Eliminate Spying on Windows 10 - UPDATED!

If you are an Administrator, you can enable viewing of hidden folders and system files and then do the following steps. Edit the Hosts file.

- find the original hosts file by browsing to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
- right-click the hosts file and open it with notepad
- copy and paste the lines and domains below onto the bottom of the hosts file text

0.0.0.0 a.ads1.msn.com
0.0.0.0 a.ads2.msn.com
0.0.0.0 a0001.amsedge.net
0.0.0.0 a978.i6g1.akamai.net
0.0.0.0 ad.doubleclick.net
0.0.0.0 adnexus.net
0.0.0.0 adnxs.com
0.0.0.0 ads.msn.com
0.0.0.0 ads1.msads.net
0.0.0.0 ads1.msn.com
0.0.0.0 americas2.notify.windows.com.akadns.net
0.0.0.0 any.edge.bing.com
0.0.0.0 az361816.vo.msecnd.net
0.0.0.0 az512334.vo.msecnd.net
0.0.0.0 bl3302.storage.live.com
0.0.0.0 bl3302geo.storage.dkyprod.akadns.net
0.0.0.0 BN1WNS2011508.wns.windows.com
0.0.0.0 choice.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 choice.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 client.wns.windows.com
0.0.0.0 compatexchange.cloudapp.net
0.0.0.0 corp.sts.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 corpext.msitadfs.glbdns2.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 cs1.wpc.v0cdn.net
0.0.0.0 df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 diagnostics.support.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 directory.services.live.com
0.0.0.0 directory.services.live.com.akadns.net
0.0.0.0 dns.msftncsi.com
0.0.0.0 en-us.appex-rf.msn.com
0.0.0.0 fe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net
0.0.0.0 fe3.delivery.dsp.mp.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 fe3.delivery.mp.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 feedback.microsofthohm.com
0.0.0.0 feedback.search.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 feedback.windows.com
0.0.0.0 i1.services.social.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 i1.services.social.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 ipv6.msftncsi.com
0.0.0.0 ipv6.msftncsi.com.edgesuite.net
0.0.0.0 login.live.com
0.0.0.0 login.live.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 OneSettings-bn2.metron.live.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 pre.footprintpredict.com
0.0.0.0 preview.msn.com
0.0.0.0 rad.msn.com
0.0.0.0 redir.metaservices.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 register.mesh.com
0.0.0.0 reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 services.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 settings.data.glbdns2.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 settingssandbox.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 settings-win.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 skyapi.live.net
0.0.0.0 skyapi.skyprod.akadns.net
0.0.0.0 skydrive.wns.windows.com
0.0.0.0 sls.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net
0.0.0.0 sqm.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 ssw.live.com
0.0.0.0 ssw.live.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 statsfe1.ws.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 statsfe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net
0.0.0.0 statsfe2.ws.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 survey.watson.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 telemetry.appex.bing.net
0.0.0.0 telemetry.appex.bing.net:443
0.0.0.0 telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 telemetry.urs.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 travel.tile.appex.bing.com
0.0.0.0 v10.vortex-win.data.metron.life.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 v10.vortex-win.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 vortex
0.0.0.0 vortex.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 vortexsandbox.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 watson.live.com
0.0.0.0 watson.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 watson.ppe.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 wildcard.appex-rf.msn.com.edgesuite.net
0.0.0.0 win.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 win10.ipv6.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 win10.ipv6.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 wns.notify.windows.com.akadns.net
0.0.0.0 www.bing.com

- save the hosts file as a copy on the desktop as hosts.txt
- rename the hosts file and remove the .txt extension
- cut and paste the hosts file back to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts and replace the old version

What this does, is that whenever a secret program or process is trying to secretly send or receive information, they are instead directed to a blank internet IP address (0.0.0.0), therefore blocking any transmission of data.

Free 15GB Cloud Storage - Google Drive

Some of you may not even know it but you may already have some free cloud storage. Google offers 15GB of free online storage. You only need to have a Google account, which in most cases is the free Gmail webmail account. If you don't already have a Gmail account you should sign up for one and create a new email address. You can access Google Drive here

(https://drive.google.com/drive/my-drive)

There are no monthly fees or hidden fees associated with Gmail or Google Drive. If you ever wanted to share some files securely with other people without having to use other cloud or subscription services, then Google Drive is exactly what you're looking for.  A quick example of a file on Google Drive is my current Resume. It is online for free and is publicly posted on a secure link on my own Google Drive. (2016 Resumé - Walt Jimenez). Any file type that you want backed up can be saved onto Google Drive. If you want the option to share any of your individual files, you can just create a secure link to each specific file you want to post.

As long as your files are moderate size and you don't need more than 15GB of storage, Google Drive is amazing. If you need more than 15GB of storage, you can use a 128GB USB flash drive or a 2TB portable hard drive and carry it on your person. You don't need to waste your hard earned money.

However, if you do prefer to have more online storage and are willing to pay a recurring fee, Google Drive also offers 100GB of storage for $1.99/month or 1TB of storage for $9.99/month.

There's a pretty big selection of other Cloud Services. The more recognizable ones such as Micrsoft's One Drive, or Apple's iCloud services can all do the same thing. I just prefer Google branding. Their Android OS is amazing on phones and tablets and Media devices. Because of Google's open source attitude, the innovations that other people create will always be better than what Apple or Microsoft can create in-house only.

With Google, there's a lot less proprietary bullshit and less limitations on how the technologies can develop which helps to improve technology products and services as a whole. That's not to say that Apple and Microsoft products are bad. They are quite amazing actually but what I'm trying to convey is that "thinking out of the box will always generate better ideas than thinking inside the box". Tech will evolve much faster without the restraints and red tape.