A video on YouTube about Microsoft Windows 11 sending telemetry data to not only Microsoft, which to be frank isn’t a surprise, but to third parties, which to frank is a big surprise, got my attention. Here’s the video in question:
If you don’t want to watch the video, here’s the TL:DR from Tom’s Hardware:
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.
Now that really sounds at best sketchy. And not what you would expect from Microsoft. Except here’s what Microsoft said when they were contacted by Tom’s Hardware:
“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.”
Except that is not what the YouTube video shows. Microsoft has an answer for that too:
“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.
That kind of sounds like Microsoft is saying that you accepted the terms of service so you gave us permission to do this. But that would be the cynic in me talking.
Both of the quotes tell me that Microsoft’s spokesperson either does either not understand the subject matter or is just giving a standard, generic answer to this kind of question. Probably both. I say that because keeping the operating system up to date does not require contacting third parties. Ever. And on the subject of transparency, that would be better served if Microsoft would publish what exactly they transfer and to whom in detail.
So how about it Microsoft, will you do that? Of course not. You’re too busy collecting cash from the third parties that you hand over user data to. That’s not cool Microsoft.
Windows 11 Sends Info To Third Parties…. Microsoft Says That There’s Nothing To See Here
Posted in Commentary with tags Microsoft on February 12, 2023 by itnerdA video on YouTube about Microsoft Windows 11 sending telemetry data to not only Microsoft, which to be frank isn’t a surprise, but to third parties, which to frank is a big surprise, got my attention. Here’s the video in question:
If you don’t want to watch the video, here’s the TL:DR from Tom’s Hardware:
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.
Now that really sounds at best sketchy. And not what you would expect from Microsoft. Except here’s what Microsoft said when they were contacted by Tom’s Hardware:
“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.”
Except that is not what the YouTube video shows. Microsoft has an answer for that too:
“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.
That kind of sounds like Microsoft is saying that you accepted the terms of service so you gave us permission to do this. But that would be the cynic in me talking.
Both of the quotes tell me that Microsoft’s spokesperson either does either not understand the subject matter or is just giving a standard, generic answer to this kind of question. Probably both. I say that because keeping the operating system up to date does not require contacting third parties. Ever. And on the subject of transparency, that would be better served if Microsoft would publish what exactly they transfer and to whom in detail.
So how about it Microsoft, will you do that? Of course not. You’re too busy collecting cash from the third parties that you hand over user data to. That’s not cool Microsoft.
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