Astronomer Posted September 10, 2015 Member ID: 2069 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 24 Topic Count: 214 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 2411 Content Per Day: 0.46 Reputation: 2409 Achievement Points: 18298 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 7 Joined: 12/25/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2023 Birthday: 08/08/1966 Posted September 10, 2015 As we know, Windows 10 collects bucket-loads of "telemetry" (your private web/PC habits) that Microsoft says it needs to make its cool new features work and to report how users interact with the OS and blah blah blah. Worse, recent patches to Windows 7, 8, and 8,1 add this to the older operating systems. A tried and true method to prevent this has been to edit your "Hosts" file in Windows and spoof the ip address of Microsoft's or whomever's sites to local, so information never leaves your PC. Now, apparently, MS has a way around this. What to do? If you have a beefy router or firewall, there is a way around this. First, here is a list of URL's that your Windows operating system sends your info to: vortex.data.microsoft.com vortex-win.data.microsoft.com telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net oca.telemetry.microsoft.com oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net watson.telemetry.microsoft.com watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net redir.metaservices.microsoft.com choice.microsoft.com choice.microsoft.com.nsatc.net df.telemetry.microsoft.com reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com services.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com sqm.df.telemetry.microsoft.com telemetry.microsoft.com watson.ppe.telemetry.microsoft.com telemetry.appex.bing.net telemetry.urs.microsoft.com telemetry.appex.bing.net:443 settings-sandbox.data.microsoft.com vortex-sandbox.data.microsoft.com survey.watson.microsoft.com watson.live.com watson.microsoft.com statsfe2.ws.microsoft.com corpext.msitadfs.glbdns2.microsoft.com compatexchange.cloudapp.net cs1.wpc.v0cdn.net a-0001.a-msedge.net statsfe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net diagnostics.support.microsoft.com corp.sts.microsoft.com statsfe1.ws.microsoft.com pre.footprintpredict.com i1.services.social.microsoft.com i1.services.social.microsoft.com.nsatc.net bingads.microsoft.com www.bingads.microsoft.com ( watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net might be rejected as not a valid URL. If so, replace it with 65.55.252.43) If your router/firewall allows you to specify URLs to block, add this list to the relevant blocking rule, and your private PC using habits should be protected from the Microsoft snoops. Good luck! Barron 1 Awards
Sammy Posted September 10, 2015 Member ID: 3036 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 219 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 9419 Content Per Day: 1.92 Reputation: 7515 Achievement Points: 62539 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 21 Joined: 11/29/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 17 Birthday: 04/26/2008 Device: Windows Posted September 10, 2015 So they overrode people that specifically altered their host files? And of course didnt tell anybody? Is it me or does that sound a bit big brotherish? hxtr, Astronomer, ChknFngr and 1 other 4 Awards
Astronomer Posted September 10, 2015 Member ID: 2069 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 24 Topic Count: 214 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 2411 Content Per Day: 0.46 Reputation: 2409 Achievement Points: 18298 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 7 Joined: 12/25/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2023 Birthday: 08/08/1966 Author Posted September 10, 2015 So they overrode people that specifically altered their host files? And of course didnt tell anybody? Is it me or does that sound a bit big brotherish? It's a rumour so far. I'll dig into it a bit more. In the meantime, I've added the URLs to the "Malicious Sites" list on my SOPHOS home firewall/router/threat management server. Awards
hxtr Posted September 10, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted September 10, 2015 So they overrode people that specifically altered their host files? And of course didnt tell anybody? Is it me or does that sound a bit big brotherish? Sammy I turned shit off and it turned shit back on. Fuck that shit. It's a rumour so far. I'll dig into it a bit more. In the meantime, I've added the URLs to the "Malicious Sites" list on my SOPHOS home firewall/router/threat management server. Not sure about host files but ulr's are a dime to a dozen.
Barron Posted September 11, 2015 Member ID: 20987 Group: +++ Insurgency Head Admin Followers: 21 Topic Count: 191 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 1799 Content Per Day: 0.44 Reputation: 1788 Achievement Points: 14358 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/21/14 Status: Offline Last Seen: Monday at 02:55 PM Birthday: 01/09/1996 Device: Windows Posted September 11, 2015 Surely if you didnt install the latest windows 7/8 updates you should be grand right? Also if they are installed you can manually remove them via cmd by entering the version of the updates Awards
hxtr Posted September 11, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted September 11, 2015 Surely if you didnt install the latest windows 7/8 updates you should be grand right? Also if they are installed you can manually remove them via cmd by entering the version of the updates I turn of Defender it turns it back on. Windows 7 and 8 i disable the service Defender it stays off. I say their is a difference. If you have a stolen game which I dont anymore because Windows 10 broke it... enough said.
