Windows 10 spies on your use of System Settings (2021)
a year ago
- #Telemetry
- #Privacy
- #Windows 10
- Windows 10 Home Edition sends DNS queries to www.bing.com and cxcs.microsoft.net when accessing System Settings.
- SystemSettings.exe makes outbound HTTPS requests to these domains, indicating potential telemetry data transmission.
- Blocking cxcs.microsoft.net still results in DNS queries to ctldl.windowsupdate.com and www.bing.com.
- Bing appears to be used for telemetry in addition to being a search engine.
- Defensive measures include modifying router DNS settings, using Pi Hole, or NextDNS to block these domains.
- Modifying the hosts file to block domains like www.bing.com can be inconsistent across different applications.
- Windows 10's spying behavior extends to tracking visited sections within the System Settings app.
- Secure DNS and VPNs can bypass local DNS blocking measures.
- Microsoft's telemetry involves communication with numerous servers, as highlighted by independent research.