Windows 'Telemetry' added to Windows 7 & 8

[Abby Normal]

Microsoft has been modifying windows 7 & 8 with their 'telemetry' that's part of 10, and also pushing 10 on users of 7 & 8. I keep seeing the 10 update in Windows Update, even though I've hidden it and uninstalled the Get Windows 10 tool (KB3035583). Telemetry is sending data back to Microsoft about how you use your computer. If, like me, you're uncomfortable sending unknown data back to Microsoft, you can do the following.

Below are the best instructions I've found so far. If it looks like Geek to you, call your IT person, but most of it is quite simple, although windows does its best to hide Task Scheduler and Services.

Remove the following updates (if installed already)
KB3068708 Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
KB3022345 Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
KB2952664 Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7
KB2990214 Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 7 to a later version of Windows
KB3035583 Update installs Get Windows 10 app in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1
KB971033 Description of the update for Windows Activation Technologies
KB3021917 Update to Windows 7 SP1 for performance improvements
KB3044374 Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to a later version of Windows

Command Prompt:
sc stop Diagtrack
sc delete Diagtrack

*Task Scheduler Library:
Everything under "Application Experience"
Everything under "Autochk"
Everything under "Customer Experience Improvement Program"
Under "Disk Diagnostic" only the "Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector"
Under "Maintenance" "WinSAT"
"Media Center" and click the "status" column, then select all non-disabled entries and disable them. (None of my computers had Media Center)

*services.msc:
"Remote Registry" to "Disabled" instead of "Manual"

[Jack from Ohio]

And I catch flack for not upgrading to WIN 10.  (somewhere there is an "I told you so...)

[Lee B]

Copied from P C World:

How to turn off Windows 10's keylogger (yes, it still has one)

Lincoln Spector

•  

J Confusion worries that, despite assumptions that it would be removed, the final version of Windows 10 still has a keylogger.

Last fall, I discussed the keylogger that Microsoft openly put into the Windows 10 Technical Preview. The company admitted that “we may collect voice information” and “typed characters.” At the time I defended Microsoft, pointing out that the Preview was “intended for testing, not day-to-day use,” and that Microsoft recommended against installing the Preview on a computer with sensitive files. I said that “I seriously doubt that the worst spyware features will remain in the finished product.”

I was wrong.

[Have a tech question? Ask PCWorld Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector. Send your query to [email protected].]

Microsoft pretty much admits it has a keylogger in its Windows 10 speech, inking, typing, and privacy FAQ: “When you interact with your Windows device by speaking, writing (handwriting), or typing, Microsoft collects speech, inking, and typing information—including information about your Calendar and People (also known as contacts)…”

If that makes you feel creepy, welcome to the human race.

Speaking of online Microsoft documents, you may want to browse the company’s overall Privacy Statement. To Microsoft’s credit, it’s in plain English rather than legalese. On the other hand, it’s about 17,000 words (as someone who’s paid by the word, I’m frankly jealous), so it will take time to find out if there’s anything else that’s truly awful inside.

The good news is that you can turn off the keylogging. Click Settings (it’s on the Start menu’s left pane) to open the Settings program. You’ll find Privacy...ummm....hold on a sec...OH! There it is!—on the very last row.

 

Once in Privacy, go to the General section and Turn off Send Microsoft info about how I write to help us improve typing and writing in the future. While you’re there, examine the other options and consider if there’s anything else here that you may want to change.

Now go to the Speech, inking and typing section and click Stop getting to know me. (I really wanted to end that sentence with an exclamation point.)

You may also want to explore other options in Privacy. For instance, you can control which apps get access to your camera, microphone, contacts, and calendar. I wish I had that capability in Android.

 

Actually this seems to more invasive than what Google does !

 

[Jack from Ohio]

And I catch flack for not upgrading to WIN 10.  (somewhere there is an "I told you so...)

[Catherine]

Ultimately they are going to drive us back to pen and paper.  Erasable pen!

[Jack from Ohio]

Ultimately they are going to drive us back to pen and paper.  Erasable pen!

[Catherine]

 

Hey, look at that; a keyboard with integral real-time printer!

(Yes, my inner nerd is showing; I know.)

[Abby Normal]

And I catch flack for not upgrading to WIN 10.  (somewhere there is an "I told you so...)

This isn't about 10, it's about what's happening to 7 & 8.