Windows 11 was released back in October of 2021. It remains the latest major release of a new Windows NT operating system, succeeding the Windows 10 – which was launched back in 2015 – and it was made available free for any Windows 10 devices that met the system requirements. While the conversation surrounding Windows 11 was insightful at the time, it’s hard to formulate a strong, definitive opinion on operating systems unless you have been operating on them for a significant period of time. For instance, a year.
We’re now two years and two months on from the Windows 11 release, and people have a lot of feelings. While it is being praised for a faster, snappier interface compared to Windows 10, there is a lot of concern surrounding data privacy and exactly how much data Windows 11 is taking from its users. With an increased awareness of data brokers and a growing user base actively looking for ways to remove personal information from the internet, this has become a key subject when discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of Windows 11. Before we go into that, however, let’s have a look at Windows 11 and how it is different to its predecessors.
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The Data Problem
Because of the increased awareness of data brokers and how they can put your personal information in danger, a growing number of users are taking it upon themselves to control their data, hindering the possibility of malicious third-parties using your data for their own benefits – whether that’s identity fraud, sending ransomware, malware, phishing emails, or even stealing payment information.
This is where Microsoft Windows 11 really seemed to underestimate its user base and how concerned they are by their data, and how it’s being used. For starters, users still need third-party antivirus software with Windows 11, and any machine running Windows 11 without a TPM 2.0 chip will not be receiving security updates, which means your PC, tablet, and personal data could be at risk. And it’s not only third-parties who might try to harness your data. Amongst all the good and bad things we’ve talked about when it comes to Windows 11, one of the most seismic is what Windows 11 itself is doing to your data.
In a recent survey, as many as 80% of people are more concerned about data security and privacy while on the internet than they were last year, which is up around 13% from 2022 alone. However, people who haven’t opted out of data brokers, or deleted their personal info from Google, are consistently leaving a digital footprint while surfing the web. This digital footprint is then acquired by data brokers, and sold to the highest bidders. Even if it goes to businesses who want to create more targeted ads, data is put at risk, as users have to rely on third-parties cybersecurity systems to hold against data breaches – of which there has already been over 5 billion in 2023.
Windows 11 And Data Security
One of the big problems that users have found with Windows 11 is that, by default, it tracks your activities and sends data to advertising partners, who then use that data to show you targeted ads. It does this by identifying cookies, IP addresses, device IDs, EPC codes, ISBN numbers, and more. These are then analysed to create a profile on a user and understand their preferences.
Another form of data Windows 11 will take is telemetry data, which can include information about the device you’re using, your preferences, your usage pattern, and your software. This is mostly collected for in-house purposes – improving the quality of a user’s Windows experience and making it more personalised.
Windows 11 can also track a user’s location, their activity history, and even their voice data – collecting and sending your voice to Microsoft servers through online speech recognition technology. Windows has never really been known for its privacy, but this is still a sizable amount of data that is being taken. While, as we mentioned, many people are more attuned to the data situation, including the dangers and the overall ethical issues, there are people who will not fully understand how and why their data is being used. Specifically, they will not understand that it is up to them to stop it from happening.
How To Keep Your Personal Information Safe From Windows 11
Windows 11 certainly seems to exercise more than its fair share of control over users. For instance, users are strongly encouraged to use the browser Microsoft Edge due to a number of links not working on alternative browsers. It’s not the most privacy-friendly browser out there, and Windows 11’s clear preference for it is frustrating to some users.
Another one of the reasons users aren’t happy with Windows 11 is because, although it gives you the means to stop it collecting data, your operating system will be severely impacted if you do. In some cases, you might not even be able to use certain, data-collecting apps. For those who prioritise their personal information, however, you can go to the “privacy and security” section in the settings app and turn off ad tracking, location tracking, disable your activity history, change your permissions, delete your diagnostic data, turn off shared experiences, and turn off all app diagnostics.
For those who want to take things further, as we mentioned before, you can delete your personal information across the web by opting out of data brokers, removing your info from Google, and taking back the information that is being collected by countless third-parties. Windows 11 can be a good system for users, but for users who want to protect their data completely, the experience will not be as good. As with many other technological companies, Microsoft revolves its upgrades around user data, implicating itself into the ongoing debate about data privacy and what is ethical when it comes to collecting and utilising data that users are passively sharing. The good thing is that things are kept transparent, so no matter which side you’re on, you can still control what data is being taken from you.