Windows 10 comes with the telemetry feature enabled by default which collects all sorts of user activity and sends it to Microsoft. Many users worry about this behavior and are constantly looking for ways to disable it completely. If you are concerned about privacy, you should know that in Windows 10 build 10525, telemetry and data collection services are locked down to send all information to Microsoft!
Advertisеment
There are three states of Telemetry are available in Windows 10
- Basic
Basic information is data that is vital to the operation of Windows. This data helps keep Windows and apps running properly by letting Microsoft know the capabilities of your device, what is installed, and whether Windows is operating correctly. This option also turns on basic error reporting back to Microsoft. If you select this option, Microsoft will be able to provide updates to Windows (through Windows Update, including protection by the Malicious Software Removal Tool), but some apps and features may not work correctly or at all. - Enhanced
Enhanced data includes all Basic data plus data about how you use Windows, such as how frequently or how long you use certain features or apps and which apps you use most often. This option also lets Microsoft collect enhanced diagnostic information, such as the memory state of your device when a system or app crash occurs, as well as measure reliability of devices, the operating system, and apps. - Full
Full data includes all Basic and Enhanced data, and also turns on advanced diagnostic features that collect additional data from your device, such as system files or memory snapshots, which may unintentionally include parts of a document you were working on when a problem occurred. This information helps Microsoft further troubleshoot and fix problems. If an error report contains personal data, Microsoft claims they won't use that information to identify, contact, or target advertising to you. This is the recommended option which they recommend for the best Windows experience and the most effective troubleshooting.
In Windows 10 build 10525, the option is set to Full and cannot be changed by the user!
So Microsoft will know all about the apps you are using and even about the personal data you have. If you are not happy with such behavior, consider staying with the current RTM build 10240 which is locked to "basic" data collection level and can even be disabled.
Support us
Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options:
If you like this article, please share it using the buttons below. It won't take a lot from you, but it will help us grow. Thanks for your support!
Advertisеment
Will you be working to correct this problem?
This is not new ! All Insider Preview builds behave similar to this. Moreover my RTM build 10240 upgraded in Insider Program has it still forced too without option to change it.
Looking at the screenshot, it seems that you‘d be able to choose your most preferable option by quitting Windows Insider Program.
Yeah, it looks like that.
So it isn‘t even for just regular users who never post their feedback? What about Enterprise edition?
OK, I‘ve just read Dave‘s comment. We need to wait until new Windows 10 build is available for everyone (stable version).
Having the telemetry set to full is what we should expect from a TEST operating system version. MS needs to know what works, and what does not work. Without the proper telemetry setting there would be no way for them to know. On a personal level I think this is a good thing, and I enjoy the direction MS is going with the Windows 10 telemetry. This is just the beginning, and we should expect to see more and more of this integration in the future.
Well, good.
I just tried to warn.
Let’s hope this is only in the previews. I’m quite content to have telemetry including a keylogger on a laptop I use just for testing these builds and visiting a few established news and weather sites. The real problem I have is the released version having reporting that can’t be fully defeated, with hard coded URLs that bypass the hosts file, etc. I’m no programmer but isn’t it easier for bad guys to exploit a preinstalled keylogger than to surreptitiously get one onto a computer?
Can we expect to have ways to disable this stuff as people examine the OS over time and are WIndows 8.1 and 7 also now equipped with similar MS spyware through updates as some have stated? Heaven help us!
What happens if I delete the service or disabled it above (the link ) and did the regedit dword before updating, will it still log stuff to Microsoft?
Probably it will not.
O&O has come up with ShutUp10 to disable all tracking features. http://www.intоwindоws.com/оо-shutup10-соnfigure-security-privacy-sеttings-in-windоws-10/
Sergey, could we have these incorporated into your tweak tool please?
Running current build, still set on “BASIC” here.
Just using DoNotSpy10 , its great!
First and foremost my sincere thanks to Sergey for his warnings and how tos. I’d have quite the Insider Program a while ago if it weren’t for Tweaker and The Panel. And now this one. What I’ll do with it I don’t know yet, but I certainly needed the information. There would be no informed consent without it.
I can certainly understand that Microsoft couldn’t possibly trust its Beta Testers to honestly report what they are using and how they’re using it, the claim for any hidden Data Mining Program. But there is no excuse for mining personal data. I think a formal investigation is in order.
Regards,
Techie Bear