Important Windows 7 & 8.1 updates part of telemetry data collection

[Iverion]

Sources: Softpedia

MSPowerUser

 

Microsoft is pushing Windows 7 & 8.1 "important updates" that are part of their telemetry.

 

Quote

...both KB2952664 and KB2976978, for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, respectively, were previously available for download, but with a big difference: Microsoft listed them as optional updates, which means that those who wanted to deploy them had to do the whole thing manually.

 

But as it turns out, the two updates are now listed as critical, which means that all devices are getting them via Windows Update...

 

Quote

Microsoft says the two updates are just “compatibility updates for keeping Windows up-to-date,”...

 

“This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. The diagnostics evaluate the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem, and help Microsoft to ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows. There is no GWX or upgrade functionality contained in this update,”...

 

The articles state it seems all PCs that get the updates will part of the data collection regardless if they are part of the Microsoft’s experience improvement/usage analysis programs or have opted out, contrary to Microsoft's statement.

 

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The updates automatically activate DoScheduledTelemetryRun , a process that records and sends telemetry data, even on devices that do not participate in the Windows Software Usage Analysis program.

 

My thoughts: I understand the importance & usefulness to collect data. It helps to fix, optimize, innovate, etc. However I firmly believe that it should always be on a opt-in/opt-out basis. I find it strange that Microsoft is pushing data collection on Windows 7 & 8.1. Could it be that they want accurate numbers on how many are still hanging onto the now aging OSes? Do they want to more user information to better sell it? It might be the cynic in me but I find it to hard to believe Microsoft here. To me there has to be more reasons to force data collection further, especially when this time it's outside of Windows 10.

 

[Delicieuxz]

Leaving automatic updates turned on in any Windows version is just asking for trouble.

[bcredeur97]

Just now, Delicieuxz said:

Leaving automatic updates turned on in any Windows version is just asking for trouble.

guess what? In windows 10 it's nearly impossible to turn them off. lol

Microsoft has like a vendetta against it's own users. they want to know anything and everything about them. I really wonder what they do with this information since they want it sooo badly

[Delicieuxz]

13 minutes ago, bcredeur97 said:

guess what? In windows 10 it's nearly impossible to turn them off. lol

Microsoft has like a vendetta against it's own users. they want to know anything and everything about them.

 

It's more frustrating, but still possible in Windows 10. This blog post details some ways it can be done. I think that Spybot Anti-Beacon also provides a one-click method to disable WU in Windows 10 (haven't verified it, though).

 

 

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I really wonder what they do with this information since they want it sooo badly

Like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc, Microsoft sells the personal data they collect for profit. Microsoft has said this in their own documents, and it is why Microsoft paid a lobbyist firm to oppose California's new law requiring companies to provide people who own and use their products and services with an option to disallow their personal data from being collected and from being sold.

 

However, a major difference between Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Twitter, and Microsoft is that Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Twitter are all services that people engage with but which they don't own or hold licenses over. Windows 10 is different in that it is not a service and is a product which people buy and own. So, whereas people visit services online as guests and aren't entitled to call the shots on those services they are guests at, what Microsoft is doing with Windows 10 and data collection is paramount to a thief breaking into your house, stealing your possessions, and then selling them on a black market.

[3 Lions]

2 minutes ago, bcredeur97 said:

they want to know anything and everything about them

And like your phone network provider doesn't know anything about you...

[MyName13]

7 minutes ago, bcredeur97 said:

guess what? In windows 10 it's nearly impossible to turn them off. lol

 

Services > windows update > disabled.

[Delicieuxz]

4 minutes ago, MyName13 said:

Services > windows update > disabled.

That isn't effective as of Windows 10 1803. The Windows Update service will restart itself, as will scheduled tasks relating to Windows Update in Task Scheduler.

 

One of the methods that I listed in the blog post I linked to should work, though.

[ScratchCat]

Just go action centre, action centre settings and opt out of the customer improvement program. 

For those who say this is fine and you can disable it easily in Windows 10, is it really if you have to use 3rd party programs to disable and block connections which you never wanted in the first place?

 

It used to be that feedback would lead to things being fixed and that more was almost always better. Today Microsoft pretty much forces us to use an online account (timeline offline - 1 day, with Microsoft account -30 days) while every update causes havoc, pain and frustration. For your current business plan Microsoft it really is:

[bcredeur97]

install Linux. problem solved.

