BIG DATA
BIG DATA
BIG DATA
Microsoft’s Diagnostic Data Viewer lets Windows users see the data it collects on them
Microsoft Corp. has faced years of criticism over its practice of slurping data from Windows 10 users. Organizations such as the European Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have complained, and France actually ordered the software giant to stop tracking its users.
Microsoft responded to those concerns last year by revealing exactly what data Windows 10 collects, and now it’s going further with its next update.
As of this week, Windows 10 testers will gain access to a new feature launched today called the Windows Diagnostic Data Viewer, which presents an overview of all the data being sent to Microsoft’s servers. Previously Microsoft has said it collects anonymized data from Windows 10 users to help improve the operating system, and the new tool allows users to decrypt that data to see exactly what’s being sent.
There’s actually a wealth of data being sent Microsoft’s way, relating to things such as device connectivity, configuration options, peripherals, performance data, installed applications, movie consumption and much more. The Diagnostic Data Viewer lets users inspect this data at a granular level with various filters and tools to dig in deep.
Screenshot showing some of the data Microsoft collects (Image: Microsoft)
For now, only those users who are signed up to Microsoft’s Windows Insiders program can access the Diagnostic Data Viewer. However, the company is promising to include access in the next major update to Windows 10, codenamed Redstone 4, which is due sometime in spring. Microsoft said it will also be updating its online privacy dashboard with an easier to use activity history page that includes the ability to export and delete data.
Although the Diagnostic Data Viewer does provide more transparency, it doesn’t do much to address the main beef of critics – that it continues to slurp data regardless. No doubt, critics will continue to call for the option to turn off data collection entirely, a feature that’s available to Windows 10 Enterprise Edition users but not regular consumers.
Image: efes/pixabay
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