In our previous articles, we mentioned the privacy concerns of users of the new Windows 10 operating system, and suggested solutions to disable several controversial features, such as Wi-Fi Sense. Meanwhile, the Internet has been filled with applications that disable Windows features that help Microsoft collect data.
Unfortunately, all these apps and workarounds don't really help, as Microsoft is still tracking you, even after you disable these features.
Let's see how by showing Cortana and Bing searches.
Windows 10 features Cortana and Bing continue to communicate with Microsoft servers and send data, even when you have turned them off!
A technical analysis conducted by Ars showed that even if you change all of Microsoft's settings to protect your personal privacy data, it appears that Windows 10 is still communicating with the company's servers, constantly sending information.
Even if Cortana and web search from the Start menu are disabled, communication with www.bing.com is still done for a file called threshold.appcache that sends Cortana information every time a user opens the Start menu and starts typing.
The operating system's voice assistant Cortana sends information that identifies the user's computer and continues to do so across restarts. This allows Microsoft to distinguish Cortana requests from different computers.
The worrying thing is that the digital assistant Cortana sends this data, even if it is turned off.
Another rather disturbing finding of Ars' technical investigation is that Microsoft continues to send data to its servers through the Start menu's Live Tiles.
Even if you remove all tiles, Windows 10 will reinstall them from Microsoft.
Let's also say that Windows 10 transmits your personal information over unencrypted HTTP connections, obviously exposing users to malicious actors who could intercept traffic between users and the company.
The company of course stated that all communications between a Windows 10 computer and Microsoft are necessary for the best end-user experience.
