How To Block Ads In Skype
BEST GUIDE: Remove and Block Ads on Skype. Hold the Windows Key and Press R. In the Run Dialog, type inetcpl.cpl and Click OK. Click the Security tab and chose Restricted Sites from the available zones at the top of the window. Right below the zone, you will find a “ Sites ” button. To block ads on Skype, follow below mentioned few simple steps: Step 1: Open Skype app on your computer - Help - Check for updates. Step 2: Go to the 'C: users your user name App Data Roaming Skype your Skype username' Here. Step 3: You have to copy 'config.XML' file to your.
Stop Microsoft from spying on you in Windows 10. Opt out of data collection & personalized ads by in Windows 10 PC, Phone, Mobile, Apps, Browser, Bing & Microsoft Account. In this post, we will see how to block or turn off ads from Cortana, Lock Screen, Start Menu, Action Center, Ink Workspace, Skype, OneDrive & other personalized ads in Windows 10, and tighten Microsoft Account & Bing settings too.
Not all Windows 10 users may know, but they are being watched by default. However, Windows 10 claims to be a very secure operating system with detailed privacy settings, there are still many things one needs to be alert about. Windows 10 actually collects more of your browsing data, location history, communication history and contacts details from messages and apps, than its predecessors.
Whenever you visit a Microsoft website, the tracking cookies get installed on your PC and tracks all your web browsing. This data is then sent to Microsoft servers and used by Bing.com to fire targeted advertisements at you. It does not matter whether you are using Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge or any other browser, Microsoft is always tracking you.
To turn off or remove ads in Windows 10, you will have to:
- Visit Microsoft Account & Bing Dashboard to harden your privacy settings.
- Open Settings > Personalization and disable ads for Lock Screen, Cortana and Start Menu.
- Follow this procedure to turn off ads in Windows Ink Workspace, Skype, OneDrive in Explorer, Action Center, etc.
Stop Microsoft from spying on you in Windows 10
In short, Microsoft tracks and adds your data to your Advertising ID. Everything you search, every program your download, every app you use and every website you visit is tracked and sent to Bing and Windows Store.
In fact, if you are signed in with your Microsoft Account, you are sending much of your personal data to Microsoft servers, including the list of devices you are using. Microsoft Edge even stores every character you type to search anything.
Thankfully, you can opt out of data collection & personalized ads by Microsoft in Windows 10, Phone or Mobile devices, Apps, Web Browser & Microsoft Account.
Google has its Google Dashboard, which offers a view into the data associated with your Google Account and lets you change your Google Privacy Settings. You can also manage your Facebook ad preferences. Microsoft too offers a Personal Data Dashboard, which we had covered earlier. Since the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft has added more features to it, which we will take a look at now.
Turn Off Personalized ads in Windows 10
Go to choice.microsoft.com/en-us/opt-out and adjust the settings in the right panel.
You will see three settings:
- Personalized ads in this browser
- Personalized ads whenever I use Microsoft Account.
- Personalized ads in Windows
While you can turn of the first one even when you are signed in to your Windows computer using a local account, to turn off 2 and 3, you need to be signed in using your Microsoft account.
Remember that:
How To Block Ads In Skype
“To opt out of personalized ads in this browser, your browser must allow first-party and third-party cookies. Instructions for enabling cookies may be available in your browser’s settings, privacy, or help documentation”.
If you want Microsoft to deliver you the ads, click On. To show “generic” ads, click Off.
Microsoft says,
“To create a more customized online experience, some of the ads you may receive on Microsoft websites and apps are tailored to your previous activities, searches, and site visits. You’re in control and here’s where you can make the advertising choice that’s right for you”.
Read: Turn off Advertising ID to disable Targeted Turn off Advertising ID to disable Targeted Ads
Bing Privacy Settings
The second option is to adjust your Bing privacy settings.
Go to bing.com/account/personalization and sign-in using your Microsoft account.
Clear your Saved places, your personal information, search history, etc. Go to the link and click on ‘Clear all‘.
Also, check your settings with other Microsoft services like Xbox, OneDrive, Outlook and Microsoft Advertising. Click on the relevant links and adjust the settings according to your own preferences. These Microsoft services also save your data.
If you have Cortana enabled on your devices, you are unknowingly giving all your personal data like contacts, locations, calendar and browsing history to Microsoft servers. Click on ‘Clear’ to flush all your data and you won’t get the Cortana recommendations on your device.
More tips here: Opt out of Data Tracking & Targetted ads.
Block ads in Windows 10
Disable targeted Ads in Windows 10 Settings
Ads which appear in Settings like these can be disabled-
Open Setting > General > Turn off Show me suggested in the Settings app.
This should help.
