Windows7/8 - Updates to hide to prevent Windows 10 Upgrade / Disable Telemetry

The registry directory you mentioned is missing the QualityCompat

The correct location is:

Key="HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" Subkey="SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\QualityCompat" Value="cadca5fe-87d3-4b96-b7fb-a231484277cc" Type="REG_DWORD”
Data="0x00000000”

NOD32 already has this sorted since day one of the patch's release:



Be vigilante, be like Phoenix >>>

 

Good lookin out! Yup, I knew that but f’ed up my post. Thanks, and as usual, nice work!

PSS (Insert Mitch Hedberg joke here): Since Im posting yet again (sorry!)... Ive been meaning to ask if any other Simplix Pack users find “Evil Update” KB2670838 installed after using his packs? I never installed IE 10 nor 11, and make sure not to integrate ie11 when I run his update packs. The only remedy I can think of is using WSUS or running an uninstall KB2670838 .bat immediately after updating w/ a Simplix Pack. Any suggestions to permanently hide that update would be so welcome.
I shall chill on posting here for a while -so thanks in advance for any Evil Empire Update bypass ideas. Simplix has it on his approved list, but it breaks pages and messes w/ Explorer on my machines. Peace out El Vigilante Maximo!

 

fresh installation Windows 7 Pro on Kaby Lake. what kind disadvantages of installing IE11? is this IE11 affecting on something like blurry text, spying, telemetry? could someone post safest list of updates KB**** that should be installed, updates without bugs and W10 preparation. security updates and .NET updates are still safe? thanks

 

Installing IE 11 will break Aero and cause that blurry text on some systems. Safe list? that's what the whole thread is about, check the OP.

For an easier hassle free method of installing all the updates without the bad ones, download and install the Simplix Pack but make sure you unselect IE11 from the list of updates offered.

You need to run it a few times because some more updates will appear after you install the first set and reboot. Keep running it until it finds no updates except IE11 because we don't want that.

Download Simplix Pack 17.12.15

Spoiler: Changelog

• Added KB4051956-x86-x64
• Added KB4054518-x86-x64 with disabling telemetry and processor checking (replaces KB4048957-x86-x64)
• Removed Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320 (included in KB4054518-x86-x64

Spoiler: Telemetry Updates Excluded

• KB971033 -x86-x64 (Update for Windows Activation Technologies checking)
• KB2952664 -x86-x64 (System Update compatibility for migration to Windows 10)
• KB2977759 -x86-x64 (Diagnostics compatibility issues for upgrading to Windows 10)
• KB3021917 -x86-x64 (diagnostics and telemetry systems to upgrade to Windows 10)
• KB3035583 -x86-x64 (Update sets "Get Windows 10" application)
• KB3068708 -x86-x64 (Update to improve the quality of diagnostics and telemetry)
• KB3075249 -x86-x64 (Update adds a point telemetry consent.exe file)
• KB3080149 -x86-x64 (Update for CEIP program and diagnostic telemetry)
• KB3081954 -x86-x64 (Update to improve the working folders and telemetry)
• KB3123862 -x86-x64 (Updated opportunity to upgrade to Windows 10)
• KB3139923 -x86-x64 (Update adds a point telemetry consent.exe file)
• KB3150513 -x86-x64 (Updated configuration for compatibility diagnostics)
• KB3161608 -x86-x64 (Update adds a point telemetry consent.exe file)
• KB3163589 -x86-x64 (Report on the work of running an outdated version of Windows)
• KB3172605 -x86-x64 (Update adds a point telemetry consent.exe file)
• KB3173040 -x86-x64 (Notice of the expiry of the update to Windows 10)

 

thank you for quick reply. also I have one question about Intel Graphics drivers. maybe someone know how add windows 7 section support to the file "igdlh64.inf" on Intel 15.60 Graphics driver. Intel removed that section. I need it for 8th Gen CPU (8550U Kaby Lake) running on Windows 7. For now I using 15.45 (modified) which support 7th Gen maximum. Works very well. Do I really need 15.60 for full support?

 

this is the list of updates on brand new laptop with Windows 7. just recently installed on new Windows.

