bob, You said it, there is not way to stop Windows 10 from spying on you or selling your data, just as you can't stop Google or Apple from doing the same.

bob, because you should additionally block Microsoft servers in the hosts file...

bob,
This is just one of the many big tech firms getting into your business, personal life and your finances. This is now the world we live in. If the government doesn't stop them, no one will.

bob, In this world with hackers, when we all wouldn't like to read such things you've written. However, when we install such software and then someone like you tell us all the information. What about when something will be broken with MS servers? The hackers will get it even thought we have this software that is for money ?! Who now will know the answer who is responsible for all of this when a pursuer will ask me what did I do to prevent it. I can tell him that I got this software, so they can't have any information of myself that hackers could get. But off course Microsoft has such a good lawyers that noone of us will winn with them ?!

Ben, and you still will not stop the Os selling everything off to who ever pay microsoft pictures sure, passwords the same.

You have no way of blocking MS, just as you can't block Apple or Google if you use their phones.

We all need to say not and move to software that is secure.

Paweł, Because software like this is to give you false security saying you did something, that 100% does not stop MS just make it seems so.

Hackers who cares MS use your data to sell them to the right companies to earn money how you think Apple and Google earns money and how MS can keep Windows 10 free you pay with your data they sell.

Ben, On 7/28/20 Microsoft changed Windows Defender to look at the hosts file, and treat the blocks you mention as malware. I don't know if a 3rd party Anti-Virus would be the answer to that. See:
https://www.ghacks.net/2020/08/04/microsoft-defender-flags-hosts-files-with-microsoft-server-redirects-as-malicious/

Thanks bob, for warning people. For those who don't understand, I recommend you watch this recent interview Edward Snowden gave to John Stossel: https://youtu.be/ZSu4rCizyUM

Microsoft is just one of several tech giants that are cart blanche spying on users and sharing the information with the NSA.

bob, When I want to block everything, I disconnect the ethernet cable, switch to a USB-connected Wifi dongle, then throttle most of the apps while just allowing the browser to operate. Works like a charm!

Ben, first, you need to know the precise domain names used *only* for telemetary and some are directly accessed via IP numbers not using *any* domain name services like the hosts file, in addition some domains are used for legitimate purposes too so blocking an entire sub-domain could easily break something significant you might rely upon. And to add complication to it some of the telemetary is desirable for the *normal* user as it reports when things are going wrong and gives MS a heads-up that some doo doos is about to hit the fan.
Only time all the telemetary needs to be disabled is if you are a spy and need to be online but invisible to everyone except the services you must connect to via layers of strong VPNs. But really would any self respecting spy be using Windows 10 for covert operations? I think not... Otherwise just keep WIndows 10 away from any internet gateway router and you'll be safe from most malicious exploits and concerns over encrypted telemetary and therefore no need for any critical hotfixes for exposed back doors in windows any more.

Paweł, look at it from the practical point of view, there is no escape from spying eyes when ever you use MSFT products. Win10 sends samples every few seconds back to them of your activities, like browsing, sending/receiving mail, typing DOC files and so on, including audio and video even if you do not have mike attached to your computer system. They have ability to listen to your conversations over your cell phone via the WI-FI network or wireless home network or through the smart appliances, TVs, laptops, iPad, security systems, refrigerators, microwave ovens an so on, near by or in your home. Any password you have on anything it is useless to you, because MSFT can just disable it when ever they want to engage in spying.

AF Phantom2, Yes, there is solution to your big government protection. First do not count on it, the big government is on it too and they want control of your life and will even pay some companies to report on people's activities.
Second, become invisible, there are many ways to disappear and live happy life. Third, for communication do not use cell phones, wireless networks and Wi-Fi connections. Get read off the smart appliances, install land line, open fictitious name company and use imaginary names for the board meetings and communications with the rest of the world and assume an alias name for public events. It will be very difficult for the big brother to follow you around (not impossible) but they will lose interest if the data is not piling up under your identity in the central d-base computers. Changing few switches in Windows 10 is a joke, they will not protect you from spying.

bob, could you please tell us some examples of the mentioned “IP activity monitoring software”?

Bob, update your hosts file with the free hosts file editor and use Dan Pollocks Host File

https://hostsfileeditor.com/
https://www.someonewhocares.org/

This will stop the spying permanently.

Othello86, Which does not work either but nice idea though.

TK, But no matter what you do will you not block MS from selling your data, and have the rights to everything on your PC, anything you have is MS property.

MS will still get their information.

Brent, No it won't you can't stop MS from spying unless you disconnect 100% from the internet and never connect anything to your PC and later to another PC with internet access.

Basically if you wan't to avoid Windows 10 from spying and selling everything you have to have it unplugged.

There is no way to block Microsoft, Apple or Google.

Nimras186, so MS is like magic and can get access to a windows 10 machine that is 100% disconnected from any wide area network and they can crack any strength of any unknown to anoyone else encryption cypher... they own everything? oh come on why is the moderator allowing this conspiratorial nonsense through into the comments section but legitimate comments by regulars are often deleted and illegally edited?

Maureen, https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/pin/1004/security-software/antispy-for-windows-10

Setting is in profile.

Sebastin Williams, Thanks for mentioning Shutup10 from O&O. I just downloaded it and found a bunch of stuff my previous anti-spy type programs did not allow me to disable.

Lee Foster, only problem is that after updating Windows a lot of these features are turned back on, so you'd have to run the program again. Better still use a VPN.