These Are the Websites Your Clean-Install Windows PC Connects to by Itself

Megalith

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In an effort to promote transparency (and, perhaps, dispel conspiracy theories), Microsoft released late last month a complete list of websites and services a Windows PC connects to after a clean install. Although there are consequences, instructions on how to turn off certain endpoints have been provided.

The list mostly consists of Microsoft services which provide data endpoints to the respective Microsoft apps. The list can be derived after installing Windows 10 (1709 or above) and leaving the PC idle on default settings for a week. This can then be used to compile reports on traffic going to public IP addresses.
 
If I disable Microsoft Store, I won't be able to update Windows? I JUST built a new PC (well, almost, it hasn't booted up yet, I still have yet to finish the hard tubing)...and this is going to be my first Windows 10 PC...I want to disable ALL of this crap, and have no intention of ever buying "UWP" software through their Windows Store. I just want to make sure I can update my system as needed though. Recommendations?
 
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This would have been good to have 3 years ago. Looks like a good starting point for sites to block at the router.

If I disable Microsoft Store, I won't be able to update Windows? I JUST built a new PC (well, almost, it hasn't booted up yet, I still have yet to finish the hard tubing)...and this is going to be my first Windows 10 PC...I want to disable ALL of this crap, and have no intention of ever buying "UWP" software through their Windows Store. I just want to make sure I can update my system as needed though. Recommendations?

Perhaps Windows Update Catalog? Look up the KB# of the new updates and DL/install manually.
 
This would have been good to have 3 years ago. Looks like a good starting point for sites to block at the router.



Perhaps Windows Update Catalog? Look up the KB# of the new updates and DL/install manually.

Thanks. That would be ideal. I want to update when I want to update, not when they decide to push their garbage code out to unsuspecting beta testers! And I would prefer to update only after bugs/glitches/crashes are fixed.
 
Thanks. That would be ideal. I want to update when I want to update, not when they decide to push their garbage code out to unsuspecting beta testers! And I would prefer to update only after bugs/glitches/crashes are fixed.

The easy solution:

upload_2018-7-25_17-23-59.png


You can get the info on the updates here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro/windows-10/release-information

If you check the updates for the 'Semi-Annual Channel' you can see that there are no major bugs. You can defer all updates for 30 days, if you are still afraid that shit might go down.
 
Semi-Annual Features? What a steaming pile of crap. I despise this "OS as a service".

I am not ready to jump to Linux yet but I want to get control over my computer back so in the end I will be forced into it.

So, you want the new features as soon as the programmer clicks 'Compile', but you don't want to feel like a beta tester...

4461645.jpg
 
Windows 7 lets you pick what updates you get, but it's coming to EOL pretty soon

Windows 8.x also lets you pick, but it will eventually be EOL

Windows 10 gives you zero control about what updates you get, you will eventually get all of them, whether you like it or not, this includes feature addition AND removal, with the occasional dice roll of a bricking or other badness

The reality is that Microsoft clearly demonstrates they aren't okay with you having control over your Operating System. If you like WIndows 10, and where they're heading, so be it.

But if you aren't okay with it, well, there is Linux, and gaming on it is actually really good.

I'm in the process of making YouTube content to actually show how easy it is to get up and going with Linux Gaming, I want to do a far better job than LTT/Wendell, and if you are interested, check this out : https://hardforum.com/threads/bloodyiron-on-linux-gaming-youtube.1964861/

If you have any questions around such things, pls post in the thread I just linked.
 
I think it’s crazy that it connects to facebook, twitter, and candy crush saga right out of the gate? Why? For what possible purpose? The only thing it does is make everyone question the legitimacy of it all.
 
Could care less. If you paranoid folks in here care so much about this being a problem then maybe just stay off the internet and stop using your Smartphones.

Maybe you should look up the word "paranoid". All I see in here are people talking about facts they do, or do not, like about Windows 10.

Just because someone does not like something does not make them paranoid. Oh, by the way, I do not own a smart phone and that decision had nothing to do with "paranoia". Ta-da!

Your post does beg this; You could care less about what the OS is doing, but you are disturbed by people who do care. So much so, you had to resort to some silly, antagonistic remark. Why?
 
Could care less. If you paranoid folks in here care so much about this being a problem then maybe just stay off the internet and stop using your Smartphones.

Are you really paranoid when they really ARE out to get you?
 
I think it’s crazy that it connects to facebook, twitter, and candy crush saga right out of the gate? Why? For what possible purpose? The only thing it does is make everyone question the legitimacy of it all.

Twitter and Facebook apps are pre-installed, apparently. In the notes on how to bypass, it says to uninstall the app. Great...now "clean" installs of Windows come pre-loaded with Candy Crush, Facebook and Twitter. How much longer before your "clean" install looks like a Samsung phone from Verizon?
 
But if you aren't okay with it, well, there is Linux, and gaming on it is actually really good.