 

So when I'm updating w/ Simplix Packs...
Cmd Prompt
:\>UpdatePack7R2.exe /silent /reboot
I always have KB2670838 installed afterwards (no IE11, I used Blocker Toolkit for 10 & 11 on installation). KB2670838 is on his "included" list. So I just run a simple .bat removing that 'evil' Aero breaking update afterwards,
@echo off
echo [---Uninstalling updates, please be patient---]
wusa /uninstall /kb:2670838 /quiet /norestart
echo [---Uninstall complete, restart your computer to finish---]
If I'm using the wrong CMD pls let me know... but otherwise that .bat post Simplix works allright.

 

can someone post all "evil" KB****. I just bought brand new laptop (made in 2015) with factory installed Windows 7 Pro x64 (I see some updates in the list from 2015). I just wanna check and remove evil versions. Tnx

 

Just use the .bat file Phoenix cites page#1, or manually go through the steps page#1 (if you can -not sure in the roll-up era to be honest, been a minute since I did new a 7 install). Better yet, use a Simplix Update pack (see page 1 of thread for link to Simplix -last update was 12-15-17).


https://www.grc.com/inspectre.htm

 

FYI, if you want to see all KB updates installed on your system type this in a command window:
It will dump the update list in your c:/users/ username folder.

 

...today, again, must be the 20th time or so.

 

any advices how check if your PC is protected from Meltdown and Spectre and how to make the protection

 

https://www.nsa.gov/about/contact-us/
Ask the NSA Assuming you use Win7or8 and have new hardware, wait for Simplix Update pack (Alexander isn’t rushing the new update, but he’s indicated it will come in due time). Or you can make the change to Win10

 

*InSpectre tool v6 [As recommended by Intel to observe your status + able to disable Meltdown and Spectre vulnerability patches]. You need the January patch from Micro$haft Update. But most OEM's haven't pushed out useable (firmware - microcodes)yet.

 

Check out post #1 here for summary sites and resolutions:

CPU Vulnerabilities, Meltdown and Spectre, Kernel Page Table Isolation Patches, and more
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...page-table-isolation-patches-and-more.812424/

 

They probably don't want to ruin their stuff just so the OCD worrywarts can have warm fuzzy feelings about the false sense of security in technology that will never actually be secure... ever. We live in an insecure world, with lots of evil people that are happy to find and exploit mistakes that are only avoidable in 20/20 hindsight. Life is tough in the wild, wild west. Might as well go outside with a fly swatter on a kamikaze mission to rid the planet of flies. Ain't gonna happen.

 

Perfect Computer Security Is a Myth. But It’s Still Important

 

The Simplix Update (beta) is up. https://blog.simplix.info/updatepack7r2/ The Beta still reads 12.15.17
(Comments Section, Second to last post at time of this posting)

[Тестовая версия доступна здесь, но с последними обновлениями тоже есть ряд проблем, поэтому устанавливать на рабочих компьютерах пока не рекомендуется.
Ответить Дмитрий 24.02.2018 в 23:03 Постоянная ссылка ]

Takes you to...
http://forum.oszone.net/post-2798767.html#post2798767

(Some users note success, but Simplix hasn't given it the green light). I'm tempted, but will wait. I threw it in Translator and it seems most are OK... but I did read some were having issues w/ certain graphics cards. YMMV.

*Anyone install "SmartFix"? Its Virustotal scan is clean... looks like a good tool.

 

Microsoft Patch Alert: February's fixes aren’t as bad as last month, but problems abound
All is not well. The Win10 Fall Creators Update cumulative update is bluescreening some PCs and dropping USB connections for many — and there’s a bug in the Win7 Monthly Rollups that cause a boot-to-black.
By Woody Leonhard, FEB 26, 2018 9:34 AM PT
https://www.computerworld.com/artic...as-bad-as-last-month-but-problems-abound.html

"The January 2018 Microsoft patching cycle may have been the worst and most invasive set of Microsoft releases in recent memory. The February updates, by marked contrast, only clobber a limited number of machines. How many? We don’t know — and Microsoft isn’t saying.

Win7 reboot to black
The other major problem this month is with the Windows 7 Monthly Rollups. Many users report that, after installing a Win7 Monthly Rollup, their systems no longer restart properly: Clicking through the Start / Restart sequence lands these PCs on a black screen, with the computer and fans still running. The only way to get their system working again involves a nearly-hard-restart, typically by punching the restart button on the front of a desktop or pushing and holding the power button on a laptop.

