Ok, so I had to do these steps to make the Diagnostic Data Viewer Windows tool to work:
1- Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostic and feedback > Send optional Diagnostic Data ON
2- Settings > Privacy & Security > App Diagnostics > App Diagnostic access ON
3- Run > Services.msc > Connected User Experiences And Telemetry > Properties > Statup type > Automatic
4a- CMD > Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
4b- Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
4c- Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
4d - SFC /scannow
5- Reboot computer
The Diagnostic Tool should now work. I confirm that adding the regedit “AllowTelemetry” form my earlier post will not end all telemetry.
Once I was able to confirm that, I reversed step 1 to 3 to OFF, OFF and DISABLED, respectively.
To make a comprehensive list, I used perplexity AI to ask my questions.
This was my prompt: “I’m a new Windows 11 Home user and I value my privacy. I do not like telemetry and apps that I can’t disable on my own. My trust level of Microsoft is low, but I must unfortunately use Windows for my day to day tasks. Linux is thus, not an option. Considering all of that, I am considering different tools to help me. Here is the list: W10Privacy, christitus windows-tool, Donotspy11, privacy.sexy, Shutup10, WPD.app, SophiApp, WindowsSpyBlocker, Hardentools, Postmaster, . Please rank all of them based on the above needs. If any are open source, it’s a huge plus for me. Also state why they got that specific rank.”
Here is the answer:
"Based on your requirements as a privacy-conscious Windows 11 Home user who wants to minimize telemetry and disable unwanted apps, here’s a ranking of the tools you mentioned, with open-source options highlighted:
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privacy.sexy (Open Source): This tool ranks first due to its open-source nature, extensive customization options, and focus on privacy and security for Windows 11. It provides a user-friendly interface to apply various tweaks and offers transparency in its operations.
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O&O ShutUp10++ (Free, not open source): While not open-source, this tool is highly regarded for its ease of use and comprehensive privacy settings. It works well with Windows 11 and provides clear explanations for each setting.
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WPD.app (Open Source): This open-source tool offers granular control over Windows privacy settings and telemetry. It’s regularly updated and provides a good balance between functionality and user-friendliness.
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WindowsSpyBlocker (Open Source): An open-source tool that focuses on blocking Windows telemetry at the network level. It’s particularly effective for users who want to prevent data transmission to Microsoft servers.
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DoNotSpy11: Specifically designed for Windows 11, this tool offers a wide range of privacy tweaks and is relatively easy to use. However, it’s not open-source.
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W10Privacy: Despite its name, it works with Windows 11 and offers extensive privacy controls. It’s not open-source but provides detailed information about each setting.
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SophiApp (Open Source): An open-source PowerShell script that allows for extensive customization of Windows 11, including privacy settings. It’s powerful but may require more technical knowledge.
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Shutup10: Similar to O&O ShutUp10++, it offers good privacy controls but isn’t open-source. It’s ranked lower due to less frequent updates.
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christitus windows-tool: While useful, it’s more of a general Windows optimization tool rather than a dedicated privacy tool, hence the lower ranking.
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Hardentools and Postmaster: These tools are ranked last as they are less focused on Windows 11 privacy specifically and may offer fewer relevant features for your needs.
The top-ranked tools (privacy.sexy, O&O ShutUp10++, and WPD.app) offer the best combination of features, ease of use, and privacy focus for Windows 11. The open-source options (privacy.sexy, WPD.app, WindowsSpyBlocker, and SophiApp) provide additional transparency and community oversight, which aligns with your preference for open-source solutions. Remember to create a system restore point before using any of these tools, as some changes may affect system stability or functionality."
Follow-up question: “Should I use a combination of these tools or only the most comprehensive one?”
When deciding whether to use a combination of privacy tools or just the most comprehensive one, it’s important to consider the specific features and strengths of each tool. Here’s a detailed comparison based on the search results:
Comprehensive Tools
O&O ShutUp10++
Strengths: Highly effective at disabling telemetry, user-friendly, regularly updated, and provides clear explanations for each setting.
Updates: Requires manual updates.
Effectiveness: Comprehensive in managing privacy settings and telemetry.
WPD.app
Strengths: Full-fledged privacy dashboard, allows turning off telemetry, removing pre-installed apps, and configuring firewall settings.
Updates: Likely requires manual updates.
Effectiveness: Powerful and portable, offering extensive control over privacy settings.
DoNotSpy11
Strengths: Advanced privacy protector, easy to use, allows disabling telemetry and data collection, and provides control over app notifications and location tracking.
Updates: Requires manual updates.
Effectiveness: Effective at disabling telemetry and managing various privacy settings.
W10Privacy
Strengths: Offers granular control over privacy settings, including telemetry, with a user-friendly interface.
Updates: Requires manual updates.
Effectiveness: Comprehensive and detailed, suitable for power users.
Specialized Tools
privacy.sexy (Open Source)
Strengths: Open-source, extensive customization options, and focuses on privacy and security.
Updates: Provides automatic updates.
Effectiveness: Highly effective for users who prefer open-source solutions and frequent updates.
WindowsSpyBlocker (Open Source)
Strengths: Focuses on blocking telemetry at the network level.
Updates: Likely requires manual updates through GitHub.
Effectiveness: Effective at preventing data transmission to Microsoft servers.
Recommendations
Using a Single Comprehensive Tool
If you prefer simplicity and ease of use, choosing a single comprehensive tool like O&O ShutUp10++ or WPD.app would be beneficial. These tools offer extensive privacy settings and are user-friendly, making them suitable for most users.
Using a Combination of Tools
For maximum privacy and control, using a combination of tools can be more effective. Here’s a suggested combination:
O&O ShutUp10++ or WPD.app: For comprehensive privacy settings and telemetry control.
privacy.sexy: For additional customization and open-source transparency.
WindowsSpyBlocker: To block telemetry at the network level.
This combination ensures that you cover all aspects of privacy, from disabling telemetry and data collection to blocking network-level telemetry.
Conclusion
Using a combination of tools can provide more robust privacy protection, especially if you are comfortable managing multiple applications. However, if you prefer a simpler approach, a single comprehensive tool like O&O ShutUp10++ or WPD.app should suffice for most privacy needs. Regularly check for updates and apply configurations to maintain optimal privacy settings."
So based on perplexity, I should be using O&O ShutUp10++ or WPD.app with privacy.sexy and WindowsSpyBlocker.
I’m curious to know community thoughts, but I’ll still start exploring these.
Edit:
Following this topic, please note that WPD is not open source, as wrongly state by AI above.