Windows 10 keylogger: How to stop Microsoft from tracking everything you type

[paul1149]

Not sure if this has been covered, but here it is. There are changes you can make in Win10 settings to turn off the spying, but you'll have to recheck periodically, because MS can turn it back on through its mandatory Win10 updates. Maybe someone will write a utility that will check and reset at every boot. Seems it should be simple.

Windows 10 keylogger: How to stop Microsoft from tracking everything you type.

Windows 10 has a keylogger enabled by default. If you value your privacy, disable it now.
By Mary-Ann Russon
Updated March 22, 2017 17:40 GMT

Concerned about Microsoft tracking everything you type on Windows 10? Don't worry, you can turn this option off Reuters
There's been heaps of controversy associated with Microsoft's latest operating system Windows 10 since it was launched, but the latest issue takes the cake – apparently Windows has been quietly logging every single keystroke users make on their keyboards from the beginning. Even better, that data is being constantly sent to Microsoft's servers on a regular basis.

We're not sure why on earth Microsoft would want users' keystrokes, as this data is only really useful to cybercriminals seeking to crack passwords to steal sensitive data, and IBTimes UK has asked the computing giant to clarify, but in the meantime, it is possible to solve this problem.

Here's advice on how to turn off the Windows 10 keylogger:...​

Full story: Windows 10 keylogger: How to stop Microsoft from tracking everything you type

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

I've been reading about this for a while, now. Supposedly, the keylogger is associated only with Cortana and Edge searches. That means it's not keeping track of passwords or reading your emails. I say "supposedly," because we only know what Microsoft claims. I did read about one IT professional who turned off all of the spying, as much as the operating system offered, and his network analysis confirmed that the system was still calling home to Microsoft periodically. There's no way to know what information is being sent. All we know is that the leash between your computer and Microsoft will be present so long as you're using Windows 10, and probably 8.1 and 7 by now, and you're connected to the internet (I'm on Linux as I write this). Maximizing the privacy settings is only going to take you just so far, and one should not assume total privacy no matter how the settings are maintained.

 

[paul1149]

I thought the keylogger, while still present, had been disabled on Win10 RTM. Apparently not, and there's a mess of other privacy problems as well.

Here's a good article on utilities to deal with Win10 snooping. And another, more extensive. This tool looks pretty good to me.

No OS, even Linux, is entirely safe, as the government is already in the firmware, which operates at a lower level than the OS. But I think we still should do what we can.

 

[Dave-W]

I am on a government (US) computer. That means that keylogging in any sense on this comp is ILLEGAL. Probably the DOC or NOAA IT tech dept's have disabled that. They have to push the updates to us after they tweek them.

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

I am on a government (US) computer. That means that keylogging in any sense on this comp is ILLEGAL. Probably the DOC or NOAA IT tech dept's have disabled that.

It's funny how public agencies differ in policy at different levels. The public agency that I work for warned us that they installed keyloggers on every computer to monitor us. I never knew how to take that. Unfortunately, I can't say any more on that.

No OS, even Linux, is entirely safe, as the government is already in the firmware, which operates at a lower level than the OS. But I think we still should do what we can.

We're plebeians dabbling in other people's magic. We don't know what we're doing.

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

Not sure if this has been covered, but here it is. There are changes you can make in Win10 settings to turn off the spying, but you'll have to recheck periodically, because MS can turn it back on through its mandatory Win10 updates.

I came across this, today, and I thought of you:

Microsoft finally sheds light on Windows 10 telemetry

Diagnostics, you'll note, are set at either Basic or Full. There's no such thing as "none."

The second lists gives field-by-field descriptions of the data collected at the Basic level. Windows 10, version 1703 basic level Windows diagnostic events and fields runs more than 30,000 words describing the events and data being plucked. If my macro skills are still up to snuff, I count 1,966 separate data fields.

Over nineteen-hundred data points are collected under the category of "diagnostics," even with privacy settings set as full as possible. The definition of diagnostic data is pretty liberal:

Common data; Device, Connectivity, and Configuration data; Product and Service Usage data; Product and Service Performance data; Software Setup and Inventory data; Content Consumption data; Browsing, Search and Query data; Inking Typing and Speech Utterance data; and Licensing and Purchase data.

Most of that is not really diagnostic and falls entirely into the category commonly known as "none of your business." I know a lot of this sort of thing happens through the browser and internet activity, but there really needs to be privacy at the local level. When I leave my home, I know people can see what I'm doing, but I like to think that activity that remains within my home is something deserving of privacy. The same should hold true for computer activity.

 

[elytron]

I run a custom firmware on my wireless router, and it adds so much more function to my device. Believe one setting can prevent windows 10 from reporting back to Microsoft. Haven't tested it yet because I use all Linux, but apparently it can restrict every win10 PC on the network. Because blocking is done in the router.

In case anyone is interested, it can be found over there at - AdvancedTomato.com
Is a free and open source firmware.