Microsoft is planning major changes to Windows 10 privacy settings, and they are quite confusing.
As The Register reports, the updated settings have been spotted in a new, released version for members of the Windows Insider Quick Ring program, and involve Windows 10 data sharing options.
Windows 10 sends diagnostic data to Microsoft to help it fix problems and generally improve the operating system, and you can choose exactly how much information to include.
At the moment your options are “ Security ”, “ Basic ”, “ Enhanced ” and “ Full ”, although if you see all of these will depend on your PC’s policy settings and what it is a corporate device. You can check them by typing “diagnostic” in the Windows search bar and selecting “Diagnostic and Feedback Settings”.
Following the last update of Fast Ring, these options are reduced to “Security”, “Basic” and “Complete”. If you are currently using the “Enhanced” option, you will be brought back to “Basic” to ensure that you are not sharing more data than you would like.
This is a good idea in principle, but it also means that you will stop receiving updates from Windows Insider, as these require “ full ” or “ improved ” diagnostic data.
Check your options
If this is not confusing, it becomes even more complicated. Microsoft is also changing the names of its various levels of diagnostic data, so that “Security” is now “Diagnostic Data Disabled”, “Basic” is now “Diagnostic Data Required” and “Full” is now “Data from optional diagnostics ”.
Each option still does the same thing, and the new labels are a little easier to understand, but it’s pretty confusing if you don’t expect it.
So what should you do? If you are currently a member of the Windows Insider program in the Fast Ring, take a look at your data diagnostic settings now and be sure to use “ optional diagnostic data ” if you wish to continue receiving Insider updates.
If you are in the Slow Ring or if you are not part of the Insider program, you can expect to receive this update at some point in the future, so check your diagnostic settings regularly to see if anything has changed. . The change may not roll out globally until the first major update this year, Windows 10 20H1, but better be prepared.