builtbybel / privatezilla

👀👮🐢🔥Performs a privacy & security check of Windows 10

Privatezilla

Privatezilla is the simplest way to perform a quick privacy and security check of your Windows 10 copy.

About • Download • Community package • Credits • Support

About

Privatezilla integrates the most critical Windows 10 privacy settings and allows you to quickly perform a privacy check against these settings. Active settings are marked with the status "Configured" and indicates that your privacy is protected. The inactive ones are declared as "Not configured". All available settings (currently 60) can be enabled as well as disabled.

System Requirements

• Windows 10 (supports 1809 - 2009)

Download

• (GitHub) Download

Community package

For advanced users only!

The community package for Privatezilla adds support for several advanced scripting features based upon PowerShell, e.g.

• Removal of specific pre-installed apps
• Uninstall of OneDrive
• Unping Startmenu tiles
• Disable telemetry of third-party apps (E.g. CCleaner, Firefox, Dropbox, Microsoft Office)
• Removal of Windows Defender (NOT recommended! I can highly recommend using Windows Defender on consumer versions of Windows 10)
• Blocking telemetry via firewall and host files. Rules are provided by crazy-max/WindowsSpyBlocker
• Support for all-in-one PowerShell debloating script Windows10Debloater.ps1
• New automation templates

All objects (templates and scripts) included can be viewed here

How-to Install

• Download the latest packages.zip file.
• Extract the package to Privatezilla installation directory (the extracted package must have the name scripts)
• Restart Privatezilla

Intro of community package after Installing

Credits

Since release 0.30 this project is partly based upon

• https://github.com/t-richards/chemo

More infos here

This software uses the following packages:

• Icon by bokehlicia

Support

If you like the tool please consider supporting me via PayPal.

You can buy me a coffee or donut, some banana, a shirt, Taycan or Tesla, the stars or whatever you want here

---

builtbybel  ·  GitHub @builtbybel  ·  Twitter @builtbybel

privatezilla's Issues

`Remove all builtin apps` will remove WSL

.. which got me in trouble...... Now I have lost some files within WSL1 filesystem, and all of the environments I configured in it and I have to reinstall it completely
Please consider adding WSL to some whitelist

Remove all built-in apps

Configured "Remove all built-in apps". Revert selected button does nothing. "Remove all built-ina apps except defaults is "Not configured" (as I would expect as Remove all is configured), but clicking Apply selected button does nothing. How to reinstall default built-in apps?

Microsoft Edge Issue

After I have done some tweaks using this software, I cant make some adjustments on microsoft edge because it states: your browser is managed by your organization. Which option must I revert to correct this?
Edit: Made some search and fixed in this way

1- Open regedit
2- Go HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Policies
3- Delete Edge Folder

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrosoftEdge/comments/ja5mlo/microsoft_edge_managed_by_your_organization/

Suggestion: translation tool

Hi, I want do a suggestion
I love help to translate different apps to my language (Spanish), but I try do it with this app too, but I don't understand a lot the other app...

I'm using this web to help to translate string. Support xml, ini, and others types of files...
https://crowdin.com/

"Removes all built-in apps" but removes Minecraft Bedrock

Just wanted to warn people, it will delete things that aren't built-in to your Windows also. I regret choosing that option, thinking that I wouldn't lose 200+ hours of my life.

Where is the source code for Spydish.exe ?

I can not find it ...

Typo's

In this part of basicPrivacyTemplate there are 2 typo's in the -Name

###- Enable suggestions and automatic Installation of apps

New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" -Name "reInstalledAppsEverEnabled" -Type DWord -Value 1 -Force

A P is missing

New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager" -Name "ubscribedContent-338389Enabled" -Type DWord -Value 1 -Force

A S is missing

Any chance for "Dark Theme" Support?

hy Belim,

i finally decided to make me an GitHub account, so its easyier to interact with those Awesome Developers 📦
Anyway, here i am with my first observation, since im using a dark theme (to not straining my eyes), Spydish is kinda unreadable.

I made a Pic of how it llooks for me. Sadly the "attach" function does not work for me, so heres an link.

https://s12.directupload.net/images/200624/lzudcv2d.png

Would it be possible, if not to much work, to make it Dark Theme compatible?

