Manage Privacy in Windows

Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 include a variety of technologies that communicate with the Internet to provide increased ease-of-use and functionality. Browser and email technologies are examples, but there are also technologies such as automatic updating that help you obtain the latest software and product information, including bug fixes and software updates. These technologies provide many benefits for users, but they also involve communication with Internet sites, which administrators might want to help control.

You can help control this communication through a variety of options that are built in to individual features, the operating system, and features that are designed for managing configurations across your organization. For example, as an administrator, you can use Group Policy settings to help control the way some features communicate. For other features, you can create an environment in which all communication is directed to the organization’s internal website instead of to an external Internet site.

Resources in the Windows Server Library

This section offers guidance about managing privacy-related settings in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 as well as in Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012.

• Managing Internet Communication and Privacy

• Manage Privacy: Activation and Resulting Internet Communication

• Managing Privacy: Dynamic Update and Resulting Internet Communication

• Manage Privacy: Internet Explorer 10 and Resulting Internet Communication

• Manage Privacy: SmartScreen Filter and Resulting Internet Communication

• Manage Privacy: Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program and Resulting Internet Communication

• Manage Privacy: Windows Defender and Resulting Internet Communication

• Manage Privacy: Windows Error Reporting and Resulting Internet Communication

• Appendix A: Resources for Learning About Automated Installation and Deployment

• Appendix B: Group Policy Settings Listed Under the Internet Communication Management Category

For information about other features, see Using Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: Controlling Communication with the Internet. Updates to the information about controlling communication for other Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 features will be made available here in the future.

Other privacy resources

• Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 Privacy Statement

• Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 Privacy Statement

• Microsoft Safety & Security Central

• Infrastructure Planning and Design

• Microsoft Trustworthy Computing: Privacy

See also

• Explore Windows

• Plan for Windows

• Install, Deploy, and Migrate to Windows 8

• Secure Windows

• Manage Windows