Microsoft slips user-tracking tools into Windows 7, 8 amidst Windows 10 privacy storm - coxduccies

Windows 10 is a pleasurably good operative system, all things considered, only its abundant user-trailing has prompted many privateness-minded individuals to stay rap with sr. versions of Windows. Right away, Microsoft's providing those concerned individuals a rationality to upgrade.

Atomic number 102, the society's not walking endorse its privacy-trespassing features. As an alternative, Microsoft's quietly rolling out updates that bake new tracking tools into Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Yes, really.

The story rear end the level: Secrecy concerns have marred an otherwise sterling launch for Windows 10, which is already installed on 75 million PCs. Rolling out this Windows 7 and 8 updates amidst the controversy smacks of insensitivity—and it's upright plain poor timing, additionally.

All eyes on you

Ghacks discovered four recent KB updates for Windows 7 and 8, whol planned to send Microsoft regular reports on your motorcar's activities.

• KB3068708 – "This update introduces the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to existing devices. By applying this service, you can add benefits from the latest rendering of Windows to systems that have not thus far upgraded. The update also supports applications that are subscribed to Visual Studio Application Insights." This update replaced KB3022345.
• KB3075249 – "This update adds telemetry points to the User Report Control (UAC) feature to collect information on elevations that arrive from low integrity levels."
• KB3080149 – "This package updates the Nosology and Telemetry tracking service to existing devices. This service provides benefits from the latest version of Windows to systems that have not yet upgraded. The update besides supports applications that are signed to Visual Studio apartment Practical application Insights."

The latter two updates are flagged as Optional, but KB3068708 holds Recommended status, which means it would be downloaded and installed if you have Windows Updates set to automatic. It's sole functional in PCs that take part in Microsoft's Customer Feel for Improvement Program, which already sends Microsoft data along how you usance your electronic computer.

Opting out of the CEIP ISN't a single straightforward sky to switch. You have to disable it all told the software you've agreed to habituate it with. From Microsoft's CEIP website:

"Most programs make CEIP options available from the Help menu, although for roughly products, you might call for to check settings, options, or preferences menus. Any pre-release products that are subordinate development might command participation in CEIP to help ensure the inalterable release of the product improves frequently used features and solves unwashed problems that exist in the pre-button software."

If you use Office's default settings, it signs you in the lead for Microsoft's CEIP. How-to Oddbal has a tutorial explaining how to disable it, though if sending information to Microsoft before didn't bother you, this hot update believably won't either.

Begone!

Disabling the trailing tools in the Recommended KB3068708 update isn't simple, either. It connects to vortex-win.data.microsoft.com and settings-win.data.microsoft.com, which are hard-coded to bypass the Windows HOSTS file. In other words, it's tricky to block unless you suffer a firewall that can block HTTPS connections as well every bit cost configured manually, ExtremeTech explains. In that respect are options in GPEdit.msc that allow for you to disable application telemetry and CEIP participation, but IT's unknown if they behave correctly later the new patches are installed.

Where to uninstall updates. (Double ironically usurped on Windows 10.)

If you don't want these new tracking tools on your PC, the best thing to do seems to exist simply uninstalling the offending updates, then blocking them from being reinstalled.

To act up then, head to Ascendency Control panel > Programs > Uninstall or alteration a program. Here, detent View installed updates in the left-hand navigation pane. In the search box in the upper-right corner, look for the KB3068708, KB3022345, KB3075249, and KB3080149 updates aside name. If they're installed, they'll pour down right dormy. If you find one, right-click on it and select Uninstall to wipe it from your system.

To block the updates from being downloaded again, dive hindmost into the Control Panel and head to System and Security > Windows Update > Baulk for updates. The system will look for updates, then say you have a certain numeral of updates available, separate by status (Optional, Recommended, Critical). Simply click the recommended updates data link, find the KB3068708 and KB3022345 updates, and then good-click them and blue-ribbon Hide update. Boom! Cooked.

Straight off dive into the nonobligatory updates and hide KB3075249 and KB3080149 as well.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/423343/microsoft-slips-user-tracking-tools-into-windows-7-8-amidst-windows-10-privacy-storm.html

Posted by: coxduccies.blogspot.com

Share this post