New Windows 7/8/8.1 updates spy on you just like Windows 10

Microsoft is pushing KB3075249 and KB3080149 updates for Windows 7/8/8.1 users which can spy on you

Windows 10 has been launched and already installed by more than 50 million users worldwide. It is now a known fact that Windows 10 user data is being reported back to Microsoft servers back in Redmond. The jury is still out whether this a good or bad practice but many of Windows 10 Apps like Cortana depend on getting your preferences correct to serve you better.

This being the case, many Windows users who are not happy with Windows 10 spying ways and have preferred to stay on with Windows 7/Windows 8 and Window 8.1 as the case might be. For these Windows 7/8/8.1 users there are a few updates which Microsoft has been pushing through last few days.

Namely, KB3075249 and KB3080149, if installed are known to report your data back to Microsoft servers.

KB3075249 update adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.  The Microsoft support page gives following description for them :

KB3075249 “Update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 ”
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3075249

KB3080149 “This update aligns down-level devices on the same UTC binary that’s released in Windows 10. This update would enable all the down-level devices to receive the software updates, design updates, and additional power and performance tuning.”
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3080149

In simple words, both these updates, if downloaded and installed will snoop on you and report back certain data to the Microsoft servers.

Once you have updated your Windows 7/8/8.1 with these updates, your PC is no better than Windows 10 as it will report back your user data.

There is little news about these updates but tech forums are already abuzz about their spying ways. Some users on forums have reported additional updates from Microsoft which are to be avoided :

KB2505438
KB2670838 – Windows 7 Only (breaks AERO functionality and gives you blurry fonts on some websites)
KB2952664
KB2976978 – Windows 8 only
KB3021917
KB3035583
KB3075249

If you are a privacy lover or dont want your data to be sent to unwanted entities, avoid the above updates. All these updates are optional and wont harm your PC if you dont install them.

To stop your Windows 7/8/8.1 PC from downloading these updates, go to your Windows Update, click on the check box besides this updates and hide them.

Do remember, these updates may reappear after a reboot. Therefore keep a check on what your Windows 7/8/8.1 PC is updates before you install them.

15 COMMENTS

  1. It should be noted that these updates don’t take effect if you chose not to be in the CEIP. In fact, one of the updates actually reduces checking calls to CEIP if you opted out.

  2. What is your source otherwise shut the fuck up, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say your source is nsane forums and My digital Life

    • If you are a “CRAZY”, switch to MAC OS X , just like me

      Fixed it for you….

      If you are going to switch from Windows then you would go Linux (which apple copied).

      max is just a poor copy of Linux

      • Actually, OS-X is based on BSD not Linux. Also, the Desktop/UI is is simple, mostly-elegant, and fully featured – better than the “out-of-box” experience of most Linux distros. I respect Macs for what they are but don’t use them.

        That said, ANNIS is apparently unaware that the NSA gets user data from Apple via backdoors. How’s that privacy working for you?

  3. Amazing to see M$ stoop to such blatantly underhanded tactics to push through their spyware. These are tell-tale signs of a company that has lost its way, and is acting in desperation. It is beyond me how anyone could trust M$ with their data when they resort to these kinds of tactics.

  4. Thanks for the helpful article. I have promptly uninstalled those updates! Readers should be aware though that the NSA gets data via backdoors from both Windows and OS-X and possibly even most linux distros (read about the origins of systemd). Compared to that lack of privacy from big brother and the associated danger to our “free” society, this issue of telemetry data with Microsoft is small potatoes.

    • Do you know this as fact? Can you cite a reference? I’ve read articles for more than a decade the government wanted back doors into encryption software and emails so anything else doesn’t surprise me.

  5. You are stupid !!! Why even elect such smacks that do this ??? Don’t vote for them period !!! You have rserious issues with all your security agencies including firms like Google, Apple, MS and the list goes on ….

  6. Really. don’t know whether this is a good or bad practice. Many users have confidential information stored on their or their companies computers which is protected by law. This includes HIPAA protected hospital patient information, government secrets, copyright protected materials, personal and company financial and health records. The fact M$ has given itself access to this and copies it electronically and sends it to Redmond is already a violation of the law and felony in many circumstances. This is not an either/or we are debating here…it is a clear violation of the law of the USA. They claim in their EULA they can and will provide files stored on local machines to whomever they will. Just having granted themselves this ability on your personal property is a violation of the law. Our regulators are asleep at the wheel.

  7. I have heard Microsoft is handing over information to left wing activists and Antifa-documentation that runs their own Stasi-registers.

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