Sammy Posted September 11, 2015 Member ID: 3036 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 219 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 9419 Content Per Day: 1.92 Reputation: 7515 Achievement Points: 62539 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 21 Joined: 11/29/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 17 Birthday: 04/26/2008 Device: Windows Posted September 11, 2015 I had it set so windows automatically installed updates and sure enough the suspect ones are there even tho they were supposed to be optional. I guess not. So I suppose I will remove them. hxtr 1 Awards
hxtr Posted September 12, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted September 12, 2015 I had it set so windows automatically installed updates and sure enough the suspect ones are there even tho they were supposed to be optional. I guess not. So I suppose I will remove them. That is what I did... but I went back to Windows 7 on 3 computers. Screw Microsoft and fuck Windows 10.
Sammy Posted September 12, 2015 Member ID: 3036 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 219 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 9419 Content Per Day: 1.92 Reputation: 7515 Achievement Points: 62539 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 21 Joined: 11/29/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 17 Birthday: 04/26/2008 Device: Windows Posted September 12, 2015 After reading around, only way to get rid of that gwx thing was to uninstall the update. One would think that MS would have simply given people the option to disable it. But nope. They really really really want people to get win10. hxtr 1 Awards
Astronomer Posted September 12, 2015 Member ID: 2069 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 24 Topic Count: 214 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 2411 Content Per Day: 0.46 Reputation: 2409 Achievement Points: 18298 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 7 Joined: 12/25/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 2, 2023 Birthday: 08/08/1966 Author Posted September 12, 2015 More fun: Microsoft will download Windows 10 install files, 3.5 to 5+Gb of them, even if you did not "reserve" a copy of Windows 10. they do this to "helpfully" make it easy and fast to upgrade. If you have a slow Internet connection or a low download cap, Microsoft just screwed you, not to mention that they did this without your permission or knowledge and stole a chunk of your storage. The files are in a hidden subdirectory called $WINDOWS.~BT. Details: http://venturebeat.com/2015/09/11/microsoft-will-download-windows-10-even-if-you-dont-want-to-upgrade-heres-how-to-stop-it/ Awards
Sammy Posted September 12, 2015 Member ID: 3036 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 219 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 9419 Content Per Day: 1.92 Reputation: 7515 Achievement Points: 62539 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 21 Joined: 11/29/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 17 Birthday: 04/26/2008 Device: Windows Posted September 12, 2015 I dont have the $windows bt folder, even with the show hidden option. I suppose nothing has been downloaded. Awards
hxtr Posted September 12, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted September 12, 2015 After reading around, only way to get rid of that gwx thing was to uninstall the update. One would think that MS would have simply given people the option to disable it. But nope. They really really really want people to get win10. I probably will never run it. I will just stop playing games and Run Linux if I had to stop using 7 or 8.
Sammy Posted September 12, 2015 Member ID: 3036 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 219 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 9419 Content Per Day: 1.92 Reputation: 7515 Achievement Points: 62539 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 21 Joined: 11/29/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 17 Birthday: 04/26/2008 Device: Windows Posted September 12, 2015 Im not paranoid enough yet to care but if so I will just have two systems. One for unimportant non-personal stuff + games and the other for anything personal. It's the whole keylogging thing that bugs me because they have no need for such information. Considering the masses consider such things malware or viruses it makes me wonder what stupid fool had the bright idea that it would be ok here. There is an old school of thought. If information could potentially be used for bad purposes, even if unintended, it eventually is. Awards
eidolonFIRE Posted September 13, 2015 Member ID: 2759 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 17 Topic Count: 199 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 3496 Content Per Day: 0.70 Reputation: 3021 Achievement Points: 26464 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 3 Joined: 08/22/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 16, 2017 Birthday: 07/27/1990 Posted September 13, 2015 I have read now that they are retrofitting windows 7 and 8 with the same "features" that everybody is trying to disable in win10.
hxtr Posted September 13, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted September 13, 2015 I have read now that they are retrofitting windows 7 and 8 with the same "features" that everybody is trying to disable in win10. And that is why you turn off Windows Update and never turn it back on. Dont fix things that are not broken.