It’s not clear whether the problem affects Intel ( Sandy Bridge? Ivy Bridge?) or AMD processors, or all of them – and maybe more.

It’s also not clear whether the problem started with January’s Monthly Rollup, or if it just emerged in February. I have a report that the problem didn’t occurafter the January Monthly Rollup. But then again I have a report that it did.

Ben1907 on the Microsoft Answers forum has had some success, without uninstalling the patch:

I checked my C-State settings on my ASUS P8P67-M motherboard and they were set to the default settings in the ASUS manual.

• C1E [enabled]
• C3 Report [disabled]
• C6 Report [enabled]

Playing around by setting different combinations, I found the C1E enabled/disabled did not matter, so left it enabled. However, by setting C6 Report to DISABLED, I have now been able to perform a normal restart/reboot from Windows 7. Tried at least half dozen times and all good so far.

Thanks for investigating this and putting me on the right path to correct this issue. Microsoft has caused me so many lost hours of troubleshooting problems they inject with updates you wonder if they have any quality control."

Patch Alert: February 2018
Posted on February 26th, 2018 at 07:03 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge
This month’s pile of problems pales in comparison to last month’s mayhem, but we’re still facing a handful of significant patching difficulties.

My advice: Wait and watch for a change in the MS-DEFCON level.
https://www.askwoody.com/2018/patch-alert-february-2018/

Windows Patches/Security
February 2018 Black Tuesday

 

Best to let all of the security scaredy cats be the guinea pigs with this stuff. Woody's advice to wait and watch is good. I've been using that approach for at least 5 years. The malware from the Micro$lop Catalog is the most dangerous.

 

Any Linux distro suggestions? I'm inclined to go with Mint or Ubuntu, but would love feedback (esp. from those who have followed a thread like this).
I've had it w/ MS. Spectre & Meltdown transcend ones OS, but I'm spent on Micro$lop.

The time spent figuring-out Linux will be time well-spent in the long, you know? 2020 isn't too distant... might as well hone the Linux chops now.
(Hopefully not too off-topic -but I'm throwing-in the MS towel) Thanks. Peace

*Just today, KB2952664 for the 21st time

 

linux Mint or ubuntu/xubuntu 16 should be fine.

 

I really like Linux Mint with Cinnamon desktop. It looks excellent and almost everything just works without any hassles. GeFarts drivers for Linux are sucky, but everything else was plug and play with the P870DM3 and Tornado F5/16L-G-1080,

 

The following thread has been pretty interesting as of late. If you don't know RU language, some info. is likely lost in translation -but using a Translator & generally speaking... seems the hit to performance people are reporting is pretty steep (post BIOS update(s) & w/ the newest SimplixBeta pack). http://forum.oszone.net/thread-257198-645.html

 

I installed the Beta on 2 machines. Skylake 6700K 4.0ghz, and a i-7 4600MQ. I thought the Skylake wouldn’t take a hit, but it did. Meltdown culprit. I’ll run benchmarks tmrrw using inspectre and disabling both, then enabling. Too tired to do it now. But I wonder if even a Kabylake top-tier will still Take a hit. MicroSha$t sucks. Is this their/MS’s way to force us to Win 10?

The Beta install updatpack7R2-2.18.18worked w/o problems. I think the Ozone reported issues, BSOD, were due to AV registry & missing drivers. Lots of Ozone benchmarks were on even older machines. I’ll post benchmarks manana if anyone’s interested. In the meantime I can only hope MS takes the high road in March and delivers quality patches. Try the beta... its cool if your Av is set. Use inspectre before to double check ofc. F’ng MS. I just am too tired to mess w/ this crap -and sure, my processors arent the latest/greatest, but they were solid before spectre/meltdown BS. Peace y’all. Good luck.

*Is there a website with user reported Win7 and Linux benchmarks post fix? Id love to find a good link to compare & contrast my results. Peace. Thanks! Again, Im blowing up this thread. Sorry about that. This sh*t interests me though... and I like to run a tight/clean machine(s).

 

On linux, upwards of kernel 4.13.36 are compiled with retpoline option which didn't slowdown my 4 yr PC at all, On win 10 its painfully slow, so I disabled spectre protection on w10 using Inspectre just to get back the perf.

