Your choice bud, nobody is forcing (despite MS trying very hard).......

"I wonder what else the software does" - what do you mean? this software is not installed at all, it runs standalone and O&O is a known reputable company!

Agreed. No reason to go the Win 10 route, people should steer clear. Microsoft might get the messsage they can't shaft everybody any way they want.
If for whatever strange reason you need/want to move away from Win7, you have Win8.1
But Win7 is still the choice of most professionals who know what they are talking about.

Win10 is not just spyware, but also surprisingly ugly.

True. I don't really have an issue with privacy per day but if I can disable features to make the computer work a bit better then it's worth a try.

​I don't... I don't advertise my life and my Facebook profile is locked down.

​Brilliant! Couldn't agree more about Faceache. Personally, I use dual and multi boot machines with a split between M$ and Linux in various flavours which allows me to keep tabs on things. However, I realise this isn't within everyone's capabilities (or they just can't be 'arrissed) so third party software like this isn't necessarily a bad thing for the average user.

Sometimes although I've seen people from free software projects being criticised for having facebook pages for their project and it's something I agree with, the two aren't compatible.

Personally I've never used facebook or any of the "social" media sites and I never will, I find the whole concept creepy and weird. The only time I give my real name on the Internet is when providing payment details.


All versions of Windows have been the same, you can hardly customise anything, the user doesn't have much choice and freedom at all. You're also trusting your data and privacy to software that none of us can review and improve, only your corporate overlords at Microsoft get to do that.

You want to put your trust in Microsoft? You do realise that companies only care about their profits? It's not a secret, the objective of business is to make money (while we're at it - political parties are companies too). Sure, you could give token examples of Microsoft and Apple witholding data from law enforcement but they're just publicity stunts - social engineering to make the masses think these companies are decent, caring people and therefore buy more things that they don't need with money that they don't have.

How about not giving them your data in the first place? Set things up yourself and learn about the technology that you're using. If you're too lazy to learn about computers then you shouldn't be using them, that's fine, we don't all need to use them.

Try the last option first:
http://www.windowscentral.com/how-permanently-disable-windows-defender-windows-10

I've been using 10 since the early days and have no issues with it. Yeah, it sometimes autoboots the computer due to the updates so eh.. whatever. Not really a deal breaker, imo.

8.1 with classic shell.

Unfortunately it's not as simple as sending at "what's up" to a server once a week. If it was, this storm wouldn't have brewed up in the first place because all versions of Windows phone home to some degree.

Windows 10 collects data for virtually every single thing you do on your computer and where you go, even just clicking on Start sends calls to Microsoft and Bing. Exactly how much data it collects, how personal it is and how it's used, Microsoft won't say.

Whether you are OK with that is personal choice, but most users are not happy about the sheer level of it. And you can only reduce it, not turn it off, which is why tools like this exist.

I think most people appreciate the effort (including me). There are one or two who just like to turn it into a 'mine is better than yours' debate which you should just ignore.

because you bite back so many times? people are free to their opinion and you could've just ignored it instead of trying to one-up them constantly. If you can't tolerate being trolled, don't feed them.

It's possible to turn off updates completely but not advisable as you know, it's why I've kept them running.

Prefer the simpler interface of O&O and looks like it has more options. Don't see how one is more secure than the other.

I agree - a doddle to install & activate (about 30 seconds)

great reports

brought to you by the well-regarded Spybot team

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

Anything to backup that statement, do you work for safer-networking or something, you seem very determined to push this software without providing anything to say why it is better......

Would assume they are just referring to switching off the windows 10 functions you are not comfortable with.