Follow The Author

Saturday, 14 June 2014

Automatically install Windows updates, device software, and app updates

No comments :


·   Windows Update. Windows will automatically install important and recommended updates for your PC as Microsoft releases them. If you’re on a metered Internet connection (for example, a network that charges you for data on a mobile broadband network), Windows Update will only download the most critical updates, such as updates to stop severe PC viruses and updates that help ensure that update services continue to work on your PC. When you’re connected to a network that isn’t a metered Internet connection, Windows Update will provide all the updates you’ve chosen to receive. Important updates provide significant benefits, such as improved security and reliability. Recommended updates help address non-critical problems or enhance your software.
·   Automatically get device drivers, apps, and info for new devices. Drivers enable hardware and devices (for example, printers or keyboards) to work with your PC. When a new device is installed on your PC, Windows automatically searches for, downloads, and installs its driver software from Windows Update. Windows can also download info about a device, such as a description, picture, and manufacturer logo. If this info indicates that the device manufacturer has provided an app for the device through the Windows Store, Windows automatically downloads and installs that app. You can uninstall device apps at any time without uninstalling the device.
·   Automatically update your Windows Store apps. Windows will automatically install updates to Windows Store apps you’ve installed on your PC, as those updates become available in the Store. If you’re on a metered Internet connection (for example, a network that charges you for data on a mobile broadband network), Windows won’t download updates, but will wait until you’re connected to a non-metered or Wi-Fi network before downloading all the updates you’ve chosen to receive.

Turn on Do Not Track in Internet Explorer

Send a Do Not Track request to websites you visit in Internet Explorer. When you visit a website in any browser, you automatically share information with that website, such as cookies, your IP address, and other standard computer information. If the website contains content provided by a third-party website, some information about you may automatically be sent to the third-party content provider. This can impact your privacy, since third-party content providers can use this information to track you across multiple websites. As you browse the web, Internet Explorer will send a Do Not Track request to the websites you visit, and to the third parties whose content is hosted on those sites. How the websites you visit choose to respond to or interpret the Do Not Track request is subject to their privacy practices. This setting does not affect the default browser on your PC, your ability to choose the browser that you use, or whether Internet Explorer is enabled on the PC, but it only works in Internet Explorer.

Help protect your PC from unsafe files, apps, and websites, and check online for solutions to problems

·   Use SmartScreen online services to help protect against malicious content in sites loaded by Windows Store apps and Internet Explorer, and malicious downloads. SmartScreen helps keep your PC safe by checking files, websites, and apps to help protect you from potentially unsafe files and apps. Windows will ask you what you want to do if the file or app is unknown or potentially unsafe before it’s opened. This feature also helps Microsoft diagnose potentially unsafe behavior in Windows Store apps. Windows will send Microsoft info about the types and URLs of content that your apps access. Microsoft uses this info to identify if apps are receiving content from harmful or unsafe websites. We may use this info to remove an app from the Windows Store.
·   Turn on Internet Explorer SmartScreen Filter to check URLs and downloads with Microsoft. Internet Explorer SmartScreen Filter is designed to help warn you about unsafe websites that are impersonating trusted websites (phishing) or contain threats to your PC. It can also help protect you from downloading or installing malicious software. It sends Microsoft the URLs of some of the websites you visit to check them against a frequently updated list of webpages and downloads that have been reported to Microsoft as unsafe or suspicious, and warns you if you’re visiting a site that’s on the potentially unsafe list. Internet Explorer SmartScreen Filter also sends Microsoft some information about files you download, and warns you when files are unrecognized or known to be malicious. This setting does not affect the default browser on your PC, your ability to choose the browser that you use, or whether Internet Explorer is enabled on the PC, but it only works in Internet Explorer.
·   Use Windows Error Reporting to check online for solutions to problems. If problems occur in Windows or programs designed to work with the Microsoft Error Reporting Service, Windows will automatically send information to Microsoft to help identify each problem and check for a solution. In some instances, reports might unintentionally contain personal information. If a report is likely to contain this type of information, you’ll be asked if you want to send the report. Microsoft won’t use the information in these reports to identify or contact you. When a solution is available, you’ll see the steps you need to follow to solve the problem or you might see an update to install. Not every problem has a solution, but the information you send will help Microsoft create new solutions.

