Anti-Tracking DoNotSpy11 Utility Lets You Disable Windows Copilot

News
By
published

Get rid of those pesky Microsoft telemetry trackers

Microsoft teases Windows 11's launch date
(Image credit: Microsoft)

Anti-tracking utility DoNotSpy11 has received a new update that lets you disable various features found in Microsoft's more recent Windows 11 and Edge browser updates — including Copilot. In addition, Windows 11 version 23H2 is also fully supported with the new update.

The changelog for version 1.2.0.0 is quite extensive, but the most noteworthy changes include the ability to disable Microsoft's new AI-assistant, Copilot, as well as search suggestions and Windows Indexer's access to local browsing data.

Here's a quick rundown of the updates:

  • Edge: Disable Compose for Writing on the Web
  • Edge: Disable Discover Access to Page Contents
  • Edge: Disable Related Matches in Find on Page
  • Edge: Disable Text Prediction
  • Edge: Disable Thumbnail Images for Browsing History
  • Privacy: Disable Autocorrection of Misspelled Words
  • Privacy: Disable Highlighting of Misspelled Words
  • Privacy: Disable Taskbar Copilot Button
  • Start: Do Not Show Account-Related Notifications
  • Start: Do Not Show Recently Added Apps
  • Edge: Disable Search Suggestions (now set as mandatory policy instead of recommended policy)
  • Edge: Disable Shopping (now set as mandatory policy instead of recommended policy)
  • Edge: Disable Suggestion of Similar Pages (now set as mandatory policy instead of recommended policy)
  • Edge: Disable Synchronization of Data (now set as mandatory policy instead of recommended policy)
  • Privacy: Disable Facts, Tips, Ticks and More on your Lock Screen
  • Privacy: Disable SmartScreen-Filter for URLs

DoNotSpy11 is a third-party anti-tracking utility aimed at protecting users' privacy in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The utility can disable most of Microsoft's telemetry trackers built inside of Windows 10/11, and can also disable trackers in various Microsoft applications (such as Edge and Office). It also allows users to control what functions apps have access to inside of Windows — similar to the app permissions settings found in smartphones.

Windows privacy has been a controversial topic for years, due to the amount of telemetry tracking Microsoft does in its modern Windows operating systems. The height of Microsoft's tracking has only become greater with the addition of AI-assistants such as Cortana (now discontinued) and Copilot, and personalized advertisements found in Windows 10 and 11.

Technically, Microsoft lets you disable most of its data tracking capabilities in the OS — but this doesn't guarantee it's not tracking you. With DoNotSpy11, users can get a much more detailed look at what specific background applications are tracking their data. Its impossible to know if DoNotSpy11 can disable every single tracking program that exists inside of Windows, but, at the very least, it can disable a lot more than what Microsoft allows natively.

The tool, which has almost 2 million downloads, is ideal for users who are concerned about privacy, and would rather not have Microsoft record telemetry data on their system.

Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • WyattStappErp
    Theres better option called MSMG toolkit thats what i use for years . you get yourself windows iso and use this toolkit to remove crapware junkware etc from windows. then you install windows cortana etc free.
    Reply
  • ezst036
    It never ceases to amaze me how much hard work and dedication and also money people expend to stay on the Windows platform.
    Reply
  • baboma
    >Theres better option called MSMG toolkit thats what i use for years

    Win11 23H2 not yet supported as of latest (13.6) changelog.

    https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/msmg-toolkit.50572/page-1329#post-1813251
    https://msmgtoolkit.in
    Reply
  • brandonjclark
    ezst036 said:
    It never ceases to amaze me how much hard work and dedication and also money people expend to stay on the Windows platform.
    Games are fun, bro!
    Reply
  • baboma
    In regards to the article, all of the settings mentioned can be disabled manually in Windows Settings > Privacy & Security, or in MS Edge > Settings > Privacy (or simpler, don't use MS Edge). Copilot has an on/off toggle in Settings > Personalization.

    On one hand, having an app to disable these things with one click is convenient. OTOH, there are other stuff in Win11 that can/should be disabled, and it's better to troll through the Settings menu yourself so you know where's what.

    When you run a 3rd-party tool with little/no provenance, it's a security risk. So I avoid them when I can. I make exceptions for when a utility has a long track record (MSMG has been around for 10 years), or is actively used by the enthusiast community.
    Reply
  • brandonjclark said:
    Games are fun, bro!
    True, but why not game on windows and code on linux - privacy and security are easier.
    Reply
  • Unolocogringo
    I use SpyBot Anti Beacon for this purpose.
    Along with Firefox and Ghostery.
    With MalwareBytes pro.
    They have all been around forever.
    Reply
  • brandonjclark
    anotherRando said:
    True, but why not game on windows and code on linux - privacy and security are easier.
    After I wrote this I booted up a live session of Linux Mint and ran through the steps to install Steam and enable Proton. I was amazed at how many games work on Linux.

    I downloaded a game (CS:S) and played it for a few moments. It worked just fine.

    I rebooted too quickly to notice the count of games vs my Windows count, but I can do it again to find out.

    I.e., gaming on Linux seems to be a real possibility now. As in, not that much worse than Windows.
    Reply
  • edzieba
    Who wants to bet these various "anti tracking" wares turn out to be gathering as much or more data than the telemetry they supposedly block?
    Reply
  • ezst036
    brandonjclark said:
    After I wrote this I booted up a live session of Linux Mint and ran through the steps to install Steam and enable Proton. I was amazed at how many games work on Linux.

    I downloaded a game (CS:S) and played it for a few moments. It worked just fine.

    I rebooted too quickly to notice the count of games vs my Windows count, but I can do it again to find out.

    I.e., gaming on Linux seems to be a real possibility now. As in, not that much worse than Windows.

    I do sometimes say that Linux is pretty much ready, but those are in the end only just meaningless words on a forum.

    I like it when I run into people such as yourself who actually go, take a look, and see it for yourself. Linux is pretty much ready for gaming.

    Microsoft has a huge problem on its hands. That problem is you, and the fact that Linux is becoming more convenient to use when compared to all of this telemetry and spyware/adware stuff Microsoft is adding into its OS.
    Reply