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Block tracking hosts

Overview​

About this category

This category contains privacy scripts for Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This category includes scripts that enhance privacy by blocking communications with hosts known for tracking and data collection.

A host is a domain name serving as an address for a computer or resource on the Internet. These hosts are often used by software applications, operating systems, and services to collect data, which can include personal information, usage patterns, and more.

By modifying the hosts file (a simple text file on your computer that maps domain names to IP addresses), these scripts stop your computer from connecting to servers that collect user data.

This not only reduces personal data sent to companies and third-party trackers, enhancing privacy, but may also optimize system performance by minimizing unnecessary network requests.

Caution

These scripts may interfere with the functionality of apps or services relying on the blocked data. Balance privacy with functionality according to your preferences and needs.

Caution: Mixed Risk Levels

Be careful running these scripts. This category includes scripts with high impact:

  • 🔴 Some not recommended scripts. They should only be used by advanced users. They may break important functionality.
  • 🟡 Some recommended scripts only if you understand its implications. Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this this category.
  • 🟢 Some safely recommended scripts. Safe-to use for any user.
Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Scripts Count: 14 scripts

  • Subcategories: 1

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: All changes can be reverted

Apply now​

These scripts are written using Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Choose one of two ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

It allows selectively choose parts of this action to conduct. You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application. Additionally, you can apply only the recommended scripts, instead of applying all of the scripts.

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the category name: Block tracking hosts.
  3. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

You can choose to apply only scripts with less impact or also those with higher impact:

Standard

Recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.

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Strict

Recommended if you understand its implications. It may cause some non-critical features to no longer function correctly.

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All

Not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. It provides military-grade privacy, for special use-cases. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

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Consider restarting your computer for all changes to take affect.

Reversible

This action is completely reversible, you can restore your changes to the initial/default state. The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

If something goes wrong, use the Revert script provided above.

Standard​

This script includes only Standard recommendation level.

Safe for General Use

Standard scripts in this category is recommended for all users. They help to improve privacy without affecting stability.

Download only standard scripts by clicking on the button:

Download script

Restore these changes if you decide to revert them by downloading the restore script:

Download restore script

Strict​

This script includes Standard and Strict recommendation levels.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand their implications of every single change. Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

Download Strict scripts:

Download script

Restore these changes if you decide to revert them by downloading the restore script:

Download restore script

All​

This script includes Standard, Strict recommendation levels along with unrecommended scripts.

Not Advised

This script should only be used by advanced users. Some of these changes are NOT recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

Download all scripts:

Download script

Restore these changes if you decide to revert them by downloading the restore script:

Download restore script

Explore further​

This category includes total of 14 scripts and 1 subcategories.

Explore its 12 subscripts and 1 subcategories:

Block Windows crash report hosts

This script prevents Windows from sending crash reports to Microsoft, enhancing your privacy. Windows Error Reporting (WER) creates minidumps (small memory snapshots at crash time) and sends them to Microsoft. Although intended to improve software by analyzing crash data, this feature raises privacy concerns such as: Inclusion of sensitive information within the dumps, such as personal data and passwords. • Data sharing with Microsoft and other third parties through the Windows Desktop Applicati...

Block Windows error reporting hosts

This script improves your privacy by preventing "Windows Error Reporting (WER)" from sending data about hardware and software issues back to Microsoft. WER is designed to collect diagnostic information and report it back to Microsoft, aiming to improve user experience by offering solutions to encountered problems. However, this feature can inadvertently expose sensitive system information. By default, error reporting information is sent to Microsoft, which may include details that users prefer t...

Block telemetry and user experience hosts

This script improves privacy by blocking data sharing to the Windows Connected User Experiences and Telemetry component. This component is responsible for collecting and transmitting diagnostic data and usage information to Microsoft, which is used to identify and fix problems, enhancing product and service offerings. While the collection of this data is intended to improve user experience by allowing Microsoft to address issues and enhance functionality, it raises privacy concerns for users w...

Block remote configuration sync hosts

This script blocks specific hosts used by applications, such as "System Initiated User Feedback" and the "Xbox" app, to dynamically update their configuration These endpoints play a crucial role in remotely configuring diagnostics-related settings and data collection. For instance, they allow for the remote blocking of events being sent back to Microsoft or enrolling a device in the Windows diagnostic data processor configuration. Blocking these hosts can enhance your privacy by preventing certa...

Block location data sharing hosts

This script improves user privacy by disabling the transmission of location data to Microsoft's servers. Location data is utilized by various Windows applications, including the Camera app, to provide location-based services. However, the collection of such data raises privacy concerns as it involves transmitting potentially sensitive information such as OS version, device details, nearby wireless access points (including MAC addresses and signal strengths), and various unique identifiers. Sendi...

Block maps data and updates hosts

This script blocks servers that update offline maps and provide Bing Maps APIs for geospatial and location services. This action enhances privacy by preventing the transmission of your location data to Microsoft. Blocked Hosts - The blocked hosts are: "maps.windows.com" • "dev.virtualearth.net" • "ecn.dev.virtualearth.net" • "ecn-us.dev.virtualearth.net" • "weathermapdata.blob.core.windows.net" The following hosts are excluded (not blocked): Blocking this host impacts several features, including...

Block Spotlight ads and suggestions hosts

This script blocks specific hosts used by Windows Spotlight to retrieve metadata, which includes image references, app suggestions, Microsoft account notifications, and Windows tips. Windows Spotlight aims to deliver dynamic content on the lock screen and other parts of the Windows interface, such as personalized ads and tips. By blocking these hosts, the script effectively prevents Windows Spotlight from downloading new lock screen images, app suggestions, account notifications, and tips. It im...

Block Cortana and Live Tiles hosts

This script blocks specific hosts associated with Cortana and Live Tiles, thereby enhancing your preventing updates to Cortana's greetings, tips, and Live Tiles. Cortana and Live Tiles, part of the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), enable voice-activated app control and deliver timely information directly to users: directly on the Start menu, without opening the app. The Live Tiles feature, once available on Windows 8.1 and 10, has been replaced by the Widgets feature in Windows 11. ...

Block Edge experimentation hosts

This script blocks the connection between Microsoft Edge and the Experimentation and Configuration Service (ECS). ECS delivers various updates to Microsoft Edge, including configurations, feature rollouts, and experiments: These settings are uniform for all users, based on their platforms and channels, and can enable or disable features as necessary. These features are not visible to all users and are activated or deactivated through experiment flags. Configurations aim to ensure the product...

Block OneNote Live Tile hosts

This script blocks the communication used by OneNote Live Tile. It enhances privacy by preventing OneNote from retrieving live data updates, which might include user-specific content or usage patterns. Live Tiles, a feature within UWP apps, automatically collect and display updated information directly on the Start menu, without opening the app. The Live Tiles feature, once available on Windows 8.1 and 10, has been replaced by the Widgets feature in Windows 11. Blocked Hosts - The blocke...

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