's not that hard!!!
pedropecker to dabcorp
5 Nov 157#24
So every time you buy something online or fill your name address phone number etc you are happy for Microsoft to store this info and share it with whom it sees fit??? Not ME!
omgpleasespamme to dabcorp
5 Nov 156#30
When it comes to privacy issues that's exactly the rubbish Theresa May wants you to believe. Could you please stop spreading it. Privacy is a human right. Do you understand that? If you want to go live in a glass cube with all the others like yourself be my guest. That way whenever we want we can look in and make sure you're not building a bomb or masturbating to anything you shouldn't be. If you happen to have a good idea and invent something in your glass basement someone will be able to get a patent in before you can even get out the front door. We'll closely monitor all your activity to cleverly figure out the best way to bill you here and there in small amounts to get the largest amount possible out of you.
You will be happy because although you'll be slaving away paying for all the in-app purchases you'll be too busy to get up to anything you shouldn't living a smug dignified existence.
waqasahmed to dabcorp
6 Nov 158#33
Why not let the gov't put cameras inside your home and inside your car? After all, they're only concerned with crime. Having cameras inside your car, means they can see who has crashed in to you
Having one inside your home, means that they can see if any burglars come in
Assuming you wouldn't want that, why would you be OK with the gov't spying on you in your house, using a laptop?
Do you have something to hide, dabcorp?
jordanc93 to dabcorp
7 Nov 15#37
It the internet the government plans to fully monitor with new snooping laws something thats going to cost us £247 million to implement. They always use the excuse that it's to stop terrorists yet it never seems to have helped! The government only makes it hard for themesleves to catch terrorists by pushing these laws through because more will just move to VPN and encrypted options.
siliconbits
5 Nov 15#23
What I don't get is that so many people hate Microsoft AND still use their software. There are other alternative OSes out there if you don't like Windows but they are either worse when it comes to privacy (hello Android) or aren't that intuitive (Linux) or tie you to hardware you can't afford (Mac). I for once will leave the telemetry service on as it's meant to collect data for a reason - improve your OS.
kiish
5 Nov 152#25
Whilst Spybot Anti-Beacon blocks MS, it's really intercepting it and some chinese folks reading your data instead.
But really I'd consider this if it had any credible security expert vouching for it, but it doesn't.
BTW wilders security forums don't think much of this app.
chapchap to kiish
8 Nov 15#40
Shutup10 is for win 10 only though isn't it? I like the idea you don't have to install it but for win 8 users I can't see it being much use.
Likely2
5 Nov 15#27
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, they love the gullable....
siliconbits
5 Nov 15#28
If you are using any of the following, you're probably in the same boat. (a) Windows (b) Chrome (c) Facebook (d) Twitter (e) Android. Good luck trying to remain invisible in today's world.
Dave
5 Nov 153#29
[this comment has been concealed due to the users privacy settings]
ohdearohdear
5 Nov 15#31
[this comment has been concealed due to the users privacy settings]
tan159
5 Nov 151#32
faster4233
6 Nov 15#35
Its people that install s*** like this that loose their details.
Proveright
6 Nov 154#36
'If you have nothing to hide ' is an original quote from a chap called Joseph Goebbels in Nazi Germany and theJews had nothing to worry about did they?
Uns
7 Nov 15#38
DuckDuckGo - Privacy oriented search engine Ghostery - Add on for firefox/chrome, and separate browser for your phone that blocks trackers such as Facebook
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Opening post
The utility can be used in Windows 7, 8.x, and 10 and comes as either an installer version or a version designated as portable. The portable application actually comes as an EXE installer that places a number of files in a folder. Also the portable is labeled version 1.4 while the installed is version 1.5. I tried both and there seem to be a few added configurations in version 1.5. Normally, I go for portable apps but in this case I would choose the installer version. The download and descriptive pages for each can be reached from this link. The downloads are 1.6 MB for the portable version and 2.6 MB for the installer version. Space actually used when installed is larger at around 4-8 MB.
Because of its nature, the program has to be run with administrative rights and will trigger a UAC challenge. The interface is easy to use. Examples of the interface for Windows 7 and for Windows 10 are shown in the first two graphics below. If changing the settings causes any problems, they are easily undone with the click of a button. Unfortunately, users of Home versions of Windows will not have the group policy settings.
Top comments
So the answer if you want to remain anonymous is to get off the Web and start writing letters and reading books at the library instead
Having one inside your home, means that they can see if any burglars come in
Assuming you wouldn't want that, why would you be OK with the gov't spying on you in your house, using a laptop?
Do you have something to hide, dabcorp?
All comments (46)
I would be Interested to know if it will block all the personal data windows 10 collects and sends to the microsoft mafia!!
How's that for spying????
So the answer if you want to remain anonymous is to get off the Web and start writing letters and reading books at the library instead
Spies Get Right To See What Websites You Visit
http://news.sky.com/story/1581245/spies-get-right-to-see-what-websites-you-visit
You will be happy because although you'll be slaving away paying for all the in-app purchases you'll be too busy to get up to anything you shouldn't living a smug dignified existence.
Having one inside your home, means that they can see if any burglars come in
Assuming you wouldn't want that, why would you be OK with the gov't spying on you in your house, using a laptop?
Do you have something to hide, dabcorp?
But really I'd consider this if it had any credible security expert vouching for it, but it doesn't.
---
O&O shutup10 is probably better.
http://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
BTW wilders security forums don't think much of this app.
Ghostery - Add on for firefox/chrome, and separate browser for your phone that blocks trackers such as Facebook
TOR Browser - Encrypted browser
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