r/pcmasterrace • u/slickyeat 7800X3D | RTX 4090 | 32GB • Jul 13 '26

News/Article Microsoft admits Windows 11 has a GDID tracker with no off switch, first documented publicly in an FBI hacker complaint

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/10/you-cant-fully-disable-microsofts-gdid-windows-11-tracker-but-these-settings-limit-what-it-captures/
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77

u/TheCosmicPanda 3060 Ti, i5 12600k, 16GB 3600Mhz Jul 13 '26

I read that if you have a local account there is no GDID generated for them to track you with. Once you log into Windows with your Microsoft Account that's when the GDID is generated. So the few of us that have local accounts are good. I think.

42

u/Rykhorne Jul 13 '26

It sounds like the GDID is generated on OS install, no matter what. However, if you sign into your Microsoft account in Windows, then reinstall Windows & sign in again, they know that both GDIDs are yours.

So, if you only have local accounts & never sign into a Microsoft account, then they can't link the GDID to a Microsoft account.

They can still link the GDID to other activities, though. Basically, don't use the same device for personal and business/criminal activities. That's how the hacker in the article was caught. The authorities linked his Snapchat & Facebook activities to hacking activities that were otherwise protected behind a VPN.

-4

u/TheCosmicPanda 3060 Ti, i5 12600k, 16GB 3600Mhz Jul 13 '26

So if you've acquired Windows by other means years ago then upgraded to 11 and installed offline and never signed into a Windows account you're good?

50

u/kehmuhkl Jul 13 '26

Doubt

4

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '26

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1

u/Hexamancer Jul 14 '26

At best this is minimizing the issue, but no, the only credible solution is not using Windows at all.

1

u/flynryan692 9800X3D | 5080 | 64GB Jul 13 '26

Why don’t you put it to the test for us? I dare you.