Windows 10 Privacy Settings
We have already seen how to change Windows 10 Privacy settings in details. Let’s go over the relevant one’s here again.
Tap Win +I to open Windows 10 Settings. Go to Privacy and change privacy options.
Turn off Let apps use my advertising ID for experiences across apps. Doing this will also reset your Advertising ID.
On Windows 10 Mobile, go to Settings > Privacy > Advertising ID. Turn off Let apps use my advertising ID for experiences across apps.
Read: Disable Lock Screen Ads and Tips.
Remove ads from Windows Ink Workspace
To remove ads from the Windows Ink Workspace, open Settings > Devices > Pen & Windows Ink.
Under Windows Ink Workspace, you will see Show recommended app suggestions. Toggle the switch to the Off position.
Read: Turn Off Windows 10 Start Menu ads.
Remove Cortana ads
To remove ads from Cortana search box, open Cortana and click on its Settings icon and then Turn off the Taskbar tidbits toggle switch.
Read: Turn Off Onedrive Ads and Notifications in Windows File Explorer.
Remove Get Skype notifications
To stop the Get Skype from nagging you, you can open Settings > Settings > Apps & features and uninstall the Get Skype app here.
Read: Disable Get Office notifications.
Remove ads in Action Center
To remove ads from the Action Center & Notifications, open Settings > System > Notifications and Actions.
Under Notifications, you will see Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows. Toggle the switch to the Off position.
Read: Remove ads in Skype.
Want to further tighten up Windows 10 privacy?
Use our Ultimate Windows Tweaker to do it in a click!
Now read:How much data is Microsoft really collecting?
Related Posts:
An ad titled 'Two friends who've never met' recently appeared on my girlfriend's Skype. The ad appears above the name of the contact she is currently speaking to and can't be disabled via the ad options build into Skype. How can we disable this ad?
The ad looks like this:
Things we have tried:
- Tried unchecking 'Help and Skype tips' and 'Promotions' under 'Alerts & messages' in the options menu.
- Tried changing the language file per Primemover's answer here
B. Rename The English language file. Procedure listed below;
- Click Tools >> Change Language >> Edit Skype Language File..
- The Skype - Language File Editor window will open, click the Save As button
- Enter Standard English as filename , Save it on your desktop or in any folder you want.
- Click Tools >> Change Language >> Load Skype Language File.., then browse and select the Standard English language file.
- Restart Skype Again, this suggestion though proven to be working, is not from, suggested, or endorsed by Skype or any of its staff. So try at your own risk. This method should only be used, if and only if, those advertisements are seriously affecting your interest in using the Skype client.
- Tried downgrading to Skype version 6.10, 6.9, 5.10, and 4.2
I can confirm that I've never seen ads like this before, nor have other contacts I've asked. Is there anything else we can try to disable this?
Note: This originally started on Skype 6.10 but has persisted across older versions upon downgrading.
Edit: How to disable the skype ads (advertisement)? fails to answer the question I have posted. This is not a duplicate. The question linked appears to target a different group of ads (promotions) and is unrelated.
2 Answers
You could try editing your hosts file and pointing the offending ad's hostname to 127.0.0.1.
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Edit the file %systemroot%system32driversetchosts
To the bottom of the file add the entry:
Where hostname is the hostname of the ad. For example, if the ad's URL is http://www.some-ad-service.com/, you would use www.some-ad-service.com as the hostname (thanks slhck, for pointing this out).
Save the file.
Now whenever your machine attempts to access the ad's URL the request will be sent to your local machine instead. The end result being that the ad is blocked.
Extending off of Matt's answer, since he doesn't include possible hostnames to block.
You need to add entries to yourhosts file, typically located here: C:WindowsSystem32driversetchostsThese are hostnames you'll want to block, by adding them to the hosts file:
Source of hostnames here: wikiHow, Skype forum, Skype forum #2, and a commenter Jason at Avangardo. Just a warning, but Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) may think your hosts file was hijacked, so if you have issues make sure to allow the changes through MSE.
Also, you may need to restart your computer, in case flushing the dns cache doesn't work. It seems when you make a lot of changes to the hosts file Windows doesn't reload it.
On Skype 6.14 it re-enabled these options, you'll want to disable (uncheck) them:
A new method has emerged that works in Skype 6.13 and Skype 6.14, works on Windows using Internet Explorer settings, from Chris123NT:
Open up Control Panel > Internet Options.
Security > Restricted Sites > Sites
Type in https://apps.skype.com, and click Add.
Again, click Add, then Close, then OK. Now open up Skype, click on the home button, and hopefully the ad banner should disappear and not come back!
protected by Community♦Jan 29 '14 at 22:02
How To Block Ads In Skype Id
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