Advice Request Blackbird script

[RXZ6Q]

Are you guys using this script:

Download Blackbird - MajorGeeks

Blackbird is a free utility designed to alleviate spending hours on tweaking your privacy settings by using some known and less-known techniques to fully disarm Windows without leaving behind even the smallest possible footprint.

m.majorgeeks.com

?

Do you think it's a good idea? And what do you use it? After you installed everything., etc... Or before that? Or do you know od any ofher alternatives? I will be happy to hear any feedbad from you

 

[Cortex]

My personal opinion is it's over the top, & only use it if you have just made an image of your PC - The only utility I trust to do similar is O&O Shut up, just my opinion

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

If you have that many questions, it's not a clever idea.
Like @Cortex mentioned the recommended settings of O&O ShutUp10 are safe and they recommend making a restore point before applying. Personally, I'm not using and recommending those tools anymore because they can still break stuff.
I now recommend this page:

About Kaspersky Privacy Checker

The Complete Guide to Online Privacy Settings. How to set up your social media accounts and devices to protect your digital privacy.

privacy.kaspersky.com

Read it and adjust the settings yourself if needed or wanted.
Also, this is a good (but unfortunately not kept up to date) guide for adjusting privacy settings yourself:

[Guide] Best Privacy Settings for Windows 10 to Disable Telemetry and Data Collection - AskVG

[Guide] Best Privacy Settings for Windows 10 to Disable Telemetry and Data Collection - Since when Windows 10 development started and free Insider Preview build released to public, there have been lots of talks about Windows 10 privacy policy, data

www.askvg.com

Don't use a (questionable) tool if you can do it yourself.

 

[ForgottenSeer 85179]

You should start with config Windows internal privacy settings to your need.
Then read Microsoft documentation + privacy police about.

 

[TairikuOkami]

I use it for scanning only to check the current settings and to see, if there is anything new.

 

[shmu26]

I am cautious about running automated tweak scripts on my system because if I have an issue later on, I won't know where it's coming from. Does the author of the script offer support?

 

[TairikuOkami]

We are not responsible for any damage done to your PC while using our software.
With that said, Blackbird has been tested thoroughly and we do offer technical support should any issues arise (info@getblackbird.net). We also welcome any suggestions and tips or you can just say hi.

Readme contains the most common bugs and the documentation lists the details, including command switches to disable only certain features.

Documentation - Get Blackbird

Windows privacy issues and how Blackbird deals with them

www.getblackbird.net

 

[SomeRandomCat]

Just recently gave it a go, and gotta say I'm a fan. Very comprehensive.

 

[RXZ6Q]

I use it for scanning only to check the current settings and to see, if there is anything new.

This seems to be the best way to approach this. So, thank you for sharing!

Just recently gave it a go, and gotta say I'm a fan. Very comprehensive.

Did you encounter any problem?

 

[SomeRandomCat]

I had was I had to use the built in '/' command to remove a few things the default script was having issues with. The only thing I have noticed is when executing 'Open network & internet settings' from the system tray, I get an error, but I can still get there via control panel. Haven't had time to look into it further, but for the time being it doesn't bother me. I assume it has to do with something it removed.

 

[Cortex]

Nothing to do with Blackbird, but yesterday I had to giving training via Teams, for reasons unclear the microphone wouldn't work - I tried everything, in the end I used my iPad until lunch - A thought came to me & I looked in Shut-Up, there it was 'don't use microphone with apps' - Now I hadn't changed any setting in there since i last used Teams - Always worth a check if you have anomalies to see if settings in these privacy apps have changed, I did everything before I looked in O&O

 

[ForgottenSeer 85179]

I had was I had to use the built in '/' command to remove a few things the default script was having issues with. The only thing I have noticed is when executing 'Open network & internet settings' from the system tray, I get an error, but I can still get there via control panel. Haven't had time to look into it further, but for the time being it doesn't bother me. I assume it has to do with something it removed.

That's why such tools aren't recommend.
They're mostly break thinks and do strange "optimising".

You can try DISM + SFC for repairing your system

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

That's why such tools aren't recommend.
They're mostly break thinks and do strange "optimising".

You can try DISM + SFC for repairing your system

If you do use only one app so that you know where to look for and can undo the change like @Cortex did.
I think O&O ShutUp 10 is one of the safest of these kind of apps with good descriptions and safe recommended settings.

 

[SomeRandomCat]

Another issue I noticed after running Blackbird, is that certain applications throw an error message when trying to open their installer. I contacted BB about it but no response yet. Anyone else having this issue?