On a side Note:
So you finally added an Check function :) Like Blackbird does, kinda.. I like it. And teh Information displayed is very good.

Thank you and Best Regards..
Yours, BeTa

Request: Being able to export/import configurations would be really useful.

First Thanks for this software, 👍

Request: Being able to export/import configurations would be really useful.

Also being able to run Privatezilla silently from a script would also be usefull, something like

Privatezilla.exe /c MyconfigFile.xml

Regards

Request: Windows Update Features

First, congrats on going open source 👍

Anyway, one feature I'd really like to see is one I find particularly useful (and very under-used) which is to disable driver updates via Windows Update.
This is a useful feature because once you have your working system, you don't have to worry about driver updates coming along and breaking things - and you can do so without having to disable windows updates entirely (generally a bad idea for security reasons, and this is how people generally avoid driver updates - kinda overkill!)

The other very useful Windows update feature is to set it to only download them manually. You know how everyone is always saying how annoying it is that windows just forced an update on their PC? Well, it didn't. That's just the default, aimed at the general user who wants the thing to just work automatically.... they just never changed that default. You can have a button to download the updates whenever YOU want to do it :)

Here is the existing Windows Update section:

Here are the windows policies related to the above suggestions:

Note: Choose option 2!

While I'm at it, I'd request one more which can be useful for people who want to avoid unexpected performance impact: Disable "Allow automatic updates immediate installation". One example where this can be useful is for people who are say, playing a game, and don't want windows to do stuff in the background without asking.

Naturally, all of these options should come with the warning that they should only be applied by users who are willing to manually take responsibility for installation of upgrades/drivers/etc in a timely fashion, to ensure a secure and stable system, but since so many people complain that Microsoft has "forced" these automatic updates and "stolen" their ability to take this role upon themselves, when in fact the option has always been there, perhaps it would be nice to expose the option to power users who use software like Privatezilla :)

Adding "what changes will be made" option

In your other app debotnet has an option to Test Scprit which is very usefull.
Could you add that option to this app too ?

Disabled Telemetry & Windows Tips through O&O ShutUp10, but spydish says otherwise

Telemetry is disabled according to O&O ShutUp10 1.8.1411 and Windows Privacy Dashboard WPD 1.3.1532, but analyzing with spydish 0.10.11 says it is not.

Windows 10 1909

Inking and Typing Personalization

Would be nice if we could clear this box from the app.

Building of the executable in the release

Hi. How was the code compiled into the release?

I worry that what I see in the code is not the same as what I get in the release.
Someone might modify the source on github before compiling the source.

Is it possible to automatically compile the source for each release with github action?

Community packages not working

Hello, i tried following the instructions to extract the community package to the privatezilla package but it still wont run

Will there be 21H1 support or is there already?

I have a Pro edition of 21H1 update and I'm wondering if the current version will work properly with it or if I have to wait for an update. Thanks!

Privatezilla for Windows 11

Hello, Microsoft just released stable version of Windows 11 today. I have upgraded, and there was no error. Please make privatezilla compatible with Windows 11 too. As many people will be upgrading in coming days.

Settings being overwritten when app closed

I've run Privatezilla and set various options.

Analysis shows the options have been configured.

However, as soon as I close Privatezilla the options are cleared. Is there a way to resolve this?

Still leaving behind some built-in apps

It seems that on Windows 10 Pro 21H2, selecting Remove all built-in apps still leaves behind, at least, Spotify, Disney+ and Microsoft News.

privatezilla version is 0.50.0

v0.12.3_x64/x86: 'Analyze' crashing/hanging on 'Do not show feedback notifications'.

FCI:
Win10_Pro_Eng v1909 #18363.836 + Spydish v0.12.3 (_x64 + _x86)

=> Both _x64/x86 Versions crashing/hanging if 'Do not show feedback notifications' is selected with:

Unhandled exception... [...]
Specified cast is not valid.

Grr...!!, 'GitHub' Editor buggy in my Browser (PM v26.3.3), 'Code'/'Quote' Formatting not working...!
EDIT: Seems to work "a bit better" in FF v55.0.3, at least Formatting is working...

