WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WINDOWS 10 SECURITY

When installing software we tend to just click along all set-up in a hurry to get to the install and play around on our new programmes or operating systems. Something we all do without a second thought is accept the terms of service immediately without giving it a glance, we ignore the Terms and Conditions and go on to use our new installations without knowing what we just signed up for.

Microsoft have been getting a lot hassle regarding their user?s security and privacy after they installed the new operating system ?Windows 10?. They are frequently receiving complaints because of the security ?flaws? that Windows 10 have, the fact that it remembers your Credit card information and addresses, it shares your Wi-Fi to the public and uses your location. All of these perks to Windows 10 were outlined in Terms of service, something that very few users read before agreeing.

Of course, we still have the ability to change these settings, you wouldn?t be able to change the settings if you didn?t know about them in the first place so here are our top 10 changes you should make to your Windows 10:

Prevent Windows accessing too much data ?

Go to your Custom settings and block access to location information, browser data and automatically connecting to hotspots. Microsoft want to gather as much information about you as they can, one of the reasons being personalised advertising, making the adverts they present to you more relevant to you. And if going beyond your privacy to find out this information is what they?ll have to do, then they?ll do it.

Along with this you should switch off your Advertising ID, this setting is found in ?Privacy ? General? and gives apps and websites the ability to choose adverts they should provide you based on how you?ve used your PC. This is why you may find that you?ve made a purchase on Amazon and then seen the exact product being advertised on your Facebook.

Choose What Apps can use your Location ?

Obvious apps like the weather and maps will need you location if you don?t want to keep typing in your post code every time you want to use them. However there are other apps out there that will want to use your location when you?d rather not give them access, either because you don?t trust them or because you don?t think they need them. You can choose to completely turn off Windows 10?s ability to locate you but you may find that deciding what apps you?d like access your location a lot easier. You can find these settings at ?Privacy ? Location?.

Following this, both your camera and microphone privacy settings use your location. When you take a picture with the location turned on, Microsoft will tag the picture with its location, for example if you were to post a picture to Facebook, people will be able to see where you took the photo.

Wi-Fi Sense

In regards to security, Wi-Fi sense has been one of the most controversial instalments to Microsofts newest operating system. It allows Windows 10 to automatically connect to suggested Wi-Fi hotspots, which sounds great however it also shares your Wi-Fi to contacts as Windows 10 will look at your Outlook, Skype and Facebook to find your friends and give them access to your internet. This means they could be roaming around your internet accessing your printers and other computers on the network. I highly recommend you turn this off, it can be found at the ?Wi-Fi settings – General ? Advanced?.