 

Don't want to go too off topics, but what are the best Ant-Telemetry, Privacy protection programs for Windows 7 and 8.1? O&O ShutUp 10 seems a favorite, but it's only for 10.

 

The complaining about new updates is continuing there.

There's some kind of recognition by MS of the problem now, perhaps it will get resolved?

Microsoft stops pushing buggy Win7 patch KB 4088875, hopefully as a precursor to yanking it
Microsoft no longer installs the Windows 7 March Monthly Rollup automatically, but KB 4088875 is still available in the Update Catalog. Aren’t you glad you held off on patching this month?
https://www.computerworld.com/artic...5-hopefully-as-a-precursor-to-yanking-it.html

"Pity the cannon fodder.

Folks who had Windows Automatic Update turned on and installed Patch Tuesday’s Monthly Rollup for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2, KB 4088875, have encountered a viper’s pit of problems.

Based on reports from all over the globe, it looks like Microsoft is no longer pushing the buggy patch out the Windows Automatic Update chute — but the patch is still there if you go looking for it. Just don't go looking to Microsoft for explanations.

Right out of the gate we were warned that KB 4088875 had problems. The KB article lists these:

• After installing this update, SMB servers may leak memory.
• A Stop error occurs if this update is applied to a 32-Bit (x86) machine with the Physical Address Extension (PAE) mode disabled.
• A Stop error occurs on machines that don't support Streaming Single Instructions Multiple Data (SIMD) Extensions 2 (SSE2).

(“Stop error” is Microsoft speak for a bluescreen.)

Microsoft basically says it doesn’t have fixes for any of those problems —but it pushed the update out the Automatic Update chute anyway.

Shortly after the patch appeared, we started hearing from admins that both the pushed Monthly Rollup and the download-and-manually-install Security-only patch, KB 4088878, were causing problems with IP addresses on servers’ virtual Network Interface Cards (vNICs). After applying the update, the server — and sometimes individual machines — simply dropped off the network because their manual IP addresses had been altered.

Since then, there’s been an avalanche of complaints.

2 scenarios where the bug is causing problems

Susan Bradley has identified two specific scenarios where the bug kicks in:

Scenario 1 — VMware. As noted on a reddit post, a new virtual Ethernet network card is installed/enabled after the update. The side effect has occurred before with other convenience rollups, and a workaround was previously posted to this KB and a script is provided to fix the issue. It is not impacting all servers; it appears to be impacting virtual machines on VMware.

Scenario 2 — workstations. This one is a bit more fuzzy and not clear cut. I’ve seen reports where workstations with static IPs may be impacted with this update. There are definitely enough credible reports of chipsets being reset and losing their networking IP addresses. Note that I’m seeing this more in businesses than in consumer/peer-to-peer settings.

A sign that Microsoft will pull the buggy patch?

Microsoft hasn’t acknowledged the bug or pulled the bad patches, but they have taken a step that we’ve seen a few times before. When you run Windows Update on Win7, the KB 4088875 patch appears in the “Important” list — but it isn’t checked. Since it isn’t checked, it won’t be installed automatically.

In the past, that’s been a precursor to Microsoft completely yanking the patch. At this point, the buggy patches are still available in the Windows Update Catalog, for KB 4088878 (still dated March 12) and KB 4088875(now dated March 14).

If you’ve applied the update and your machine isn’t connecting any more, try uninstalling KB 4088875 or KB 4088878. If you want to continue with the patch installed, there’s a useful 7-year-old article on TechNet from Dan Stolts, " How to Find a Lost, Missing, Hidden or Removed Network Card (NIC) or Other Device and Even Remove it," that may help you get your NIC back.

I find it infuriating that Microsoft has stopped pushing the patch — they obviously know there's a problem — but as of Thursday morning, the company hasn’t acknowledged the bug. We really need more transparency from the Patching Monolith.

Will Microsoft fess up and fix things? Ha! Join us on the AskWoody Lounge ."

 

No one has a suggestion for an O&O equivalent privacy/anti telemetry program for 7 and 8.1?

