Microsoft reveals details of Windows 10 usage tracking

Oblivion

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35251484


Microsoft has revealed details about the data it is tracking via its new operating system (OS), Windows 10.

RumRat

Nothing new there as regards collecting.....All basic stuff that everyone knew from the beginning of the insider tests.
The figures are interesting though.

Sooler

Spybot Anti-Beacon
https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/

Spybot Anti-Beacon is a standalone tool which was designed to block and stop the various tracking (telemetry) issues present in Windows 10. It has since been modified to block similar tracking functionality in Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems.

Anti-Beacon is small, simple to use, and is provided free of charge. It was created to address the privacy concerns of users of Windows 10 who do not wish to have information about their PC usage sent to Microsoft. Simply clicking “Immunize” on the main screen of Anti-Beacon will immediately disable any known tracking features included by Microsoft in the operating system.

forgotmyname

What is a bit naughty is the way they enable some of the tracking after certain updates.

funny bit....

Microsoft also reported that Windows 10 continued to be the fastest growing version of Windows, outpacing the adoption of both Windows 8 and Windows 7.

With a good reason, most people hate windows 8 with such a passion they will run anything offered. Add to the fact they virtually force windows users to upgrade to it its not hard to see why its so popular.

kwikbreaks

Sooler wrote: »

Spybot Anti-Beacon
https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/

Interesting approach. Rather that relying on turning the options off it looks like that acts as a Firewall to block the traffic. I used OOSU10 to quickly turn stuff off but does either cover all the spying? I wonder if MS have taken careful note of RumRat's inside leg measurement and eye colour.

==

Had a look at it - it isn't a firewall it's another tool to turn stuff off in the registry.

Fightsback

kwikbreaks wrote: »

I wonder if MS have taken careful note of RumRat's inside leg measurement and eye colour.

A quick hack of MS servers reveals:

RumRat

kwikbreaks wrote: »

I wonder if MS have taken careful note of RumRat's inside leg measurement and eye colour.

They got that from the Wanted Poster......

slink85

forgotmyname wrote: »

What is a bit naughty is the way they enable some of the tracking after certain updates.

funny bit....
With a good reason, most people hate windows 8 with such a passion they will run anything offered. Add to the fact they virtually force windows users to upgrade to it its not hard to see why its so popular.

I think you'll find most people really couldn't give two hoots, and just update for the sake of being up to date with security patches etc

Mista_C

kwikbreaks wrote: »

Interesting approach. Rather that relying on turning the options off it looks like that acts as a Firewall to block the traffic. I used OOSU10 to quickly turn stuff off but does either cover all the spying? I wonder if MS have taken careful note of RumRat's inside leg measurement and eye colour.

==

Had a look at it - it isn't a firewall it's another tool to turn stuff off in the registry.

It also adds a bunch of domain targets in the HOSTS file and points them to a null address.

forgotmyname

slink85 wrote: »

I think you'll find most people really couldn't give two hoots, and just update for the sake of being up to date with security patches etc

Not quite the same as patch updates though, Changing to an OS where your software or hardware may no longer run, and being nagged to do so.

I have it in a VM machine and thats as far as it gets, i wont be installing it.

I wonder if i can convert people to Linux Mint?

kwikbreaks

Mista_C wrote: »

It also adds a bunch of domain targets in the HOSTS file and points them to a null address.

So I see. Thanks.

# Start of entries inserted by Spybot Anti-Beacon for Windows 10
0.0.0.0 choice.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 choice.microsoft.com.nstac.net
0.0.0.0 df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 redir.metaservices.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 services.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 settings-sandbox.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 settings-win.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 sqm.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 telemetry.appex.bing.net
0.0.0.0 telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 telemetry.urs.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 vortex-sandbox.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 vortex-win.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 vortex.data.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 watson.ppe.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 vortex-bn2.metron.live.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 vortex-cy2.metron.live.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 watson.live.com
0.0.0.0 watson.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 feedback.search.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 feedback.windows.com
0.0.0.0 corp.sts.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 diagnostics.support.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 i1.services.social.microsoft.com
0.0.0.0 i1.services.social.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 vortex-bn2.metron.live.com.nsatc.net
0.0.0.0 vortex-cy2.metron.live.com.nsatc.net
# End of entries inserted by Spybot Anti-Beacon for Windows 10