Perhaps really good for Linux fans but compared to Windows 10 the native content just isn't there. New games that get talked about and that people are interested in playing rarely come to Linux and if they do like a number of the Square Enix titles it's months or years after Windows. If one doesn't like Windows 10 and wants to use Linux I get it. Maybe even use Linux for everything besides PC gaming. Yes Linux has more games than ever. But so does Windows by a factor of 5 times more. As long as that kind of gap exists Linux will have a hard time getting seen by typical PC gamers as really good.
 
good to see this list, what surprises me though is how much data these site download upload through the packet capture. it is a whole lot more than just a few strings of text.

maybe when i give a care again i might try and cap the data stream, and narrow down which of these services is the culprit for the bloat. my suspects are candy crush and the weather app.

still think its BS that microsoft and its fans find this totally acceptable for a device they paid for out of their own pocket, not subsidized leased or gifted. but something they out right own and feel totally fine with letting microsoft use it as they please.

just boggles my mind.
 
. If one doesn't like Windows 10 and wants to use Linux I get it. Maybe even use Linux for everything besides PC gaming.

And this is exactly what I do. There is a time and place for Windows 10 as well as Linux. I'll stick too Linux as my daily driver for most non gaming needs but I still have a Windows 10 machine hooked up to the big screen as well as dual booting on my main PC.
 
Native is only so relevant. Native is preferable, but there's lots of ways to get games released for Windows as playable on Linux. And I'm working on YouTube content to show how that's actually achievable in an easy way (better than LTT/Wendell)

For example, Farcry 5 is playable on Linux, so is Overwatch (I'm at SR 2040), and so much more.

Watch the skies, if you want to know more, check the link in the post you just quoted ;)

The gap is irrelevant.

Perhaps really good for Linux fans but compared to Windows 10 the native content just isn't there. New games that get talked about and that people are interested in playing rarely come to Linux and if they do like a number of the Square Enix titles it's months or years after Windows. If one doesn't like Windows 10 and wants to use Linux I get it. Maybe even use Linux for everything besides PC gaming. Yes Linux has more games than ever. But so does Windows by a factor of 5 times more. As long as that kind of gap exists Linux will have a hard time getting seen by typical PC gamers as really good.
 
Link to report of anyone anywhere EVER suffering detrimental effects at the hands of Microsoft's nefarious 'OMG it's spying on me' telemetry?

Thanks!

It's been three years now (Windows 10), and I'm probably just clueless, but I've never had a problem or heard of an actual problem. Been on NT since pre-release Windows 2000 and have always kept up to date and patched on a number of machines.
 
Link to report of anyone anywhere EVER suffering detrimental effects at the hands of Microsoft's nefarious 'OMG it's spying on me' telemetry?

Thanks!

It's been three years now (Windows 10), and I'm probably just clueless, but I've never had a problem or heard of an actual problem. Been on NT since pre-release Windows 2000 and have always kept up to date and patched on a number of machines.

No problem, here's just a couple groups...there have been many others!

https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/13/microsofts-windows-10-breaches-privacy-law-says-dutch-dpa/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-10-settings-violate-local-laws-idUSKBN1HW2YI
 


Yeah, um, that's a dutch legal opinion, and not a report of someone suffering damages. I know where you're coming from, but not being a snowflake, my feewings aren't hurted by big bad Microsoft$ telemetry.
But I totally get where you're coming from.

Anyone have a link to real-world repercussions?

In b4 'My privacy and feewings' are real! :LOL:
 
If you don't think you are harmed by a loss in your private information being relayed WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION to corporations, I don't know what to tell you. You are obviously too stupid to understand the problem, and I have no time or patience to explain the obvious to fools.


No actual report of anyone ever being hurt. Gotcha! :LOL:

BTW, I'm thrilled at being in the same thread as someone so intelligent as yourself! I am truly humbled.
 
I eagerly await and install each and every patch Microsoft sees fit to bequeath me.

I for one welcome our Corporate Computer Overlords.

I'll stop now. :LOL:

Please do. By the way, you might want to look up the legal definition of "standing" as it relates to filing lawsuits.
 
Link to report of anyone anywhere EVER suffering detrimental effects at the hands of Microsoft's nefarious 'OMG it's spying on me' telemetry?

Thanks!

It's been three years now (Windows 10), and I'm probably just clueless, but I've never had a problem or heard of an actual problem. Been on NT since pre-release Windows 2000 and have always kept up to date and patched on a number of machines.

I'm confused, why does it have to hurt me for me not to want it on my OS install?
 
Link to report of anyone anywhere EVER suffering detrimental effects at the hands of Microsoft's nefarious 'OMG it's spying on me' telemetry?

Thanks!

It's been three years now (Windows 10), and I'm probably just clueless, but I've never had a problem or heard of an actual problem. Been on NT since pre-release Windows 2000 and have always kept up to date and patched on a number of machines.

Microsoft, Apple, Google, Facebook. and many others are smiling about now. They just found the perfect client/user for their services/products. One who will never question the status quo and one that will challenge anyone who does. Atta boy!
 
Wow, who would have thought that an OS built for a modern user who consumes media, data, news, and other things would connect to things? I mean, how else is it going to get this data if it didn't connect to places on the Internet? How else is it supposed to get your weather, news, tweets, Facebook content, etc.?

Really people? Are you that dense! I can guaran-fuckin-te you that your every day Android device makes a hell of a lot more connections to a hell of a lot more places on the Internet yet... oh, but it's Google, they're fine. Microsoft? Gots to go grab our pitchforks and torches.
 
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