Privacy settings more straightforward, include new controls

Feb 8, 2018 08:30 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 build 17093 earlier today, and among the many changes that it introduces, this new version also comes with improvements in terms of privacy.

The company has already promised to boost privacy controls with Windows 10 Redstone 4, and today’s new build is a significant step towards this goal.

First and foremost, the Windows 10 Settings privacy section has been completely overhauled, and starting with this build, options are provided in a more straightforward approach. Look at the end of the article for a comparison between the privacy settings in Windows 10 build 17093 (Redstone 4) and Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (Redstone 3).

Removing collected data

These new settings include new categories, like a section in the Speech, Inking & Typing that makes it possible to view the use dictionary and easily clear it if you want. This dictionary includes words that Windows 10 has collected in order to provide better suggestions and predictions for the touch keyboard, and as part of the company’s commitment to improve privacy, you can remove all entries using this new section.

Also starting with this new build, users are allowed to remove the diagnostic data collected by Microsoft and supposed to help the company improve the performance of the OS and fix bugs. In the previous build, insiders received a Diagnostic Data Viewer, and with this build, they can now remove all entries.

“With our commitment to transparency and control, users can now delete the Windows Diagnostic Data that Microsoft has collected from your device. In Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback, you will find a delete button that deletes the Windows diagnostic data associated with your device,” Microsoft says.

Since these features are still in development, not everything is going to work as expected, and the company says that the backend cloud system is in the works and will be ready to delete requests before the launch of Redstone 4 in the spring.

This is what the privacy section of Settings looks like in Redstone 3
This is what the privacy section of Settings looks like in Redstone 3
And this is the revamped privacy section in the upcoming Redstone 4 update
And this is the revamped privacy section in the upcoming Redstone 4 update

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Microsoft will improve Windows 10 privacy in RS4
This is what the privacy section of Settings looks like in Redstone 3And this is the revamped privacy section in the upcoming Redstone 4 update
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