Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Windows 10 is Not the Only Windows That Spies on You

As if 'Microsoft's latest malware' (Windows 10) spying wasn't bad enough, updates are coming for Windows 7 and 8 that will allow some of the same kind of spying.



 The updates in question are:
  • KB3068708 – This update introduces the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to existing devices.
  • KB3022345 (replaced by KB3068708) – This update adds the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to in-market devices.
  • KB3075249
  • – This update adds telemetry points to the User Account Control (UAC) feature in order to collect data on elevations that come from low integrity levels.
  • KB3080149 – This package updates the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to existing devices.

These recent updates released by Redmond install the "Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service" that is the most controversial component of the Microsoft's newest operating system.
Once installed, the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service immediately begins phoning home to Microsoft even if privacy controls are enabled – apparently with no option to stop it.

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Here is the extremely complex action needed to stop this current round of spying: Don't Install Them.

Windows 7/8 will inform you when updates are ready, if you do not have Windows set to Update Automatically. If you DO have Windows set to Update Automatically, go into Control Panel, Windows Update, and Change Settings (on left). I set mine to download but not install - it will download the updates and let you know they have arrived for installation. When you tell it to install the updates, go further into the options and do not allow the above updates to install (do not check them). You should be free from this variety of Windows spying.  You will not, however, be free from the regular old Windows spying and backdoors.

If the updates were already installed, go to the article in the first link, which will show you how to uninstall them.

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This post will be added to the Windows 10 page above.


This update was brought to by ThermionicEmissions and the letter L.

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