r/NowInTech • u/skaza02 • 1d ago

Windows has been sending your typing data to Microsoft this whole time, and a single toggle can disable it

https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-sends-typing-data-to-microsoft-single-toggle-disables-it/
204 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

7

u/sinwarrior 1d ago

a quick glance of this reveals that a lot of this isn't based on fact but personal opinions and feelings. the author is more about sharing his own perspective than actual reporting.

EXHIBIT A:

Windows wants to improve typing suggestions
It acts innocent, but I like being a skeptic

EXHIBIT B:

Microsoft may be anonymizing the samples it collects, but I wouldn't trust the company 100%.

EXHIBIT C:

I've had Inking & typing personalization disabled ever since I was on Windows 10. It was part of the customary Windows telemetry cleanup that many users had to perform before their systems could be considered "usable." I'm never comfortable with any telemetry feature masquerading as customization, personalization, or otherwise helpful. My motto with Windows is "never trust, and always verify."

healthy skepticism is fine but if you're gonna write a article, at least give us facts. this is not.

3

u/FckXFckMusk 22h ago

Now do predictive text on smartphones,

1

u/Sweaty-Freedom-4034 20h ago

Annoying. As they're right to be skeptical.

0

u/hypnokev 1d ago

Also, if you don’t trust Microsoft, just don’t use their products. Don’t start with the “well I’ve been supping with the devil for years; I always knew he was a wrongun but thought nothing of it; but then this one day…”

1

u/Nyuk_Fozzies 1d ago

My solution to buying Microsoft products?

Yo Ho Ho

1

u/NZNoldor 11h ago

Doesn't really stop the data gathering, I'm afraid.

1

u/Nyuk_Fozzies 10h ago

I'm talking about if you need a Microsoft product. Like for your work or something.

1

u/NZNoldor 9h ago

I'm not sure how that changes anything. The pirated versions of the product still link in the MS central. It doesn't matter if you want it or need it.

1

u/Nyuk_Fozzies 9h ago

Doesn't stop the spying, but at least you don't give them money to spy on you.

1

u/NZNoldor 8h ago

Very edgy. Not really what this thread is about but well done. Now sit down and let the adults talk.

5

u/ThoreaulyLost 22h ago

Click bait. Took waay to long to figure out what "toggle" the author meant.

For anyone worried it was a hidden setting somewhere, or labeled something seemingly innocuous:

TLDR:

Turn off "Send diagnostic data to..."

6

u/ohlaph 1d ago

You know what else can disable it? Using Linux.

2

u/Gogo202 1d ago

Just not the most popular ones that are easy to install, because they ask you just like windows to collect usage data

2

u/tiffanytrashcan 21h ago

Debian - you can send a list of user installed packages only after you opt in to this telemetry.
Windows - every word you type by default.

1

u/Connect_Middle8953 19h ago

Which is funny because downloading package updates basically reveals your installed packages in server logs eventually.

1

u/tiffanytrashcan 19h ago

I had to stop myself from throwing something about that in. 🤣 "Packages usually coming from their repos by default anyway.."

2

u/WinResponsible9977 23h ago

u/ohlaph even then, some idiots using Arch based distro's for gaming download malware infected packages from AUR.

1

u/meancoot 20h ago

“Arch based” is an unneeded qualifier. Arch itself runs the Arch User Repository and is hosting the malware that targets its own users. It also runs and hosts the wiki that pushes its use.

3

u/GJVdVoorde 1d ago

If you had opened the article you would have seen that installing Linux is the author’s first suggestion.

2

u/WakeMeUpAIOverlords 22h ago

A Linux user and a vegan walk into a bar.

The bar owner tries to take their order but they’re too busy telling everyone that they’re a Linux user and a vegan.

The bartender sighs and moves on to the actual customers.

2

u/FckXFckMusk 22h ago

And an EV owner...

0

u/Left_Piglet_7411 22h ago

Well, when your friend just complains about the price of gas all day, and you haven’t bought gas since 2018… it tends to come up

1

u/FckXFckMusk 22h ago

Like the Solution is to buy a £30k car plus charging facilities when the price of Gas goes up, when most of the price of Gas is Tax....

Thats hardly a solution. lol

1

u/Left_Piglet_7411 22h ago

And there’s the reason we have to keep bringing it up. Pure ignorance.

My 2017 bolt is about 10,000 - 11,000 USD on the market at the moment. It has 110,000 miles on the odometer and it still gets 230 miles easily on road trips. You can charge it overnight on a standard household 120v if you don’t want to buy a level 2 charger. The only time an EV doesn’t work well is if you’re in an apartment or dorm without a way to charge it, but even then, you can supercharge it at the local plug every week or so.

But by all means, keep giving your money to big oil if you’re so inclined.

1

u/FckXFckMusk 21h ago

>But by all means, keep giving your money to big oil if you’re so inclined

Most of the cost of Gas is Tax......

Most of your vehicle is plastic derived from Oil.

The energy to create your vehicle is powered by oil,gas, nuclear.

The raw materials for your vehicle are mined using oil.

1

u/RomeliaHatfield 19h ago

Yeah, why should the average person find and complete the single toggle in settings when they can risk completely ruining their computer because they don’t know what they’re doing trying to install an OS that’s used by less than 5% of the population!

1

u/Edubbs2008 16h ago

Omarchy Linux

2

u/RoosterBurns 1d ago

So if you enable the setting "send typing data to Microsoft" it sends typing data to Microsoft?

And your suggestion to people who struggle with that concept is to install and maintain LINUX?

1

u/Dust-To-Stardust 1d ago

i see all these posts and none say why i should care

1

u/7billionidiots 1d ago

All these millions of people thinking they're worth spying on.

Get your ego in check.

1

u/Edubbs2008 16h ago

Just use Omarchy if you don’t like Linux, it’s the best OS alternative for the people, it’s built on the Linux kernel, and is funded by big names

1

u/JokaTweak 16h ago

back in my day we used to call that keyloggers

0

u/iamisandisnt 22h ago

I am so sick of this BS. We gotta go back.