Help improve Microsoft software, services, and location services by sending us info

·   Help Microsoft respond to malicious apps and malware by joining Microsoft Active Protection Service. When turned on, Windows Defender, the antimalware program in Windows, will periodically scan your PC for malware and potentially unwanted software. Microsoft Active Protection Service helps Microsoft improve antimalware technology by sending Microsoft some information about malware detected by Windows Defender. This information includes details about where the malware came from, what actions were taken after the malware was detected, and whether the actions were successful. If a MAPS report includes details about malware or potentially unwanted software that Windows Defender may be able to remove, MAPS will download the latest signature to address it. Windows Defender also automatically sends files to Microsoft that we think are suspicious. We only automatically send files that are unlikely to contain personally identifiable information. If we find a suspicious file that is likely to contain personally identifiable information, we’ll ask your permission before sending that file to Microsoft.
·   Send some location data to Microsoft when location-aware apps are used. When you use location-aware apps, Windows will periodically send GPS and other location information to Microsoft. The information we collect won’t be used to identify or contact you. It’s only used to help improve Microsoft’s location services, which helps make your location-aware apps better. Location information is sent to Microsoft only when you use location-aware apps. You can choose to stop sending this information to Microsoft at any time in Location Settings in PC settings.
·        Send Microsoft info about how you use your PC, as part of the Customer Experience Improvement Program (a file will periodically download to collect better info) The Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) helps Microsoft improve our software and services. CEIP collects information about how our customers use their Microsoft software and about some of the problems they encounter. Participation in the program is voluntary, and the end results are software improvements to better meet the needs of our customers. When you participate in the program, we collect basic information about how you use your software, your PC or device, and connected devices. We also collect information about how each device is set up and performing. These reports are sent to Microsoft to help improve the features our customers use most often and to create solutions to common problems.
·   Send Microsoft info about how you use Help, as part of the Help Experience Improvement Program. The Help Experience Improvement Program (HEIP) can help improve the quality and relevance of your Help experience. HEIP collects the words and phrases you type into the Help search box, any feedback you type into the feedback boxes, and the help content you view. This information helps us improve search results in Help and the content in online Help.

Use Bing to get search suggestions and web results in Windows Search, and let Microsoft use your location and other info to personalize your experiences


Information sent to Microsoft from Windows Search includes your search history, your location, and some account info. This info will be used to personalize your search results, ads, and other experiences in Microsoft products and services. For example, Internet Explorer and the Windows Store will suggest search terms based on what you’ve searched for previously in Windows.

In Internet Explorer, use page prediction to preload pages, which sends your browsing history to Microsoft

·        Turn on flip ahead in Internet Explorer to go to the next page on sites. This preloads webpages for you, and sends your browsing history to Microsoft to improve our services.
·   Download compatibility lists for Internet Explorer to help improve your experience on some sites. In order to improve your browsing experience, Microsoft provides compatibility lists, which adjust the behavior of Internet Explorer to adapt to changing websites and PC hardware. Internet Explorer will periodically download an updated set of compatibility lists from Microsoft. These lists include lists of websites and PC hardware for which Internet Explorer should adjust its settings to help improve compatibility. This setting doesn’t affect the default browser on your PC, your ability to choose the browser that you use, or whether Internet Explorer is enabled on the PC. Compatibility lists only work in Internet Explorer.

Let Windows and apps use your name, account picture, and advertising ID, and request your location from the Windows Location Platform.

·   Let apps use your name and account picture. Apps will be able to request your name and account picture from Windows. They could use this information to provide personalized content.
·   Let apps use your advertising ID for experiences across apps. Apps will have access to a unique identifier for each user on this PC. Apps may use this identifier to learn which apps you use and how you use them. This can help them to provide you with more relevant advertising and experiences.

·   Turn on Windows Location Platform so apps can ask for your location. When the Windows Location platform is turned on, Windows and the apps you’ve authorized may use your PC’s location. Administrators can choose to turn the location platform off for all users in Location Settings in Control Panel. Each user of this PC can separately control location settings for their apps in Privacy in PC settings.

No comments :