How to disable ads on the Windows 10 lock screen
Disabling ads on the Windows 10 lock screen simple requires you to disable a setting called Windows Spotlight. You can find this by following the steps below.
1. Open the start menu and open the Settings app
2. Select "Personalisation"
3. Select "lock screen" from the menu on the side
4. Under background, change "Windows Spotlight" to either "picture" or "slideshow"
5. Toggle "get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen" to off
How to disable ads in the Windows 10 start menu
Windows 10 will occasionally show "suggested" apps in your start menu. Once again, these are fairly easy to get rid of.
1. Open the start menu and open the Settings app
2. Select "Personalisation"
3. Select "start menu" from the menu on the side
4. Toggle "occasionally show suggestions in Start" to off
How stop Windows 10 tracking you for targeted ads
This is a bit more ominous than it sounds, but Windows 10 is able to track your usage across apps you've gotten from the Windows Store. This information is then used to provide you with more personalised ads in other apps. If you want to switch this off, you can do this be following the steps below.
1. Open the start menu and open the Settings appDon't forget to install SpyBot Anti-Beacon, too, and update it frequently, and make sure you check your privacy settings after each Windows Update, since Windows 10 can (and will) add new privacy settings and reset your existing privacy settings, all without notifying you or asking your permission.
2. Select "Privacy"
3. Toggle "let apps use my advertising ID for experiences across apps" to off
Don't believe me? Then you, my friend, should watch this:
It's malware, people; it behaves exactly like malware, and doesn't stop being malware solely because it's made by Microsoft.
Still, the Cybershack piece is the first one I've seen that gives a detailed run-down of how you can stop Microsoft from monetizing you. Progress!
</sarcasm>