Skip to main content

Microsoft’s new Windows 10 privacy controls should avoid ‘keylogger’ concerns

Microsoft’s new Windows 10 privacy controls should avoid ‘keylogger’ concerns

Share this story

Microsoft is once again tackling privacy concerns around Windows 10 today. The software giant is releasing a new test build of Windows 10 to Windows Insiders today that includes changes to the privacy controls for the operating system. While most privacy settings have been confined to a single screen with multiple options, Microsoft is testing a variety of ways that will soon change.

There have been some concerns that Windows 10 has a built-in “keylogger,” because the operating system uses typing data to improve autocompletion, next word prediction, and spelling correction. Microsoft’s upcoming spring update for Windows 10 will introduce a separate screen to enable improved inking and typing recognition, and allow users to opt-out of sending inking and typing data to Microsoft.

Microsoft’s Windows 10 privacy changes will arrive in the spring update

Microsoft is also testing the idea of Windows 10 users receiving seven individual screens for all the privacy controls in the operating system, and the company is looking for feedback from its Windows Insiders to find the right balance between too many screens and enough insight into the various options.

These latest privacy changes will arrive alongside a separate Windows Diagnostic Data Viewer. The viewer includes an overview of data being sent to Microsoft’s servers by Windows 10. Microsoft collects a bunch of anonymous Windows 10 data from users to help improve the operating system and make product decisions. The new viewer is similar to something like Wireshark, and it lets Windows 10 users decrypt data that is sent encrypted to Microsoft’s servers.

Microsoft is making privacy changes to Windows 10 as the company has faced continued concerns over its collection of data. France previously ordered Microsoft to stop tracking Windows 10 users, and the EU has voiced its own concerns. Microsoft did reveal what data Windows 10 really collects last year, but these latest changes are a step further in addressing concerns.