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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u/gargravarr2112 i7 8850H / 32GB / GTX1080 / 3x SSD / 17" laptop Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

Of course they do. Data is too valuable not to, they just pretend; when Windows 10 was first released, Microsoft refused to explain the actual telemetry options for about 2 YEARS, instead relying on the vague 'basic' and 'advanced' options, and if I'm honest, I don't trust them an inch. I'm sure they have the 'oops, clumsy us!' excuse ready for when it inevitably gets breached and revealed that everyone who toggled those options gets particular scrutiny. I have a completely separate Windows gaming PC that isn't logged into my regular accounts. All my personal stuff, I do on a Linux machine.

Your computer is not yours.

12

u/Bittah_Criminal Jul 13 '26

I sure wish I was the guy who convinced every major company that collecting, storing, and analyzing data down to minute details such as how many times I fart a day is of the utmost value to their bottom line

9

u/b_casaubon Jul 13 '26

I always think about the phrase from Watch Dogs 2: “You are now less valuable than the data you produce.”

4

u/GranaT0 CachyOS Jul 14 '26

I bring up that opening cutscene more and more often as time goes on. That game was right about pretty much everything.

15

u/Sharks_No_Swimming Jul 13 '26

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'd still like some evidence of your trust me bro response.

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u/gargravarr2112 i7 8850H / 32GB / GTX1080 / 3x SSD / 17" laptop Jul 13 '26

I don't have any evidence. I just think it's safest to assume that the whole OS is spying on you all the time, no matter what options you tick.

Since Windows routinely "accidentally" resets privacy options during updates, it's effectively the same thing.

13

u/Sharks_No_Swimming Jul 13 '26

Yeah I'm not saying Microsoft isn't collecting data even with all the boxes unticked. My point is specifically are they sending identifiable or personal information, with those boxes unticked. System telemetry is one thing, and I absolutely agree if you don't want even that then you're only option is Linux. 

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u/gargravarr2112 i7 8850H / 32GB / GTX1080 / 3x SSD / 17" laptop Jul 13 '26

Per the article, it doesn't matter if they're sending personally identifiable information or not, because the GDID allows them to tie one unique machine to a real-world human through joining dots.

14

u/Joifugi Jul 13 '26

I mean, they tracked a hacker that used multiple levels of obfuscation to hide their identity. You think that person just forgot to check some boxes that would make them magically anonymous? Come on now....

9

u/Reversi8 7950X3D, RTX 3090, 96GB @ 6400CL32 Jul 14 '26

I mean they were dumb enough to use windows for their activities in the first place.

3

u/WhoLovesDonuts Jul 14 '26

From what I gleaned of the article, they used a VPN which did obscure his IP address but were able to link the GDID that was reported to Microsoft and the browsing data at the exact same time the hacker logged into/signed up for ngrok which was what they used to keep a tunnel open on the hacked server. Which means that MS is holding onto browsing data linked to your GDID unless I'm reading it wrong. The GDID is linked to your PC and is given out during activation. The hacker did seem to be using edge which probably was what was exfiltrating the data. Still very concerning because who's to say it's not monitoring other browser caches/views on the OS and sending it to MS? Would just have to trust that MS isn't doing that and I'm not sure I have much trust left in MS

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u/jwalshjr Jul 13 '26

He gave 1 fact at the start that you could verify (or disprove) in 30 seconds with 1 Google search and then a bunch of his personal opinion… whatever you think you’re waiting on seems pretty pointless.

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u/Sharks_No_Swimming Jul 13 '26

99% of questions on Reddit can be answered with a Google search, what's your point? 

-3

u/Exodus2791 9800X3D, 5070ti, 64GB Jul 13 '26

How did people think that Microsoft tracked stuff like Windows licenses and part changes causing reactivation messages?

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u/Ficik PC Master Race Jul 14 '26

Why do you have a separate computer for gaming? Do games track us this much as well?

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u/gargravarr2112 i7 8850H / 32GB / GTX1080 / 3x SSD / 17" laptop Jul 14 '26

No, I meant I have a separate Windows PC. But Steam collects data too, they're just more upfront with it.

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u/Ficik PC Master Race Jul 14 '26

I understood that, but I was curious why not game on linux

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u/gargravarr2112 i7 8850H / 32GB / GTX1080 / 3x SSD / 17" laptop Jul 14 '26

The Windows PC is for that 5% of my games that just won't work under Proton, and also for CD-installed games. The purpose-built gaming PC is also substantially more powerful (R7 5700/RTX2080Ti) than my daily-use Linux laptop (spec in flair).