Microsoft removes Cortana off-switch in Windows 10 Anniversary Update

One of the flagship features of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update is improvements to Cortana, but what Microsoft did not speak off was that they would be removing the Off switch to the digital assistant in the updated OS.

Before users had a simple switch to enable and disable the digital assistant, but in W10AU the switch has been removed, meaning all searches will now go through the digital assistant, allowing her to build up a profile of your wants and needs.

Fortunately signing in is not mandatory, meaning the profile is not necessary tied to your identity, but privacy advocates are unlikely to find solace in this.

With the EU already complaining about Microsoft’s intrusive default privacy settings completely removing the choice of involving Microsoft’s cloud services in every local search of your PC seems like a particularly risky step.

Of course for many of our readers the bigger problem is actually simply having Cortana available in your region. Do our readers value the option of switching her OFF? Let us know below.