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posted by takyon on Wednesday September 02 2015, @11:36AM   Printer-friendly
from the trickle-down dept.

If you have been refusing Microsoft's offer to upgrade your Windows 7 or 8* operating system to Windows 10 due to the oft-reported data and telemetry slurping it seems inclined to do, then it is time to be on your toes as to which updates you allow to be installed on your earlier version of the operating system.

El Reg reports that Microsoft are busy pushing similar functionality to those older operating systems by way of Windows Update. The updates in question can apparently be rolled back if required.

They are however very determined in their function if allowed to be installed, going so far as to ignore such venerable solutions as additions to the HOSTS file, which has historically been a way to knobble phone-home behaviour:

Now Microsoft is revamping the user-tracking tools in Windows 7 and 8 to harvest more data, via some new patches.

All the updates can be removed post-installation – but all ensure the OS reports data to Microsoft even when asked not to, bypassing the hosts file and (hence) third-party privacy tools. This data can include how long you use apps, and which features you use the most, snapshots of memory to investigate crashes, and so on.

The updates are KB3068708 ("Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry" and mandatory) KB3075249 ("Update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7") and KB3080149 (also an "Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry", both optional).


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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by etherscythe on Wednesday September 02 2015, @06:05PM

    by etherscythe (937) on Wednesday September 02 2015, @06:05PM (#231371) Journal

    There's probably EULAs that will be in conflict over this, too. I believe Facebook tells you you're not allowed to share your password with anyone. So, if Microsoft shares it for you, what then? I know it's hypothetical to say they would kill your account, but they would at least be legally in the right to do so - wouldn't they?

    Windows 10 - the digital suicide pill. Hmm, kinda catchy.

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  • (Score: 2) by Zyx Abacab on Thursday September 03 2015, @01:03AM

    by Zyx Abacab (3701) on Thursday September 03 2015, @01:03AM (#231505)

    I highly doubt that! Facebook and Microsoft aren't like you and me; if one of them breaks the rules, it doesn't matter. Only the users can do wrong. That's part of why there's an EULA in the first place.

    Like Chief Wiggum says:

    The law is powerless to help you, not punish you.

    • (Score: 2) by etherscythe on Thursday September 03 2015, @05:08PM

      by etherscythe (937) on Thursday September 03 2015, @05:08PM (#231859) Journal

      No, see, that's exactly my point. Theoretically, your password gets shared by Microsoft without your knowledge or consent, and Facebook kills your account with them even though you reasonably couldn't have expected to know it might have happened, or even had a way to prevent it. No recourse for you, poor Windows 10 user.

      --
      "Fake News: anything reported outside of my own personally chosen echo chamber"