• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

TweakHound

Computer stuff...

  • Home
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 10
  • Linux
  • Tweak Guides
  • Site Info
    • About
    • About Me
    • TweakHound’s World
    • Contact
    • My Computers
    • Old Articles
    • Privacy Policy
    • Old Index
    • Advanced Search

Win10 Privacy Issue

win10_logo

December 12, 2018, 07:55(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

***1418hrs 13DCE2018. Updated with a statement from Microsoft

The hot news in the Windows world comes from a Reddit user that claimed Microsoft is collecting data in Windows 10 even when you tell it not to.
I have looked at this issue and I cannot confirm nor refute this claim. See below…

First Thoughts
I’m on a local account and I do not use the Microsoft Store so there should be no info going from Windows 10 to Microsoft. You will note I said Windows 10. Apps in Windows 10 are a different matter. Just like apps on your phone you must configure each individually if it is configurable at all.

As I said above, there is no Microsoft account so there is no info to upload from Windows 10.
So, I logged in to the Activity History of the Microsoft account I have for Outlook. Here is what I came up with:

Here is the Apps and services section. Outlook has data without any clear details.
See that purple square on DEC. 5th? I’ve no idea what that is (Is it Outlook on Android?). There are several of those. This is why I said I cannot refute the claim that Win10 is still collecting data.
I’m very tempted to call BS on this particular issue but since I do not know what that purple square is I cannot.

Windows 10 Forums supposedly has a fix via Group Policy or the registry. I’ve applied them. Reckon we will see what happens.

***1418hrs 13DCE2018. Update.
According to Neowin, Microsoft has basically called BS on this issue. If you see something in Activity History even when it is disabled it is indeed from non-Win10 stuff as I observed in the pics above.

Tagged With: This Site, Windows 10

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kenneth H Smet says

    December 12, 2018, 09:29(EST) at 09:29

    I too have a local account for Windows 10 and I do not use the Microsoft Store… But I do have a “subscription” to Microsoft Office (that bills me monthly for a single user account that I can’t remember if I need a password for that or not?) and I’ve been thinking about tapping into the Cloud Storage feature of Microsoft Office that’s included with my “subscription” but that I think will require me to log in, with a password, etc.) So, any advice:
    1) how to set all my privacy options in Windows 10
    2) how to set up an account in Outlook or in Microsoft Office cloud storage (whatever they call it)?

    • Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound) says

      December 12, 2018, 14:56(EST) at 14:56

      Privacy = https://www.tweakhound.com/2015/11/19/windows-10-privacy-settings-2/
      Outlook = create account here https://outlook.live.com/owa/
      Cloud storage = https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/
      Office + OneDrive = https://support.office.com/en-us/onedrive

  2. Kenneth H Smet says

    December 14, 2018, 06:49(EST) at 06:49

    Initially, I thank you very much for your reply. When I get around to doing all that you advised/recommended I will let you know…and thank you even more! Ken Smet, Huey Pilot, 187th AHC, Tay Ninh, Vietnam: Aug’68-Jul’69

    • Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound) says

      December 14, 2018, 07:33(EST) at 07:33

      Thank you for your service brother!

  3. jo says

    January 2, 2019, 10:19(EST) at 10:19

    What is your recommendation regarding the following article:

    https://www.digitalcitizen.life/diagnostic-data-viewer-windows-10

    • Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound) says

      January 2, 2019, 11:10(EST) at 11:10

      I’ve no use for the app discussed.

Primary Sidebar

Popular Posts

Tweaking Windows 10

Software I Use – 2021 Edition

Timer Tweaks Benchmarked

Win10 – Get Auto-Login Back

Recent Posts

  • Patch Tuesday
  • Monday News
  • Wise Disk Cleaner 11.2.4
  • Patch Tuesday
  • Patch Tuesday
  • Monday News
  • BleachBit 5.0.0
  • Saturday News
  • Patch Tuesday
  • Weekend News
buywin10th2

Tags

  • Android
  • Backup
  • Beer
  • Computer Hardware
  • Computer News
  • Cool Tools
  • Freeware
  • How-To's
  • Linux
  • Off Topic
  • openSUSE
  • Playlists
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • Software
  • This Site
  • vacation
  • Veterans
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP

Catagories

  • Android
  • Backup
  • Beer
  • Computer Hardware
  • Computer News
  • Cool Tools
  • Freeware
  • Freeware Machines
  • How-To's
  • Linux
  • News From The Web
  • Off Topic
  • openSUSE
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • Software
  • Tweak Guides
  • Veterans
  • Windows
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP

TweakHound - Optimize Your Computing Experience! TweakHound - Optimize Your Computing Experience!

Copyright 2002-2025 by Eric Vaughan All material contain here is the property of the materials owner. Windows, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Seven, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11, Microsoft, and all associated logos are trademarks/property of Microsoft. You may not use or copy any material from tweakhound.com without expressed written permission. Hotlinking to any material within this site is forbidden. Privacy Policy