[AnonymousGuy]

4 minutes ago, bcredeur97 said:

install Linux. problem solved.

Linux isn't a desktop OS.  I mean, you *can* use it as a desktop OS in the same way you *can* get to the grocery story by dragging your balls across 5 miles of pavement....just don't do it though.

[mynameisjuan]

4 minutes ago, AnonymousGuy said:

Linux isn't a desktop OS

The hell are you smoking? It most certainly is.

[3 Lions]

10 minutes ago, bcredeur97 said:

install Linux. problem solved.

It's funny that you haven't replied to my last comment that was for you. 

[DrMacintosh]

macOS on my Desktop is starting to look might fine.......

[bcredeur97]

20 minutes ago, LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo said:

It's funny that you haven't replied to my last comment that was for you. 

what can I say? of course they know things about you.

is there anything I can do about it? No. Can I avoid windows? yes.

[Zodiark1593]

16 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

macOS on my Desktop is starting to look might fine.......

Problem is having to buy an Apple computer.

 

[JoeCoke]

Soon I'm gonna just go ahead and switch to Linux. I can't stand have Micro$oft shit on my computer any longer.

[3 Lions]

Just now, bcredeur97 said:

what can I say? of course they know things about you.

is there anything I can do about it? No. Can I avoid windows? yes.

But you complain about like it's a major problem, when it isn't. In reality all modern day tech collects data about you, if you have a problem with that then don't use technology. Seriously go off grid. 

[Cheezdoodlez]

18 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

macOS on my Desktop is starting to look might fine.......

Mojave have automatic updates though. Atleast you can opt out.. For now. 

[mynameisjuan]

46 minutes ago, LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo said:

But you complain about like it's a major problem, when it isn't. In reality all modern day tech collects data about you, if you have a problem with that then don't use technology. Seriously go off grid. 

Thats my point of view. Companies have been collecting data long before its public, they just tell you nowadays. If you dont want data collected then dont use tech. I can guarantee that Apple gathers some info temporarily because they need data also to push the features they are pushing. Ubuntu is beginning too as well. 

 

I honestly dont care if they know the sites I go to, just dont key log my machine. 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

And people thought staying with Windows 7/8.1 was going to keep them safe from this hahahaa. Those who seriously thought there was no possibility of Microsoft shoehorning that telemetry stuff into Windows 7 or 8.1 through an update, they're delusional. 

[Delicieuxz]

8 minutes ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

And people thought staying with Windows 7/8.1 was going to keep them safe from this hahahaa. Those who seriously thought there was no possibility of Microsoft shoehorning that telemetry stuff into Windows 7 or 8.1 through an update, they're delusional. 

Microsoft has been doing that since summer 2015, and people are already aware of it. But in Windows 7 Windows Update can be easily turned off, and individual updates can be uninstalled or blocked easily.

[GoodBytes]

2 hours ago, Delicieuxz said:

Like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc, Microsoft sells the personal data they collect for profit. Microsoft has said this in their own documents, and it is why Microsoft paid a lobbyist firm to oppose California's new law requiring companies to provide people who own and use their products and services with an option to disallow their personal data from being collected and from being sold.

Incorrect. Telemetry data collection from Windows is not sold. Please read the Privacy Policy of Windows, it is written in plain English for your understanding, no lawyers required. But I guess why read that, when you can read title of click-bait articles and assume the rest, right?

[GoodBytes]

7 minutes ago, Delicieuxz said:

Microsoft has been doing that since summer 2015, and people are already aware of it. But in Windows 7 Windows Update can be easily turned off, and individual updates can be uninstalled or blocked easily.

Incorrect. Windows Experience Program (telemetry data collecting) start since the introduction of Windows XP.

[GoodBytes]

1 hour ago, 2Buck said:

Soon I'm gonna just go ahead and switch to Linux. I can't stand have Micro$oft shit on my computer any longer.

You should also sell your Nvidia GPU.

[Speed Weed]

1 hour ago, ScratchCat said:

Just go action centre, action centre settings and opt out of the customer improvement program. 

For those who say this is fine and you can disable it easily in Windows 10, is it really if you have to use 3rd party programs to disable and block connections which you never wanted in the first place?

 

It used to be that feedback would lead to things being fixed and that more was almost always better. Today Microsoft pretty much forces us to use an online account (timeline offline - 1 day, with Microsoft account -30 days) while every update causes havoc, pain and frustration. For your current business plan Microsoft it really is:

I don't see it in Action Center?