A popular free application that allows Windows 10 users to switch off the operating system’s built-in data collection processes has received a significant update, adding new controls over wireless networking features that some users have raised concerns about.
O&O ShutUp10, which enables users to disable telemetry and tracking services beyond what is accessible through Windows 10’s standard settings menu, has been updated to version 1.3.1355 with a fresh set of privacy options alongside a number of bug fixes.
The most notable addition in the new release is the ability to disable Wi-Fi Sense, a Windows 10 feature that automatically connects a device to wireless networks previously used by a user’s contacts on Facebook, Outlook.com or Skype. The feature works by securely transmitting network passwords between connected contacts, meaning a device can join a known network without the owner manually entering credentials. The update allows users to turn this off either for all accounts on the machine or solely for the account currently in use.
The update also introduces the option to disable the Network Connectivity Status Indicator, along with improvements to the SmartScreen filter and several additional bug fixes addressing issues reported in earlier versions.
Microsoft has publicly advised against using third-party tools of this kind, warning that disabling certain system processes could affect the overall performance and reliability of Windows 10. The company has specifically flagged the risk of inadvertently blocking Windows Update, which it considers a critical service for keeping devices protected against security threats.
Users who are comfortable accepting those risks can download O&O ShutUp10 free of charge from the developer’s website and selectively enable whichever privacy controls they wish to apply.