Details from _x64:

See the end of this message for details on invoking 
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.InvalidCastException: Specified cast is not valid.
   at Spydish.RegistryHelper.IntEquals(String keyName, String valueName, Int32 expectedValue)
   at Spydish.Policy.Privacy.DisableFeedback.CheckPolicy()
   at Spydish.MainWindow.<>c__DisplayClass26_0.<BtnCheckGPO_Click>b__0()
   at System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1.InnerInvoke()
   at System.Threading.Tasks.Task.Execute()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.ConfiguredTaskAwaitable`1.ConfiguredTaskAwaiter.GetResult()
   at Spydish.MainWindow.<BtnCheckGPO_Click>d__26.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.8.4180.0 built by: NET48REL1LAST_B
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework64/v4.0.30319/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
Spydish
    Assembly Version: 0.12.3.0
    Win32 Version: 0.12.3.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Users/JFC/Downloads/Security/SpyDish/spydish_x64/Spydish.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.8.4150.0 built by: NET48REL1LAST_C
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.8.4001.0 built by: NET48REL1LAST_C
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.8.3752.0 built by: NET48REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.8.3752.0 built by: NET48REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Core
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.8.4180.0 built by: NET48REL1LAST_B
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Core/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Core.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.8.3752.0 built by: NET48REL1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
    <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

possible to rewrite privatezilla with golang

Does Privatezilla read at startup the current Registry settings and toggle the checkboxes?

Does Privatezilla read at startup the current Registry settings and toggle the checkboxes accordingly?

It other words: Do the Privatezilla checkbox states (checked/unchecked) always represent the current state of the internal Win10 options?

Analyse area columns size can't be modify

already discussed

Block Installation of new Microsoft Edge wrong Reg Key

"DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium." instead of "DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium"
I think the dot should be removed.

Truncated column text in Analyze

Just started this app. The Analyze screen shows two columns - apparently the first is the policy and the second is whether configured or not. For whatever reason both of these columns are too short so the full text of the policy and configured message is not visible. I can't find a column size setting or slider.
https://i.imgur.com/AqU8G2p.png

Thank you Belim ! I've just installed the scripts in Spydish.

Thank you Belim ! I've just installed the scripts in Spydish.
If I understand you, Belim, I can't run any specific policy inside the basicprivacyTemplate, right ?
Please add a button "Analyze" for scripts in Spydish to know which script are already applied.
Also the same button for SharpApp will be great ! Thank you !

Originally posted by @florent7 in https://github.com/mirinsoft/sharpapp/issues/32#issuecomment-643520239

Translation in Dutch

Hello is it possible that I can help you with the translation in Dutch

Req Granularity on App Removal

The program is brilliant but it removes NONE or ALL of the Metro apps... what about if I want to remove all except say Windows Mixed Reality app?

Start Menu Search Only Shows Native Apps?

If I apply everything in the list searching in the start menu only shows native apps.

For example, if I have the native calculator and libreoffice installed, you'd expect to see the calculator & libreoffice calc appear when I search for "calc", but only the native calculator is shown. I can still scroll through the list of installed apps to find libreoffice calc.

I've tried reverting only those fixes which seem somehow related but haven't been able to find which fix causes this behaviour.

Support Message missing when run from Win8

I was under the impression that this app was only meant for W10 as indicated when launched from Win7. When I run privatezilla from Win8, it doesn't indicate that it's for Win10 only. Is it possible that some of the settings may mess things up?

Bug when checking for update with firewall enabled

Hi,

when you try to check for updates for Privatezilla and you have a firewall enabled, the application crashes.

Regards
Dietmar

"Remove all Apps" also removes Calculator

I think the calculator is used a lot, unlike the other apps, which is why i think it shouldnt be removed at all.

Software can't access internet?

I have a very weird issue with a freshly bought computer. The first thing I did before connecting the PC to internet was to install Firefox and run privatezilla with the option Confidential, Cortana and Remove builtin app. All apps I installed after that can't reach internet. (Signal, LoL, Steam...) though the Wi-Fi network. Is that related to privatezilla? Firefox can connect OK, and a ping from the CMD can reach websites... Very weird.

