| Feature | Data sent | Can be disabled offline? | Relevant registry key or setting | |---------|-----------|--------------------------|----------------------------------| | | URLs, app hashes, download metadata | Yes (Action Center) | HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\SmartScreenEnabled | | CEIP | Hardware config, software usage, performance | Yes (Control Panel) | HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection\AllowTelemetry | | Windows Update | Device ID, update status, installed update list | Yes (Services console) | HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU | | Wi-Fi Sense (Win8.1) | Wi-Fi network names (not passwords) to contacts | Yes (Network settings) | Disabled via Group Policy | | Advertising ID | App usage for ad personalization | Yes (Settings > Privacy) | HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AdvertisingInfo |
📍 Find more KMS keys on the official Microsoft Learn site . | Feature | Data sent | Can be disabled offline
When installing these operating systems, the "Privacy Statement" refers to how Microsoft collects and uses data. Since support has ended, the current online privacy statement applies mostly to active services (like OneDrive or Outlook), but the OS itself has specific legacy behaviors. Since support has ended, the current online privacy
Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 represented a pivotal shift for Microsoft. They moved the operating system from being a purely standalone product to a "service" connected to the cloud. During the initial installation of Windows 8
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