: Apply the final Microsoft Security Baselines for Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2 to harden the OS against common attack vectors.
: Turn off features like "Customer Experience Improvement Program" and "Error Reporting" in the Control Panel or via Group Policy to reduce data transmission. : Apply the final Microsoft Security Baselines for Windows 8
: This feature allows Windows to perform a one-time check with Windows Update to download the latest updates for your PC while the installation is in progress. : Apply the final Microsoft Security Baselines for Windows 8
: Internet Explorer features like the SmartScreen Filter and Flip Ahead with Page Prediction send URLs to Microsoft to protect against malware or speed up browsing. : Apply the final Microsoft Security Baselines for Windows 8