 

From page 1, first post. This should work just fine.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=windows+7+telemetry+removing+program

https://www.google.com/search?q=stop+windows+7+spying

Spybot Anti-Beacon
https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/

Spybot Anti-Beacon is a standalone tool which was designed to block and stop the various tracking (telemetry) issues present in Windows 10. It has since been modified to block similar tracking functionality in Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems

It's been posted in this thread, many times, read through the thread like it's a reference book, with nice side jokes, comments, and random words of wisdom.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sea...ti-Beacon&t=post&o=relevance&c[thread]=780476

 

You should not have to go through all this... Download and try Spybot Anti-Beacon. One of the most known tools. And @Mr. Fox can probably help you more, I'm sure. But read as well the first posts as already suggested. Good luck.
This forum has also a lot info https://forums.mydigitallife.net/forums/windows-7.16/

 

1) Use the batch file , download it then run it as admin, it will take a long time but will eventually uninstall all the bad updates.

2) Set Windows update to ask before installing, that way when new updates are there, simply Google the KB number of that update to see what it's about, you can get an easy answer usually if it's bad or not from the first search results. Often, they will saybe aware of KBXXXXX as it contains telemetry, Windows 10 Upgrade, etc. so if the update IS bad, then simply right click on it and hide it.

3) Use my custom hosts file which blocks Microsoft Telemetry, OpenCandy Tracking which is bundled with some programs, and a few bad sites I added that I never wanna visit again because they contain malware, sites like when searching for an MP3 and I get these fake sites which my NOD32 immediately catches them trying to establish connection to other sites and blocks them)

Download Phoenix Hosts file

4) I would stay away from Spybot Anti-Beacon, only because when I tried it back then (about a year and a half ago), it didn't give me many option to customize what I want to disable from Windows 10 it was like a one button does it all thing and I can't remember what exactly but it broke some things in Windows so I lost trust in it. I don't know how it is now, you can create a system image before using it using Macrium Reflect and see if it has any adverse effects.

Macrium Reflect Installation/Usage Guide

 

Thanks, Phoenix! That's a lot if useful information. Have never used a batch or a host file, I'll need to get up to speed by reading.

What you said about Spybot is what I had read in several places. Some reported that it had "broken" things, which is why I was wary.

 

Feel free to ask bro should you have any concerns or doubts.

 

I didn't have trouble with Spybot Anti-Beacon installed on about a dozen systems, but none of them run Windows 10.

It looks like a new release is pending:

Successfully Completed: Spybot Anti-Beacon Beta Test
February 22nd, 2018
https://www.safer-networking.org/2018/anti-beacon-beta-test-complete/

"Team Spybot would like to thank all the users who took part in the beta test of the eagerly-anticipated ‘Spybot Anti-Beacon Version 3’.

The test program is now closed, and the team is fixing a few bugs that were identified. Due to the small number of issues, we are confident that the finished product should be released by the first week of March.

If you are interested in taking part in any of our future beta test programs, please let us know by completing the form located here:
https://www.safer-networking.org/contact/spybot-beta/

The release hasn't happened yet:

Product: Spybot Anti-Beacon (Installer)
Stopping Windows' telemetry
https://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=55

Spybot Anti-Beacon for Windows 10 1.6
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/spybot_anti_beacon_for_windows_10.html

Destroy Windows Spying has been redone and re-issued with current support, but I haven't had a need to use it, perhaps someone can test it out and report back?

Destroy Windows 10 Spying 2.2.2.2 - released this Mar 4, 2018
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/destroy_windows_10_spying.html

Nummer/Destroy-Windows-10-Spying
https://github.com/Nummer/Destroy-Windows-10-Spying/releases

Features

• Remove all spyware modules
• Remove spying apps
• Add spying domains to hosts file!
• Remove spying services
• Remove Windows 10 Metro Apps
• Support Windows 7/8/8.1/10 and Server 2008-2012 R2
• Remove Office 2016 telemetry
• Open Source!

If nothing else the additional updates for all the components in both those apps available as text / source will be good to gleen new data for our use.

 

Oops, Haswell i7-4700 MQ. Old Toshiba Laptop, but I added RAM and a 2nd SSD (still a good machine). But F'ng Win7 patches killed performance after I tried the Simplix Beta (02/08/18). SimplixBeta worked for the most part, but there were issues. Hold off, not worth the potential headaches. But check this...

So eventually if you patch an older machine, when there's no firmware BIOS update from manufacturer, a cool half-ass fix can be found here (it helped machine above markedly w/ Performance -after trying Simplix Beta). "uCode". Just use 7zip or whatnot, extract the newest Linux Processor microcode.dat from Intel, "install". Sh*t worked perfectly to boost performance.