eidolonFIRE Posted September 13, 2015 Member ID: 2759 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 17 Topic Count: 199 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 3496 Content Per Day: 0.70 Reputation: 3021 Achievement Points: 26464 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 3 Joined: 08/22/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 16, 2017 Birthday: 07/27/1990 Posted September 13, 2015 And that is why you turn off Windows Update and never turn it back on. Dont fix things that are not broken. Well, you don't necessarily want to do that either... Sometimes serious security holes are patched. hxtr 1
Sammy Posted September 13, 2015 Member ID: 3036 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 219 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 9419 Content Per Day: 1.92 Reputation: 7515 Achievement Points: 62539 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 21 Joined: 11/29/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 17 Birthday: 04/26/2008 Device: Windows Posted September 13, 2015 Sure. So you turn on 'notify only' and look for the little WU icon. In any case, if you can check email 20 times a day you can check WU once per day. Stringer 1 Awards
hxtr Posted September 14, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted September 14, 2015 Well, you don't necessarily want to do that either... Sometimes serious security holes are patched. Name one.
eidolonFIRE Posted September 14, 2015 Member ID: 2759 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 17 Topic Count: 199 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 3496 Content Per Day: 0.70 Reputation: 3021 Achievement Points: 26464 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 3 Joined: 08/22/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 16, 2017 Birthday: 07/27/1990 Posted September 14, 2015 Name one. A quick google search pulled up tons of articles on serious security holes discovered in windows. They are all documented here for your convenience: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/dn602597.aspx ( basically, windows is about as secure as a ... window ) hxtr 1
Dukoo Posted September 14, 2015 Member ID: 2527 Group: ** Registered Users Followers: 68 Topic Count: 222 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 1958 Content Per Day: 0.38 Reputation: 2029 Achievement Points: 16244 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 2 Joined: 05/27/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: 1 hour ago Birthday: 02/27/1981 Device: Windows Posted September 14, 2015 There is another way to stop all that shit. ( 1 ) Delete Windows 10 and go back to 3.11. ( 2 ) Press the off button, and shut up forever. ( 3 ) Give your computer to the ones living next to you and buy a mac or any other computer with a different operating system. If this still does not help you out, you can PB me and i am sure we can make a appointment to pick up your computer. hxtr 1
hxtr Posted September 14, 2015 Member ID: 220 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 147 Topic Count: 595 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16950 Content Per Day: 2.96 Reputation: 13538 Achievement Points: 129714 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 120 Joined: 09/04/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: October 26, 2023 Birthday: 04/05/1970 Posted September 14, 2015 A quick google search pulled up tons of articles on serious security holes discovered in windows. They are all documented here for your convenience: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/dn602597.aspx ( basically, windows is about as secure as a ... window ) I have windows XP SP2 on one back zero updates. I have Windows 7sp1 on 4 boxes only two has updates. I have 2 VM's with 7sp1 and no updates. 1 XUbuntu VM but it gets updates as needed. I have Windows 8.1 on one and it gets updates.. or use to. I don't run AV on any of them and none of them have security problems because I dont use IE... I dont use JAVA.. not script but JAVA and I dont use Flash and I know what I am doing. I have been infected.. yes.. several times in the past.. then I reload and problem fixed. The only security I am worried about is out there on the Internet, My email's Steam, origin, my Bank.. shit like that.
eidolonFIRE Posted September 14, 2015 Member ID: 2759 Group: **- Inactive Registered Users Followers: 17 Topic Count: 199 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 3496 Content Per Day: 0.70 Reputation: 3021 Achievement Points: 26464 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 3 Joined: 08/22/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: June 16, 2017 Birthday: 07/27/1990 Posted September 14, 2015 I have windows XP SP2 on one back zero updates. I have Windows 7sp1 on 4 boxes only two has updates. I have 2 VM's with 7sp1 and no updates. 1 XUbuntu VM but it gets updates as needed. I have Windows 8.1 on one and it gets updates.. or use to. I don't run AV on any of them and none of them have security problems because I dont use IE... I dont use JAVA.. not script but JAVA and I dont use Flash and I know what I am doing. I have been infected.. yes.. several times in the past.. then I reload and problem fixed. The only security I am worried about is out there on the Internet, My email's Steam, origin, my Bank.. shit like that. Holy shit... You realize XP has been COMPLETELY compromised even WITH security updates? .... and also.... you are a dumbass. Security holes don't go away when you ignore them. Furthermore, you know the vast majority of viruses are completely incognito? You'll never know they are there but they are harvesting any info you give them. The malware that visibly screws up your system to alert you it's there is only a tiny percent of what is out there. A simple keylogger can get any old hacker into anything you log into on the compromised system.
Sammy Posted September 14, 2015 Member ID: 3036 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 219 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 9419 Content Per Day: 1.92 Reputation: 7515 Achievement Points: 62539 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 21 Joined: 11/29/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: March 17 Birthday: 04/26/2008 Device: Windows Posted September 14, 2015 If this still does not help you out, you can PB me and i am sure we can make a appointment to pick up your computer. How do you PB someone? Awards
Recommended Posts