DoNotspy11 is a long-standing privacy and tweaking application for Windows. The first update of 2024 introduces new features and compatibility with recent Windows releases.
It is a small tool that you may use to modify Windows settings with ease. It addresses one of the main issues that privacy-conscious users have with Windows: the scattering of privacy-related preferences and policies.
Instead of having to use the Control Panel, Settings app, Registry, Group Policy Editor, and some other tools to improve privacy, it delivers everything in a single easy-to-use interface.
Word of Advice: Windows may throw a SmartScreen error when you try to run the program on your device. This is not because it is malicious or faulty. SmartScreen displays also when a program is new.
Another great privacy tool is O&O ShutUp10++, which I reviewed some time ago.
A short DoNotspy11 Intro
DoNotSpy11 displays all applicable privacy tweaks in the interface. It uses color codes to highlight the safety of tweaks. The following colors are used:
- Blue — These are safe settings that should not have any ill-effects.
- Orange — It is necessary to read the description, as they may impact other features among other things.
- Red — Usually not recommended to change.
- Gray — These settings have not changed since the last use of the application.
The program suggests to create a System Restore point whenever changes are made. This allows you to go back to the previous state in case something does not work anymore. I never ran into this problem while using the app, but a backup option is always welcome.
Just check or uncheck the available options and hit the apply button in the end to make the change. It is easy to undo changes manually or through System Restore points.
DoNotSpy11 1.2.1.0 Changelog
The update introduces ten new tweaks, including a new Windows AI category. It also adds general compatibility with Windows 11 version 23H2 Moment 5 and Windows 11 version 24H2, which will be released later this year.
The final change adds high DPI support, which should improve visuals on high DPI displays.
As for the tweaks, here is what is new:
- AI: Disable Recall (Snapshots) (from build 26100)
- Apps: Disable Access to Cellular Data
- Apps: Disable Access to Eye Tracking
- Apps: Disable Access to Motion / Activity
- Edge: Disable Control Copilot Access to Browser Context
- Edge: Disable Spell Checking Provided by Microsoft Editor
- Edge: Disable Website Typo Protection
- Edge: Hide App Launcher on Microsoft Edge New Tab Page
- Start: Disable Recommended Section
- Start: Disable Website Recommendations in Recommended Section
Three tweaks have been updated. The first two add options to disable Copilot and the Copilot taskbar button on Windows 10 devices. The third changes the disable background applications recommendation from blue (safe) to yellow (read comment).
You can check out the full changelog here.
Do you use tweaking tools to improve privacy or other features of Windows devices?
It’s a bit like this video from Apple shows that possibly if you look for the needle in the haystack there is something good to be found.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXeOiIDNNek&t=1s
WinaeroTweaker has a link “How this tweak works” on every tweak page. I like that as I want to always continue learning how my PC works and not just blindly make changes.
Does this software offer information like that?
I’ve had bad luck with both DoNotSpy and O&O ShutUp bricking installations. When they recommend to do a system restore point before applying changes, listen to them!