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Show HN: DidMySettingsChange – A tool that checks changed windows settings
Microsoft has been under heavy scrutiny with how they manage Windows over the years, particularly concerning privacy and telemetry settings. Many users find that after disabling certain settings, these settings are mysteriously re-enabled after updates or without any apparent reason. DidMySettingsChange is a Python script designed to help users keep track of their Windows privacy and telemetry settings, ensuring that they stay in control of their privacy without the hassle of manually checking each setting. Features

    Comprehensive Checks: Automatically scans all known Windows privacy and telemetry settings.
    Change Detection: Alerts users if any settings have been changed from their preferred state.
    Customizable Configuration: Allows users to specify which settings to monitor.
    Easy to Use: Simple command-line interface that provides clear and concise output.
    Logs and Reports: Generates detailed logs and reports for auditing and troubleshooting.
The more, the merrier! I've been using https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 for some time when using Windows, and being able to check settings at a glance in one place is very helpful.
This is cool! Might be less of a problem on MacOS, but I'd love a script that automatically turned off sending analytics to Apple every time I do a beta OS update.
Is sending analytics not most of the reason to opt in to beta updates?

I can't think of any upside to installing a release that's likely to have bugs or regressions if you're not going to send the analytics required to find the bugs that impact your software.

Heads up: when you get a new Mac and use the transfer process, your disk ends up unencrypted on the new device.
Just checked mine and it was encrypted after the transfer process.
The disk is encrypted by default on Apple Silicon.
Is there a similar facility for Linux distro system packages? Like the Windows DISM command, I want to be able to know if e.g. some malware or other software has changed a system file... I can't believe this is not a standard thing in Linux distros already.
It is. Most distros have a verify built into their packaging systems. For example; https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_...
Sounds like you want Tripwire https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/security-monitoring-tripwire
I've read so much FUD about Windows undoing settings with updates but in 3+ years it hasn't happened to me. The one thing they do revert with updates and have now removed completely is the registry hack to enable the old alt-tab menu. When they got rid of that I found Alt-Tab Terminator as a replacement and I'm happy with it.

But I see no trace of AI/Copilot, no ads, no suggestions, telemetry is still off, I disabled that stuff a long time ago and I didn't see them come back when I updated to 24H2 a few months ago.

More transparency is still good, though.

If you aren't checking, then it probably has happened to you. If it was trivial to monitor the settings, we wouldn't need a tool for it.
I've double checked after installing updates because the FUD worried me too. It just confuses me now because it doesn't happen. Maybe it's a legends that's grown as it's been passed on by people who don't use or understand Windows because they already hate it.
It's not FUD. Windows has legitimate issues with dark patterns. I think it's safe to say from the proliferation of tools just to play wack-a-mole with the settings alone that there is a problem. Even if you turn some off, they will add new ones. I understand Windows and Microsoft's history and that is precisely why I hate it. I should not need to hunt all over the settings to find a dozen different telemetry options that I want to turn off. It should be one button to turn it all off, on the first page of settings.

Microsoft is trying to make it more difficult to use Windows 11 with no Microsoft account all the time. If you think they won't try to screw you on privacy, you're very wrong.