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Disable obtaining updates from other PCs on the Internet (delivery optimization)

Overview​

About this category

This category contains privacy scripts for Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

Windows Delivery Optimization is a feature introduced by Microsoft to facilitate a more efficient downloading process for Windows updates, upgrades, and applications 1 2. Instead of exclusively relying on Microsoft's servers, this feature identifies other PCs on a user's local network or even across the internet that already possess the desired updates or applications 2. By breaking the download into smaller segments and fetching each from the fastest and most reliable source, which can include other PCs, the system ensures more efficient downloads 2. To support this process, Delivery Optimization uses a local cache to temporarily store downloaded files 2.

While Delivery Optimization is designed for speed and reliability, its operation raises privacy concerns. Specifically, when enabled, it can distribute updates and applications from one user's PC to others 2, sharing users' data such as their IP addresses 3.

Benefits of disabling Delivery Optimization for privacy:

  • Minimizing Data Sharing: By turning off Delivery Optimization, users ensure that updates and apps are neither downloaded from nor sent to other devices 2. This guarantees that all data remains strictly on the user's device 2 and the user IP is not shared 3.
  • Storage Conservation: Users can save storage space by eliminating the local cache utilized by Delivery Optimization.
  • Guaranteed Source Authenticity: Although Microsoft ensures the authenticity of updates and apps shared via Delivery Optimization 2, disabling the feature guarantees that all updates and apps come directly from Microsoft's servers, eliminating potential intermediaries.
  • Bandwidth Conservation: With the feature off, updates are restricted to direct downloads from Microsoft 1. This is beneficial for users on metered or capped internet connections, as it allows for more effective bandwidth monitoring 2.
  • Enhanced Security: Devices using Delivery Optimization open port 7680 to accept peer requests 4. Disabling the feature avoids this, ensuring users are not exposed to unwanted inbound traffic and enhancing security 5.
  • VPN Protection: Although Delivery Optimization attempts to detect VPNs and halts uploads when a VPN connection is detected 4, disabling it removes any risk of unintended data sharing over a VPN.

Notably, the USA government 5 and Department of Defense (DoD) in the USA 6 recommends disabling this feature.

Caution: Mixed Risk Levels

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

  • 🟡 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: 2 scripts

  • 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: Disable obtaining updates from other PCs on the Internet (delivery optimization).
  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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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

Explore further​

This category includes total of 2 scripts but no subcategories.

Explore its 2 scripts:

Disable peering download method for Windows Updates

This script modifies Delivery Optimization's download method for Windows Updates to disable peering. When this script is run, it sets the download method to "0", which means "HTTP only, no peering". As a result, Windows Updates are downloaded solely from the internet and not from other computers on the network (referred to as "peer-to-peer"). Peer-to-peer is a method where multiple computers share data amongst themselves. For Windows Updates, the default setting is for computers within a network...

Disable "Delivery Optimization" service (breaks Microsoft Store downloads)

Delivery Optimization is a Windows feature that provides the Windows Updates through peer-to-peer sharing. In simple terms, instead of solely relying on Microsoft's servers for updates, your computer can also fetch them from other devices that already possess the necessary files. The "Delivery Optimization" service manages these content delivery tasks. It orchestrates the retrieval of updates both from other Windows users. In doing so, it connects to various Microsoft service points to collect d...

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Disable Windows Update data collection category. This category configures Windows using 2 scripts. These scripts are organized in 1 categories. The category includes 1 subcategories that include more scripts and categories. Read more on category page ▶

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