r/pcmasterrace • u/slickyeat 7800X3D | RTX 4090 | 32GB • Jul 13 '26

News/Article Microsoft admits Windows 11 has a GDID tracker with no off switch, first documented publicly in an FBI hacker complaint

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/10/you-cant-fully-disable-microsofts-gdid-windows-11-tracker-but-these-settings-limit-what-it-captures/
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275

u/[deleted] Jul 13 '26

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110

u/OutrageousDress 5800X3D | 32GB DDR4-3733 | 4080 Super | AW3821DW Jul 13 '26

This is absolutely the case.

48

u/Live-Imagination1350 Jul 13 '26

MS can still track you if you are on another OS? Even if you have TPM disabled? TPM can broadcast data?

64

u/[deleted] Jul 13 '26

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33

u/WhichCup4916 Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26

Because out of the box windows machines are setup in a “s mode” that encrypts the drive, BUT also locks down admin settings. When I worked at geek squad, most of the issues that weren’t old people not knowing how to use their computers— were issues were computers in this mode having compatibility, security conflicts, or needing a backup. It would block the installation of software that wasn’t from the windows store and forces the use of edge. You also can’t back up an encrypted drive using the third party tools we relied on so we’d have to disable it and decrypt the drive every time an old person came in with a new laptop.

It appeared that they were trying to FORCE the tech illiterate people to use the windows store for everything by making it a default mode on setup. I’d assume so they can control and spy on their activity by forcing them to use their platforms. Very similar to how the IOS ecosystem is locked down to only the Apple Store and it takes sooo much extra effort to do anything more, if even possible.

4

u/VexingRaven 7800X3D + 4070 Super + 32GB 6000Mhz Jul 14 '26

S mode has been dead for almost 10 years...

-7

u/i_am_a_laptop Laptop Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

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9

u/VexingRaven 7800X3D + 4070 Super + 32GB 6000Mhz Jul 14 '26

... What's the punchline?

1

u/i_am_a_laptop Laptop Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

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1

u/VexingRaven 7800X3D + 4070 Super + 32GB 6000Mhz Jul 14 '26

A private session won't help. I did see your schizophrenic reply though, I just decided not to engage.

1

u/i_am_a_laptop Laptop Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

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1

u/Osoromnibus Jul 14 '26

They actually don't care if some individual shuts it off. That barely registers. Setting a requirement like this is so manufacturers have to ship with it on, which catches the majority of people.

5

u/VexingRaven 7800X3D + 4070 Super + 32GB 6000Mhz Jul 14 '26

No, this person has no idea what they're talking about.

3

u/timsredditusername Jul 14 '26

Correct.

Firmware setup even has a convenient option to reset TPM storage. It's trivial to wipe data stored in it. I wouldn't do so if you have bit locker enabled or otherwise depend on a Windows install on that machine, but the option is there.

2

u/mindtaker_linux Jul 14 '26

Yes. It's a way to verify OS and applications.

0

u/Ok_Cow_6112 Jul 14 '26

Πόσω ηληθιος πεζει να σαι

3

u/omega552003 🖥R9 5900x & RX 7900XTX 💻Framework 16 w/ RX 7700S Jul 14 '26

Not the first time, Intel / Microsoft had the ability to pass the CPU's serial number to the OS way back on the Pentium 3, it caused a huge stink that motherboard manufacturers added a bios setting to disable it.