: Turn off features like "Customer Experience Improvement Program" and "Error Reporting" in the Control Panel or via Group Policy to reduce data transmission.
: Internet Explorer features like the SmartScreen Filter and Flip Ahead with Page Prediction send URLs to Microsoft to protect against malware or speed up browsing.
: Apply the final Microsoft Security Baselines for Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2 to harden the OS against common attack vectors. : Turn off features like "Customer Experience Improvement
: Because these systems no longer receive regular security updates, the most effective privacy measure is migrating to a supported version like Windows Server 2022 or Windows 11.
: You can choose to sign in with a Microsoft Account, which enables data syncing for settings and apps across devices. : Because these systems no longer receive regular
: This optional program collects data about your hardware configuration and how you use the installation software to help Microsoft identify and fix common setup issues.
: Windows automatically attempts to activate your license during setup. This process sends a hardware ID and your product key to Microsoft to verify the software is genuine. Post-Installation Setup and Data Collection : Windows automatically attempts to activate your license
: You can enable or disable location tracking, which allows apps and websites to provide local weather or maps.