Looking for opinions on Microsoft Telemetry


Lou

Well-known member
Member
Local time
6:03 PM
Posts
91
Location
East Coast
OS
WIN11 HOME Version 23H2
I found this article regarding how to "Disable the Telemetry on Windows 11 and Stop Microsoft From Logging Your Data"
RE: Disable the Telemetry on Windows 11 and Stop Microsoft From Logging Your Data
Here's my question-
Is this something I need to concern myself with....Is there any advantage or disadvantage in doing this.
I can't seem to locate any data or information that intelligently discusses this topic-
IE-- the conspiracy theorists come out of the woodwork on this one..
Looking for informed opinions and comments
TIA- LOU
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIN11 HOME Version 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DELL XPS 8940
    CPU
    11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700 @ 2.50GHz 2.50 GH
    Motherboard
    Dell OE
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio (on board)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    (2) DELL 2007FP
    Screen Resolution
    1600 X 1200
    Hard Drives
    C: (OS and APPS) 512GB SSD
    D: (data) 1TB SATA
    PSU
    360W
    Case
    DELL OE
    Cooling
    Noctua NF-A9 PWM 92mm case fan and NH-D9L CPU Cooler with 92mm fan
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    500Mbps DWN 120Mbps UP
    Browser
    FIREFOX once in a while will use EDGE
    Antivirus
    MS
    Other Info
    The case fan and CPU cooler were after purchase upgrades...the i7 cpu runs hot and the OE solution can best be described as marginal when CPU intensive apps are used.
    ALSO added a VRM and SSD passive heatsinks.
This is a rather lengthy read but provides a lot of detailed information:
Required Windows 11 diagnostic events and fields - Windows Privacy
When you ask the internet for opinions you will always get the tinfoil hat brigade offering numerous ones.
Even if you find articles written by supposedly respected publications, how can you be sure it is unbiased, technical information without the writers personal opinion coming through?
Read the above linked docs from MS and make your own informed opinion (do YOU believe MS are revealing all?), if you decide to block some or all telemetry beyond that which MS caters for, or you are willing to provide them, then you will need to delve deeper down the rabbit hole. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 22H2, build: 22621.521
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Scan 3XS Custom 1700
    CPU
    Intel i7-12700K 3.6GHz Base (5.0GHz Turbo)
    Motherboard
    Asus ProArt Creator B660 D4
    Memory
    64GB DDR 3600Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Tuff RTX 3080 10GB OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gigabyte G32QC 32inch 16:9 curved @2560 x 1440p 165Hz Freesync Premium Pro/ Dell SE2422H 24inch 16:9 1920 x 1080p 75Hz Freesync
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440p & 1920 x 1080p
    Hard Drives
    WD SN570 1TB NVME (Boot), Samsung 870QVO 1TB (SSD), SanDisk 3D Ultra 500Gb (SSD) x2, Seagate 3Tb Expansion Desk (Ext HDD), 2x Toshiba 1Tb P300 (Ext HDD)
    PSU
    Corsair RM1000X Modular
    Case
    Corsair 4000D Airflow Desktop
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H150i RGB Pro XT 360mm Liquid Cooler, 3 x 120mm fans, 1x Exhaust
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Ergonomic
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    800Mbs
    Browser
    Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
I think the subject gets overblown. None of it is malicious. Most of the data collected is for the purpose of improving the Windows experience for everyone but yes some is for advertising and generation of revenue. I keep my settings on the minimum and realize that everybody does it. Google is built on it and Apple does it too. You may get small improvements in performance by disabling some of it but not much. I don't really worry about it much at all.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
    Motherboard
    MSI B550-A Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    PowerColor Red Devil Radeon RX 6600XT with 8GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Realtek integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer Nitro 24" RG241Y 144hz refresh rate
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital Black SN770 1 TB NVMe SSD
    Samsung 860 QVO 1 TB SATA SSD
    Seagate Barracuda 1 TB HDD
    PSU
    LEPA B650 650 watt
    Case
    Enermax Coenus
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper T4 air
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Devastator
    Mouse
    E-Blue Cobra Jr.
    Internet Speed
    100mbs
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Optical Drives: LG DVD-RW and Pioneer BluRay/ DVD burner
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
    Motherboard
    Asus board (GA402RK)
    Memory
    16 GB Samsung DDR5-4800
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Radeon 680M and discrete Radeon RX 6800S with 8GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek with Dolby Atmos
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop screen 14" WQXGA, IPS, 120hz refresh rate
    Screen Resolution
    2560 X 1600
    Hard Drives
    1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD (WD Black SN850)
    PSU
    Battery power and Asus power brick/adapter. Also has USB-C charging
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Laptop fans in vapor chamber
    Mouse
    Touchpad and Omoton bluetooth mouse
    Keyboard
    Built in RGB backlit
    Internet Speed
    100mbps
    Browser
    Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
I did the batch file in this article to block telemetry ports and it did not have any adverse effects. I still get Windows updates and my firewall still alerts me of other Windows process' trying to access the internet. I don't think it's entirely possible to be private while connected to the internet, but I want to limit my exposure as much as possible. Windows defaults to "cloud" submission for Defender. Do they log all of the files you view or run? Who has access to these logs? Just the advertisements on a lot of web pages are questionable. Some of what goes through our computers we have no control over If I could limit sending any of my activity, I will do so.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
If you're in the Windows Insider program, you must keep diagnostic telemetry enabled to receive Insider updates.

