Windows 10 Technical Preview Using Real-Time Keylogger?

CommanderFrank

CommanderFrank

Cat Can't Scratch It
Joined
May 9, 2000
Messages
75,399
If you have installed the Windows 10 Technical Preview, you also gave permission to Microsoft to collect data of your usage and report that back to Microsoft as feedback to improve the product. Closer examination of the code shows that you could be sending data in real time as you type.

Some are calling this a keylogger within the Windows 10 Technical Preview, which isn't good news. Microsoft is collecting data on text entered as is it trying to improve auto correct within the system, however I don't think many users will be happy with Microsoft watching text being inputted into the system.
Click to expand...
 
"Closer examination of the code shows that you could be sending data in real time as you type." - where does that information comes from ? There is not a word about that in the source article. All it says that MS has the right to collect that info, and that it might do so.

My personal guess is that they log some things in windows search boxes, or start menu, maybe in IE. It is unlikely that they have a 24/7 keylogger.
 
Being a technical preview I don't see too much trouble. There are always quite a few background things in early builds. Now if this hit live that is another story and we really don't know what it actually is. I sincerely doubt it is a real time keylogger, almost any AV solution would go nuts if so.

I never search for my asian midget tranny scat porn on beta tests anyhow.
 
I know one thing, I had to accept the most EULA's thingys while installing Win-10 than I've ever seen on any OS installation in my life. Just that alone made me raise an eyebrow. This would not surprise me one bit. Then again I also wouldn't be surprised if the retail version had it as well (I'm a pessimist). Spying is everywhere now = $$$$$. Those in this kind of business are losing billions from not doing it.

Dekoth-E- said:
I sincerely doubt it is a real time keylogger, almost any AV solution would go nuts if so.
Click to expand...
I would assume the creator of the OS could skate under the radar but I'm sure I could be mistaken as well.
 
Dimethyltryptamine said:
I know one thing, I had to accept the most EULA's thingys while installing Win-10 than I've ever seen on any OS installation in my life. Just that alone made me raise an eyebrow. This would not surprise me one bit. Then again I also wouldn't be surprised if the retail version had it as well (I'm a pessimist). Spying is everywhere now = $$$$$. Those in this kind of business are losing billions from not doing it.

I would assume the creator of the OS could skate under the radar but I'm sure I could be mistaken as well.
Click to expand...

I sort of doubt it, again could be wrong but the nature of keylogging has certain characteristics to it, baked in or not. I'm fairly certain it would be difficult to get any "reputable" AV to ignore those characteristics.
 
'Threshold' means threshold to the MS servers. Only question, is does it run when disconnected from the mothership? If it doesn't, I'm out. I'll have to wait to see the rest.
 
Why have keyloggers not been removed from operating systems by default? You could still be able to enable it as a system administrator, but the basic premise of the key logger needs to be gone....like 15 years ago.
 
EULA contain lot of hidden items what they expect regular users to not even pay attention. They try to make it complicated for untrained eyes.

I hope they don't do something similar to retail version otherwise this will cause lot of alarms. It could be they are releasing windows 10 to assume more control of users Machine, Maybe windows 8 couldn't do provide that freedom to Microsoft. But who knows what else is being programmed to run in the background.

This was just found by a regular user not told by Microsoft that they are collecting such information.
 
Well considering it's a TP and you shouldn't be using it as your personal O/S it's pretty expected. MS wanted aggressive data mining so they can get an idea of how people were using the UI considering how much people bitched about 8
 
It would be pretty easy to check with wireshark.
 
Every copy of Android does this.
as does every copy of Chrome, even in incognito mode if you used a Google account.

I have an issue with it, and don't use products that do it. That includes Windows 10 if this "feature" is still present in the final release.

But looking at Google's fortunes, it appears there are millions and millions of people that don't have a problem with it. Sad, really.
 
Ordeith said:
Every copy of Android does this.
as does every copy of Chrome, even in incognito mode if you used a Google account.

I have an issue with it, and don't use products that do it. That includes Windows 10 if this "feature" is still present in the final release.

But looking at Google's fortunes, it appears there are millions and millions of people that don't have a problem with it. Sad, really.
Click to expand...

There's no way that this will be in the RTM version of 10, it would be totally unacceptable for enterprise use in that case. Plus Microsoft has said it was only for development purposes and not going to be in the final product.

While I certainly see the problem, I think that Microsoft is trying to err on the side of caution here to make sure that they get 10 right. You can go into the feedback app and look at and search on what comments are being made, that's pretty cool. If Microsoft uses this information wisely and tries to do what it can in the development of 10 and with the more rapid update plan, 10 could be very interesting.
 
it is a TECHNICAL PREVIEW, written all over the EULA, it is not even a Developer Preview.
 
who cares, we're being monitored day in and day out with every electronic device and service we use now.


we allowed this to happen years, decades ago.. our problem, our responsibility, our fault.
 
TorxT3D said:
who cares, we're being monitored day in and day out with every electronic device and service we use now.


we allowed this to happen years, decades ago.. our problem, our responsibility, our fault.
Click to expand...

Speak for yourself. I've never once allowed it to happen and never once liked it.
 
Semantics said:
Well considering it's a TP and you shouldn't be using it as your personal O/S it's pretty expected. MS wanted aggressive data mining so they can get an idea of how people were using the UI considering how much people bitched about 8
Click to expand...
Exactly. Why anyone would replace their primary OS use with a technical preview is beyond me. Something like this needs to be ran on a separate partition or hard drive, if not a VM. Beyond all the extra data collecting there are going to be problems with application and hardware compatibility.
 
TorxT3D said:
who cares, we're being monitored day in and day out with every electronic device and service we use now.


we allowed this to happen years, decades ago.. our problem, our responsibility, our fault.
Click to expand...

Resistence is futile crowd has spoken.
 
I presume this is because its a learning release? It would be insanity to release a catch all logger in a final product especially with the hypocrits in Europe getting uptight about an US based monitoring.
 
Ordeith said:
Every copy of Android does this.
as does every copy of Chrome, even in incognito mode if you used a Google account.

I have an issue with it, and don't use products that do it. That includes Windows 10 if this "feature" is still present in the final release.

But looking at Google's fortunes, it appears there are millions and millions of people that don't have a problem with it. Sad, really.
Click to expand...

Yup, if you're using Chrome or Android in like day-to-day non-testing use, you prolly have no reason to complain if MS is doing it with their technical preview OS. Honestly, some people have such weird double standards...getting upset about MS improving their OS but being all Meh about Google doing it 24/7. Seriously...relax, it's for your own good anyway.
 
Ordeith said:
Every copy of Android does this.
as does every copy of Chrome, even in incognito mode if you used a Google account.

I have an issue with it, and don't use products that do it. That includes Windows 10 if this "feature" is still present in the final release.

But looking at Google's fortunes, it appears there are millions and millions of people that don't have a problem with it. Sad, really.
Click to expand...

Wow, I had no idea Chrome had this, any way to shut it off?
 
Anyone who has done beta testing in the past knows this already. They use key loggers in order to duplicate crashes so they can replicate the steps in a controlled environment or on multiple computers to see if the crash is just local or system specific. It can also be used to see what features users are using more, and what they bypass, in order to see what people like or dislike about a new product. This information can be used in many beneficial ways to improve a product, but anyone who signs up to be a "beta tester" SHOULD be aware that they are being watched. If you jumped into Win10 without this understanding, your at fault. Read the EULA, or risk becoming the human centipede. You have been warned.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top