I think I saw "Hmscott" on the thread... thought I'd mention here. Not a true firmware fix, but helps w/ performance
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/ucode-fix-for-spectre-ht-bug-fix-and-meltdown.806451/

 

Oh yeah. 03/28/18
"Microsoft's Windows 7 Meltdown fixes from January, February made PCs MORE INSECURE"

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/03/28/microsoft_windows_meltdown_patch_security_flaw/

 

Another fun thread:

CPU Vulnerabilities, Meltdown and Spectre, Kernel Page Table Isolation Patches, and more
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...patches-and-more.812424/page-90#post-10702345

 

And one more.
F*, I get tired & forgetful this late at night. But for those of you in the US... total bummer for those of us who value Civil Liberties and Personal Privacy. Also, total BS (tack-on to recent spending bill which has now been passed into "Law"). Nobody even read the 2700pg tack-on b/c it was added the night before the vote. I look forward to checking link above.
And for those of you who care about Personal Privacy, introducing "The Cloud Act"...
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/responsibility-deflected-cloud-act-passes

 

So glad I don't use Windows Updates. I stopped allowing Micro$loth to automatically update screw up my computers about 5 years ago. No regrets... not even one time. Life is fantastic when I do not allow them to make any decisions for me.

 

https://www.computerworld.com/artic...kes-the-brunt-of-march-patching-problems.html

 

Hey now. MS decided to re-populate a bunch of previously hidden updates. Looking at them (while cross-checking here and blog.simplix.info/update7/)... I noticed a couple that you maybe? want to include w/in the page #1 .bat file. Peace!

KB3172605
KB971033

 

You're a brave chap. I've always bought into the notion that if I don't update, Somali pirates will grab hold of my data, and Eastern Europeans will read my emails. Is this myth?

You haven't had any problems as a result?

What's your opinion of Specter and Meltdown.

 

You can disable Win updates and use offline updates if you need.

 

As of now, are there any reported incidents of Specter and Meltdown being utilized -by Somali pirates or their like? I guess that's the problem, "who knows"?

At least you're paying attention. Most my friends/family are not.

uBlock Origin's Advanced settings is great for blocking 3rd party scripts/frames. Sandbox anything new, even remotely untrusted. I mean anything (Avast's newly acquired CCleaner, ironically had an update hi-jacked). *Telemetry Sidenote, if you use a newer vers. of CCleaner, check your Task Scheduler (they run an Update at Start-up, regardless of your settings).

 

Yes. I'm currently in the cargo hold of a pirate ship (lots of humidity and sweat in here), negotiating the release of my laptop. I just added a pound of halvah to my offer, and he looks interested.

I bailed from NoScriot some months ago and immediately installed UBlock. What advanced settings would you enable?

 

Hah! Me too. Are you using FF Quantum? The new NoScripts UI via Quantum was bizarre, so I tried uBlock's Advanced Settings (it's now my fave Add-On, ever). Enable uBlock's Advanced Settings, and globally disable 3rd party scripts&frames (then tweak as necessary -you'll get familiar w/ right-clicking and Block Element fast).

"According to researchers, the most likely exploitation of Spectre would be web-based attacks using JavaScript (say in a malicious ad) to leak information, session keys, etc. cached in the browser. Thankfully, Mozilla has already issued Firefox version 57.0.4, which includes mitigations."
https://blog.barkly.com/meltdown-and-spectre-mitigation

 

Words of wisdom, Riley Martin. Great clarification.

Yes I adopted Quantum as soon as it was offered.

I find the new boookmarking system less intuitive. It seems that software engineers often think they're impressing their bosses by makng all of it more sophisticated (and less coherent).

I'm heading for my UBlock settings now.

I still hope that Spybot pulls it off.

Thanks!

 

There's far better options than Spybot Beacon (Id think?). This link looks pretty decent... I'd try it, but I'm long removed from Win10. Also, Id think Steve Black or his like probably has an updated & extensive hosts file you could add to your existing hosts (but you'd likely have to keep abreast of updated block lists).
https://github.com/adolfintel/Windows10-Privacy
(*using an Offline Account is HUGE when first setting-up Win10. I can't believe how many people use a legit, personally accountable, Outlook account to set-up their win10 machines). Peace y'all.