Windows 10 "keylogger" setting moved in Windows 10 Spring Creators Update
When Microsoft released a technical preview of the upcoming Windows 10 operating system back in 2014, word got out pretty quickly that the operating system shipped with keylogging functionality that was turned on by default.
Microsoft admitted that it collects inking and typing data, and that the data is sent to Microsoft servers. The current version of the Speech, Inking and Typing FAQ on Microsoft's Privacy website states:
When your Diagnostic and usage data setting (Settings > Privacy > Feedback & diagnostics) is set to Full, your inking and typing input data is sent to Microsoft, and we use this data in the aggregate to improve the inking and typing platform for all users.
While some users objected that Microsoft collects typing and inking data at all and sends it to company servers, others disliked the opt-in nature of the feature and that Microsoft did not really reveal to users that it was doing such a thing in the first place.
Windows admins and users can turn off some privacy settings during setup, but the list of privacy related settings is much larger in the Settings application. If you add policies and Registry keys to that, you end up with a large list of privacy preferences. Even if you modify them all, you will notice that Windows 10 continues to communicate with Microsoft servers.
Microsoft's position is clear: it uses the data to improve keyboard predictions and inking recognition for all users. Privacy conscious users on the other hand would like to be -- at the very least -- asked before any sensitive data leaves the operating system.
Microsoft could have done a better job at communicating privacy sensitive areas of the operating system to users.
Update: Microsoft changed the option in recent versions of Windows 10. You find it under Settings > Privacy > Inking & Typing Personalization now. Toggle "Getting to know you" to off on the page.
Windows 10 Spring Creators Update: privacy changes
Options to disable the "keylogging" functionality have been available in all versions of Windows 10 released by Microsoft since the release of the first technical preview.
On systems running the Fall Creators Update or earlier versions of Windows 10, users and admins may turn off the collecting and sending of typing and inking data in the following way:
- Use Windows-I to open the Settings application.
- Switch to Privacy.
- Select Speech, inking & typing.
- Activate the button "turn off speech services and typing suggestions" so that it reads "turn on speech services and typing suggestions".
- Go to Feedback & Diagnostics (in Privacy).
- Switch Diagnostic and usage data to basic.
The Spring Creators Update includes changes to the process.
The Privacy settings separates privacy related settings in groups with important pages listed at the top in the sidebar. You find speech, inking & typing, and diagnostics & feedback in the first group.
Do the following to disable the collecting and sending of typing and inking data in the Spring Creators Update:
- Use the Windows-I shortcut to open the Settings app.
- Select Privacy.
- Open Diagnostics & Feedback.
- Switch from Full to Basic under Diagnostic Data.
- Locate "improve inking & typing recognition" and flip the setting to off.
- Switch to the page "Speech, inking & typing".
- Make sure speech services and typing suggestions is turned off.
Improve inking & typing recognition
Send inking and typing data to Microsoft to improve the language recognition and suggestion capabilities of apps and services running on Windows
The setup of the Spring Creators Update includes two new privacy options options: find my device and "inking & typing". Inking & Typing lets admins and users turn off the sending of inking and typing data right then and there.
The new version of Windows 10 reveals more about collected Telemetry data; users may browse the collected data and delete it.
Now You: Do you run Windows 10? Have you modified settings?
Related articles
- Comparison of Windows 10 Privacy tools
- Computer Security Myth: Defeating Keyloggers With Onscreen Keyboards
- HP releases Synaptics driver update that removes disabled keylogger
- Microsoft butts heads with Dutch DPA over Windows 10 Privacy
- Microsoft in hot water over Windows 10 privacy in France
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help