What is Diagnostics Tracking Service which was installed from Windows Updates?

Anonymous
2015-05-02T00:06:17+00:00

Original title: Microsoft is installing SPYWARE thru Windows Updates?

Windows updates installed something called "Diagnostics Tracking Service" in my Windows 8.1 Pro.

Take a look at THIS website.

http://thepcwhisperer.blogspot.in/2014/10/microsofts-windows-10-preview-has-built.html

It says what this service does in Windows 10 TP.

Data We Collect

When you acquire, install and use the Program, Microsoft collects information about you, your devices, applications and networks, and your use of those devices, applications and networks. Examples of data we collect include your name, email address, preferences and interests; browsing, search and file history; phone call and SMS data; device configuration and sensor data; and application usage. For example, when you:

  • install the Program, we may collect information about your device and applications and use it for purposes such as determining or improving compatibility,
  • use voice input features like speech-to-text, we may collect voice information and use it for purposes such as improving speech processing,
  • open a file, we may collect information about the file, the application used to open the file, and how long it takes and use it for purposes such as improving performance, or
  • enter text, we may collect typed characters and use them for purposes such as improving auto complete and spell check features.

While this might make some sense in a TP (although I consider collecting so much personal information as email addresses and keystrokes to be extreme), it makes no sense in a released Windows version.

It's not like I have downloaded it myself from their website as a loving gesture and I want to share whatever I do in my personal life with Microsoft. They slipped it in as an "update" to Windows 8.1

This is definitely spyware behavior in some sense. It's collecting too much personal data.

I don't want to share ANYTHING with Microsoft. I have NOT turned on the customer improvement program thing in Windows.

WHY IS MICROSOFT DOING THIS?

WHICH KB DO I NEED TO UNINSTALL AND BLOCK IN ORDER TO GET RID OF THIS?

WHY IS MY ANTIVIRUS NOT REMOVING THIS? HAS MS PAID THE ANTIVIRUS VENDORS?

SHOULD I DISABLE AUTOMATIC UPDATES? I'M LOSING TRUST ON MICROSOFT. THEY CAN INSTALL SPYWARE ANY MOMENT, I CANNOT INDIVIDUALLY CHECK THE KB ARTICLE ON EVERY UPDATE JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'LL SEND PERSONAL INFORMATION BACK TO MS.

I'm really upset about this. :(

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-11-26T06:58:58+00:00

    also something worth noting is that this service commonly shows up at the top if you sort processes in task manager by network usage

    turning off this service I get faster internet speeds and am able to stream 1080p yotube vids while a torrent or download goes along at 405 kb per second, something I tried before and the youtube vid struggled at 720p and the download averaged out at about 350 kb per second to 300 kb per second

    although I do suspect some other services were having issues as browsing to most websites wasn't working and my antivirus was reporting that the firewall/internet security was having issues and no matter how many times i clicked fix now and accepted the uac prompt the internet part of my antivirus refused to work and virus definition updates were failing aswell

    upon rebooting it seemed to hang on shutting down windows services, this one in particular it hung on for quite a while (I have shutdown/log off/restart etc, verbose turned on)

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-23T23:51:10+00:00

    Some follow up's.

    But more to follow later on.

    Turn off all, except the SmartScreen filter.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-23T23:09:31+00:00

    "Tracking"?.

    Later on I will follow up with more for Windows10.

    Meanwhile enjoy those Tracking's.

    Regards.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-08-15T14:46:50+00:00

    Right on the MONEY !!.

    You deserve MY HELPFUL vote.

    Regards.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-05-07T11:04:54+00:00

    Well written and commented on, this 'update' most probably should have been offered thru the 'Insider Hub' app, with a full explanation of the function & purpose of the 'update' and if after users have read & accepted those conditions, then they can choose to install or not.

    Like you it is not what I expect from MS, items like this is why I use very few if any Google products.

    Your last comment says it all.

    Again thanks  & happy computing.

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