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.
