15 settings you need to change to protect your privacy on Windows 11
Microsoft says that the computer must have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 component built into the motherboard to be able to upgrade to Windows 11. This shows how serious the company is about taking security with the new operating system.
TPM 2.0 is a feature that verifies users' identities and protects data from being hacked. There are many things that TPM does to make it difficult for someone who is not in front of the computer to reach it.
There are many security and security features in Windows 11 that start with the trusted platform module, but this is only the beginning. You need to know if you have the new operating system on your computer.
1. Keep Windows 11 up to date.
Good security starts with making sure your software is up to date. If you go to Settings and click Windows Update, you can see if the operating system has been updated with the latest patches and bug fixes. Take a look at the options in the "Advanced options" section. Make sure you don't restart Windows and apply updates in the middle of the day.
2. Check your login preferences
In the Settings pane, click your name at the top right. Then click Sign-in Options to see all the ways you can log on to the computer. You can use your webcam or finger sensor for more security than a password. Most modern computers should be able to use these types of security. This is an important setting to protect your privacy on Windows 11.
3. When you are away, log out
Protect your privacy on Windows 11
Windows asks you to sign in again if you've been away from your computer for a long time. An option to make sure you always have to log in. You can also use the dynamic lock option to instruct Windows to lock your device whenever you leave it (as indicated by the location of the connected smartphone).
4. Turn on the built-in security tools.
In the settings, you can make sure that the security software that comes with Windows is running. You can do this by clicking Privacy and Security, then Windows Security. If you don't have third-party apps installed, this is a must. Any security issues that need your attention will be marked with a yellow exclamation point. If you click on one of them, you can read more about it.
5. Perform malware scanning
You can click Open Windows Security from the Windows Security screen to access the built-in Windows 11 Security Center. This is the same center that comes with Windows 11. Most things here should run in the background, like scans for dangerous malware. You can perform a scan yourself by clicking Virus and threat protection and choosing Quick Scan.
6. Make sure your device is safe.
When you open the Windows Security Tool, you will see any problems with your Windows 11 computers, such as TPM module problems and the Secure Boot process. Take these steps immediately if you think your operating system and data are at risk. This helps protect your privacy on Windows 11
7: Be safe when you are on the web.
Choose App and browser control from the Windows Security Tool. You'll see two options you can choose from: reputation-based protection (which means Windows 11 always looks for suspicious or poorly performing apps) and exploit protection (which helps mitigate the impact of a variety of remote hacking attacks).
8. Check the security tools.
To find out which software is protecting your Windows 11 computer, open Settings in Windows Security and search under Security providers for the software that protects your computer. This could be the security software that comes with Windows or a different type of software. If you wish, you can also see what applications are running on your computer, also if you want to make sure that you always know what is happening in your home, you can also set the security notification settings from this page.
9. Manage your app permissions
When using your smartphone, you can choose which permissions apps can use. In Windows 11, you can do the same. Open the main settings screen to access the Privacy & Security page. Next, scroll down to see what permissions you have. When you click on a permission, such as location, camera, or microphone, you can change which programs can use it. This setting is important to protect your privacy on Windows 11.
10. Make sure your device can be located
If you lose your phone, go to Settings and choose Privacy & Security. Then choose "Find My Device" to have its location recorded periodically. This means that you can sign in to your Microsoft account on another device and see where your Windows 11 computer has gone. This is very useful if you leave it on the train or do not remember where it is.
11. Encrypt your device's data
This makes it more difficult for someone else to read the data on your hard drive if they eject the drive from your computer. When you choose Privacy and Security in the Windows 11 settings, you can choose device encryption. If your computer does, you can do so by clicking "Device Encryption" and then clicking "Enable Device Encryption".
12. Disable online speech recognition.
For example, if you don't want to use voiceover or voice access, you can turn them off. These new features use Microsoft's online speech recognition feature for work. If you do, Microsoft will not send your voice data to the cloud, which will keep you private.
13. Disable diagnostic data transmission
To keep Windows 11 safe and up-to-date, Microsoft sends a small amount of diagnostics required by default. You can turn this off. You can also give Microsoft access to your browsing history, how you use an app or feature, and more.
14. Turn off Activity Log.
Protect your privacy on Windows 11
In 2018, Microsoft added the Timeline feature to Windows 10. This feature tracked everything you did on the computer to see what you ever did. It was later changed to "Activity Log". In Windows 11, you can't see a schedule of your tasks and activities. However, Microsoft still keeps a record of all your activities, which is a bit strange.
15. Modify camera and microphone permissions for Windows 11
Protect your privacy on Windows 11
You need to make changes to your Windows 11 PC to prevent apps from reaching your camera and microphone while they're running in the background. Camera and microphone permissions are the most important. This will do a lot to keep your privacy safe on Windows 11.
The Bottom Line
Important privacy settings can now be turned off on Windows 11, now you know how? This does not mean that you should close everything. Would it be bad if I did? For example, let's say you turn off app permissions for your camera and microphone, so no one sees or hears you. Then, the next time you have a meeting, you will soon discover that no one can see or hear you.
To avoid this situation, you need to think twice before turning off the privacy setting that you do not want. It may make sense to turn off some settings in order to protect your data, but in reality, it can be annoying. We all have to decide for ourselves what is the best balance between privacy and accessibility for our specific needs.