禁用更新是个很棒的功能！

Telemetry re-enabled at random intervals

Hi, running 0.50.0 and Windows 10 20H2, telemetry is re-enabled at random intervals. I'm running the program as admin but still have this issue. It doesn't seem to be after reboots nor at a certain interval.

Analyze Revert and Apply button not visible on Hi-Dpi displays

MacBook Pro 13 with freshly installed Windows 10 v2004 via Bootcamp, the buttons are not visible, I suspect this is due to the default Hi-DPI display settings on modern screens.

Tried maximizing the window and resizing the window to make it small and force a re-draw, but still no buttons.

Workaround: Press TAB a few times and guess where the APPLY button is located, then press ENTER.

Suggestion: Move the buttons to the top of the Window, add keyboard shortcuts such as ALT+A for Apply.

Add it to chocolatey?

Add it to chocolatey?

'Remove all builtin app' removes Windows Terminal and Files

They are not builtin apps at all.

Trojan:Win32/Zpevdo.B

Tried to run on W10 but Windows Defender just kick it because Trojan:Win32/Zpevdo.B

Removal of built-in apps is not working on Local Account

With Privatezilla, cannot remove the built-in Microsoft apps. It shows Applied Status but doesn't removes.
When Tried on Administrator account, it does the job ! Please fix this.

OS : Windows 10
Version : 10.0.19043 Build 19043

Ru translation file

Translation into Russian, Ru-ru.zip

Feature Request - disable more useless services

Hi, i'd like to give a suggestion: it'd be good if you added the services found in the sites below to make windows 10 faster/lighter:

https://windowsreport.com/disable-windows-services/

https://gist.github.com/2510/addc4d62b681b7ee3bf2

Cortana icon still on taskbar win10 2004

Take Cortana off the taskbar

reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v ShowCortanaButton /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

The above command removed the cortana icon from the taskbar. Maybe it should be added to privatezilla.

NoAutoUpdate does the opposite.

"NoAutoUpdate" value should be set to 1 in order to prevent the automatic updates, atm it's been set to 0 which is the opposite effect as it enabled auto updates.

https://github.com/builtbybel/privatezilla/blob/master/src/Privatezilla/Settings/Updates/DisableUpdates.cs:
Registry.SetValue(NoAutoUpdate, "NoAutoUpdate", 0, RegistryValueKind.DWord);

https://docs.microsoft.com/de-de/security-updates/windowsupdateservices/18127499

PR: https://github.com/builtbybel/privatezilla/pull/50/files

There is no source code

This app should not be used until the author @Belim decides to release the code. Github is not a release avenue for precompiled binaries. Relese the code or find another community. This is not safe.

Fingerprint issue

After applying some flags, the fingerprint stopped working

Installer & Update Notifier/Automatic Updates

Please consider releasing a installer version which will also have a setting which can check for updates on Privatezilla or updating Privatezilla automatically and notify the user when an update has been made and privacy settings should be reviewed.

Privacy: disable Windows Tips

This setting actually adds more than one reg Key (AllowSuggestedAppsInWindowsInkWorkspace for example) so I think it should be divided: "Block suggested Apps in Windows Ink Workspace" for the key above, ...

Can't find the script files?

Hello! I just extracted PZ in C:\opt\PrivateZilla\ and the script zip into C:\opt\PrivateZilla\scripts
Then I run PZ, go scripts, I tick any script ex. Blocking Telemetry IPs via Windows Firewall, I try to apply the script and I get the following error... (The system cannot find the file specified)

My guess would be some weird Powershell configuration issue on my computer but I wonder what's really hapenning here!

Thank you
Paul

************** Exception Text **************
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception (0x80004005): The system cannot find the file specified
at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at Privatezilla.MainWindow.<>c__DisplayClass28_1.<BtnDoPS_Click>b__1()
at System.Threading.Tasks.Task.Execute()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.GetResult()
at Privatezilla.MainWindow.<BtnDoPS_Click>d__28.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()

Localization

It is sad that the application is only in English - I propose to translate.
I am ready to help in the translation into Russian.
(For example, you can use Weblate, or any other service. It is completely free for open source projects.)