# Windows 10 Free Privacy and Security Guide

**URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/windows-10-free-privacy-and-security-guide/34827
**Category:** General
**Tags:** guide
**Created:** 2026-01-20T16:15:21Z
**Posts:** 16
**Showing post:** 16 of 16

## Post 16 by @privacy.slouchy — 2026-02-23T23:01:22Z

I read this 10 page PDF for you, dear reader:

TL;DR: author makes an argument for continuing to use Windows10. Offers privacy & security tips. Includes a disclaimer, in bold:

> Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. Not receiving monthly security updates puts your operating system at severe risk

1.5 pages: general introduction

1 page: options to secure Windows10:

- Paying for [extended security updates](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updates)
- [0patch](https://0patch.com/) - a closed-source company that offers an alternative source for security patches. I can’t speak for or against them, I am not too familiar

2.5 pages are spent detailing a, ehm, _alternative_ source for Windows10, one that we will not discuss on a Discourse-hosted server. I am unfamiliar with these tools, though I offer a general caution to users against running software from unverified sources

2.5 pages of pretty solid privacy advice. Mentions tools like [Veracrypt](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/encryption/#veracrypt-disk), the three [PG VPN recommendations](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/vpn/), some [trustworthy browsers](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/desktop-browsers/), strong [password managers](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/passwords/), and a pitch for FOSS software

1.5 pages of good advice + a couple tool recommendations I can’t personally vouch for:

- Disable native AI, pitches [NanoGPT](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/nanogpt-gpt-5-1-privacy-gain-over-chatgpt/32879/9) & [Venice](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/venice-ai/22799)
- Disable telemetry, pitches 4 [debloat tools](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/best-tool-to-disable-telemetry-on-win11/18516) (O&O Shutup10/AppBuster, HiBit Uninstaller, W10 Privacy)
- Use Windows Defender, which you absolutely should. Offers a number of ‘second-pass’ options I won’t bother listing, you should not need anything more than Defender, AppGuard, & a VM

1 page conclusion + additional resources

It’s a guide for folks who find themselves unable to ditch windows. I’m not personally swayed by the proposals to continue using Windows10 post-EOL, but the subsequent privacy & hardening tips are pretty decent. I’ll probably be looking into some of the recommended tools I was unfamiliar with

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