The average Windows 10 user will never be aware of the privacy issues associated with the operating system and with every major update, these privacy rights are amended by Microsoft.

With the release of Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, your privacy is actually improving as apps will now require you to opt-in rather than opt-out of storing your location and other information. The downside is that these new privacy rights apply to apps from the Windows 10 store, so third-party tools will still abide by their own rules, privacy settings and EULA.

Luckily there are tools out there designed to lock down your privacy. O&O Software has released O&O ShutUp 10 1.6, the latest version of its free, portable tool that locks down privacy settings in Windows 10.

Lock down your privacy and rights using O&O Shutup 10

The tool is incredibly simple to use. Just fire it up and you’re presented with a long list of switches, bringing together Microsoft’s scattered selection of privacy settings under one roof. You can quickly apply a group of settings based on various criteria, or review each setting individually and flick switches on a case-by-case basis. Toggle a switch to green and your privacy is secured. Leave it toggled on red and this is a default Windows 10 setting.

The program remembers what settings you’ve implemented. When you next run it, you’ll be alerted if any previous tweaks have been undone and be invited to review and – if desired – restore those changes. There are a huge number of switches you can toggle. We won’t list every option, but you can completely turn off OneDrive, stop Edge from synchronising your content, stop Windows Defender from sharing your information, stop third-party apps from accessing your webcam and other devices and much more.

What’s new in v1.6? The first and most obvious update is that the UI has been improved so people can see clear descriptions of each setting. You can deactivate ads within Windows Explorer, deactivate the automatic download of manufacturer applications for devices and also driver updates.

Download O&O Shutup 10 v1.6 now.