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Disable privacy-invasive indexing

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
  • Impact: Minimum

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Low

    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • 4 scripts
  • No subcategories
  • Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview

This category is dedicated to preventing privacy-invasive indexing features within Windows.

Indexing can include details from emails, documents, and other files that may contain sensitive information. Scripts in this category limit the exposure of personal data through search functionalities.

By controlling what and how information is indexed, these scripts help in protecting user privacy against potential data breaches or unauthorized access.

Safe for General Use
All actions in this script is recommended for all users. This is recommended for all users to improve without any noticeable impact on the system functionality.

Apply Now

Choose one of two ways to apply:

Download script

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Easy-to-apply
  • Free
  • Open-source

NormalEveryday Privacy (Enterprise-Grade)

  • Recommended for all
  • Safe for daily use
  • No impact on system stability

Read more about Normal and other protection levels

Help

How to apply or restore "Disable privacy-invasive indexing" using script

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Shows the code
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable privacy-invasive indexing" using privacy.sexy

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the category name: Disable privacy-invasive indexing
    2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Explore This Guide

  • 4 Privacy settings

Choose what to protect based on your needs:

Click any option to learn more about what it does.

Each change can be applied and reversed individually.

  • Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.
  • Most users find the Normal protection above sufficient.

Disable indexing of encrypted items

Follow this input: disable indexing of encrypted items on your Windows system to keep your data private using cyber privacy measures. Besides that, steps to roll back the update are included in this documentation. Resilience against intrusive technologies in digital spaces is built by personal data measures . Start optimizing data handling assurance preferences now with this guideline: click to (Reference: implement) the updates. Stay focused on the instructions to avoid unnecessary complicatio...

Disable automatic language detection when indexing

Disable automatic language detection when indexing on your Windows system to secure sensitive information via digital privacy enforcement — This entry lays out a systematic approach to how. For added clarity, to undo any applied settings, follow the instructions on this guidebook unveils the details of. Personal autonomy is enabled by online data privacy measures. This walkthrough improves secure privacy defenses settings: explore the (Reference: steps) that help you move forward. Focus on one ...

Disable remote access to search index

This disables remote access to the search index of your computer. By executing this script, other computers will no longer be able to query your computer's search index remotely. This means that when others are browsing network shares on your computer, they cannot use its index for searching. By default, without this script, client computers can search using the host's index, which might pose a privacy concern. Implementing this change is crucial for maintaining both the privacy and security of ...

Disable iFilters and protocol handlers

This script enhances the security of Windows Desktop Search by restricting the use of iFilters and protocol handlers. These components enhance Windows search capabilities by enabling the indexing of specific file types and the processing of various file protocols. By default, Windows Desktop Search can use any installed iFilters and protocol handlers, which might pose a security risk if untrusted components are used. The script configures the system to only use iFilters and protocol handlers tha...

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About the Creators

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017

Reviewed By

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:
  • Expert review by undergroundwires

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
  • Public review by large community

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.