If you're using released versions, then you can disable much of it.

There are a few pieces of telemetry i disable, including the advertising, pen, and keystroke, app launches, etc.. basically everything except diagnostic data.

I don't delete it because i think MS is doing anything nefarious with it, but just because i prefer not to have data that isn't necessary out there.

Yes, MS probably sells anonymized data, and provides advertising id's that can track you, but i don't really consider advertising "nefarious".
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
IE-- the conspiracy theorists come out of the woodwork on this one..
By default Windows monitors everything you say or type, but for your own good of course (no pun intended) similar to Google services, like autocorrect, suggestions and such, but you can disable it, MS does not hide it and links in privacy settings describe, what it does.
Is this something I need to concern myself with....Is there any advantage or disadvantage in doing this.
By disabling it, you might gain some privacy, but at the cost of breaking some features. I use MSA, onedrive, but I have disabled telemetry and smartscreen in Windows, I do not want MS snooping around, besides my setup is unique, reporting false problems.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 & No fTPM (07/19)
    Motherboard
    MSI B450 TOMAHAWK 7C02v1E & IFX TPM (07/19)
    Memory
    4x 8GB ADATA XPG GAMMIX D10 DDR4 3200MHz CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Radeon RX 580 ARMOR 8G OC @48FPS (08/19)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z (11/16)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" AOC G2460VQ6 (01/19)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@75Hz & FreeSync (DisplayPort)
    Hard Drives
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro SSD 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic M12II-520 80 Plus Bronze (11/16)
    Case
    Lian Li PC-7NB & 3x Noctua NF-S12A FLX@700rpm (11/16)
    Cooling
    CPU Cooler Noctua NH-U12S@700rpm (07/19)
    Keyboard
    HP Wired Desktop 320K + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (04/23)
    Internet Speed
    400/40 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge (No FB/Google) & Brave for YouTube & LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NoAV & Binisoft WFC & NextDNS
    Other Info
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Phone: Samsung Galaxy Xcover 7 (02/24)
Thanks ALL for the informative feedback and comments.
I think I need to put my tinfoil hat away....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WIN11 HOME Version 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DELL XPS 8940
    CPU
    11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700 @ 2.50GHz 2.50 GH
    Motherboard
    Dell OE
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio (on board)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    (2) DELL 2007FP
    Screen Resolution
    1600 X 1200
    Hard Drives
    C: (OS and APPS) 512GB SSD
    D: (data) 1TB SATA
    PSU
    360W
    Case
    DELL OE
    Cooling
    Noctua NF-A9 PWM 92mm case fan and NH-D9L CPU Cooler with 92mm fan
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    500Mbps DWN 120Mbps UP
    Browser
    FIREFOX once in a while will use EDGE
    Antivirus
    MS
    Other Info
    The case fan and CPU cooler were after purchase upgrades...the i7 cpu runs hot and the OE solution can best be described as marginal when CPU intensive apps are used.
    ALSO added a VRM and SSD passive heatsinks.
If you're in the Windows Insider program, you must keep diagnostic telemetry enabled to receive Insider updates.
Yup, gotta keep the optional diagnostic data set to on for the insider updates. I turn off all the ad stuff though.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M17 R3
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-10750H (Comet Lake)
    Motherboard
    Alienware
    Memory
    32GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and Intel UHD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC3281-CG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Micron 2300 NVMe 1TB
    PC SN530 NVMe WDC 512GB
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    60mbps
    Browser
    Vivaldi and Firefox
    Antivirus
    MS Defender and Malwarebytes Free
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 22H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-1065G7 (Ice Lake)
    Motherboard
    Microsoft Corp.
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus Graphics
    Sound Card
    Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.5” PixelSense Touchscreen Display
    Screen Resolution
    2256x1504
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba Memory 512GB
    Mouse
    Surface Arc Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60 mbps
    Browser
    Vivaldi and Firefox
    Antivirus
    MS Defender and Malwarebytes Free
O&O Software has a program "Shut Up 10" which also works with 11. It has been out for years and proven to be very good. IT IS FREE
Try it as it does work without any problems. I still use it on my remaining Win 10 machine and my 3 Win 11 machines.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Intel NUC 10i5FNH - Lenovo A510 desktop -- Lenovo Laptop -- Acer laptop
    CPU
    i510210u
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    16g - 16g - 8g -8g
    Graphics Card(s)
    CPU
    Monitor(s) Displays
    acer 21 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    500g ssd
    500g spinner
    Keyboard
    cheap from Walmart
    Mouse
    cheap from Walmart
    Internet Speed
    109mbs
    Browser
    Chrome + FireFox+Waterfox+Brave+Edge
    Antivirus
    Emsisoft + Malwarebytes
  • Operating System
    Win 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo 510
    CPU
    I5
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16g
    Graphics card(s)
    cpu
    Monitor(s) Displays
    20 inch
    Hard Drives
    SSD
    Internet Speed
    109mbs
    Antivirus
    Emsisoft + Malwarebytes Free

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom