Windows 11 Sends Tremendous Amount of User Data to Third Parties, YouTuber Claims (Update)
Is Microsoft violating user privacy?
Many programs collect user data and send it back to their developers to improve software or provide more targeted services. But according to the PC Security Channel (via Neowin) Microsoft's Windows 11 sends data not only to the Redmond, Washington-based software giant, but also to multiple third parties.
To analyze DNS traffic generated by a freshly installed copy of Windows 11 on a brand-new notebook, the PC Security Channel used the Wireshark network protocol analyzer that reveals precisely what is happening on a network. The results were astounding enough for the YouTube channel to call Microsoft's Windows 11 "spyware."
As it turned out, an all-new Windows 11 PC that was never used to browse the Internet contacted not only Windows Update, MSN and Bing servers, but also Steam, McAfee, geo.prod.do, and Comscore ScorecardResearch.com. Apparently, the latest operating system from Microsoft collected and sent telemetry data to various market research companies, advertising services, and the like.
To prove the point, the PC Security Channel tried to find out what Windows XP contacted after a fresh install using the same tool and it turned out that the only things that the 20+ years old operating system contacted were Windows Update and Microsoft Update servers.
“As with any modern operating system, users can expect to see data flowing to help them remain secure, up to date, and keep the system working as anticipated," a Microsoft spokesperson told Tom's Hardware. "We are committed to transparency and regularly publish information about the data we collect to empower customers to be more informed about their privacy.”
Some of the claims may be, technically, overblown. Telemetry data is mentioned in Windows' terms of service, which many people skip over to use the operating system. And you can choose not to enable at least some of this by turning off settings the first time to boot into the OS.
"By accepting this agreement and using the software you agree that Microsoft may collect, use, and disclose the information as described in the Microsoft Privacy Statement (aka.ms/privacy), and as may be described in the user interface associated with the software features," the terms of service read. It also points out that some data-sharing settings can be turned off.
Obviously, a lot has changed in 20 years and we now use more online services than back in the early 2000s. As a result, various telemetry data has to be sent online to keep certain features running. But at the very least, Microsoft should do a better job of expressly asking for consent and stating what will be sent and where, because you can't opt out of all of the data-sharing "features." The PC Security Channel warns that even when telemetry tracking is disabled by third-party utilities, Windows 11 still sends certain data.
Updated Feb 10, 9:29 a.m. ET with comment from Microsoft.
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Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.
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punkncat I am not sure anyone is gullible enough to assume that W11, which will validate activation on almost any prior OS key and "free" to upgrade from W10 really thought that free was really free. This is completely unsurprising. Anyone using a PC or a modern mobile phone has to be aware that everything they do is being stored and sent all over.Reply
People used to complain about anything that might infringe on their privacy, right up to the point that they made the spy devices something that all had to have...even from your robot vacuum. -
JohnBonhamsGhost not surprising considering it seems to be based around multi-media ads and nonsense news references.Reply -
RichardtST Is there a service/program/blocker/firewall that will sit there and record the outgoing sites for a while and then let me decide which ones to allow/block? I'd like just a nice list in a GUI with checkboxes to allow/deny anything going to each site. If so, how would I even tell which sites I want to allow other than by name? Maybe there's a "stop your data being stolen and sold all around the web" program? Windows firewall isn't the easiest thing to use. There has got to be better...Reply -
-Fran- Kids, remember the year of Linux is just around the corner.Reply
Heh.
In all seriousness, there's a big reason to support SteamOS: it's not Microsoft (yet).
Regards. -
PlaneInTheSky In Windows 10 you can still remove all the spyware.Reply
Windows 11 is a disgusting OS. The amount of spyware bloat is crazy and it is impossible to remove it without breaking the OS.
I am now usually running Mint and Valve is rapidly increasing Steam compatibility with Linux. -
salgado18 You want to do some exercise, so you go to the gym to sign up. The receptionist then asks: "what is your training goal?" To which you say "to lose some weight and do some cardio". He then uses a bit hia computer and says "oh, is it to prepare for your trip to Hawaii next summer? I see you already got the flight tickets, congratulations!" And you look back, smile, and say as friendly as you can "how did you know that?". That's how I feel about all this tracking. Windows 11 already knows you play games right after you install it, and even your purchase preferences (through ScorecardResearch). That's ridiculous, and must stop.Reply -
PlaneInTheSky Also, regarding Microsoft "Bing" being integrated deeper into Edge and Windows 11, and the dumb-as-a-rock ChatGPT thing.Reply
I tried Bing the other day.
Holy ****, I thought Google search was bad. Bing takes it to a whole other level. Bing is full of ads, irrelevant stuff left and right, tik-tok videos, shopping results, etc. How can anyone even use Bing, it's full of irrelevant spam. -
JohnBonhamsGhost
obviously Windows isn't going to inhibit their money-making data with their own firewall.RichardtST said:Maybe there's a "stop your data being stolen and sold all around the web" program? Windows firewall isn't the easiest thing to use.
possible you could install a 3rd party and just block every connection but many of the built-in data transmission isn't even detected because it is just part of the OS itself. -
Heat_Fan89
Absolutely correct. That is what I tell fellow Mac users as well when they say how Apple doesn't do that and yet when I open Safari on my Mac it tells me a different story. There's a check box that says to allow privacy-preserving measurement of ad effectiveness. Look if you are on the internet, assume everyone is tracking you, wants to send you ads based on your searches and seeing where you go. That applies more so with smartphones.punkncat said:I am not sure anyone is gullible enough to assume that W11, which will validate activation on almost any prior OS key and "free" to upgrade from W10 really thought that free was really free. This is completely unsurprising. Anyone using a PC or a modern mobile phone has to be aware that everything they do is being stored and sent all over.
People used to complain about anything that might infringe on their privacy, right up to the point that they made the spy devices something that all had to have...even from your robot vacuum.