required data

Winsage
February 27, 2026
Windows 10 was released in 2015 and faced criticism for its telemetry feature, which some viewed as a surveillance tool. In 2017, the Dutch Data Protection Authority found Microsoft's telemetry settings non-compliant with local privacy laws, leading to changes by Microsoft. Telemetry, termed diagnostic data by Microsoft, is essential for device reliability and security, with a baseline level of data collection set to "Required." Users can opt to limit data collection to this level. The Optional category of diagnostic data may include device settings and browsing history, raising privacy concerns. Microsoft introduced the Diagnostic Data Viewer in 2018 to enhance transparency, allowing users to inspect the telemetry data sent to them. As of now, Microsoft has over a billion monthly active Windows 11 users.
Winsage
September 14, 2025
When setting up a new laptop with Windows 11, users can adjust several settings to enhance performance and privacy. 1. Diagnostic Data: Users can disable the sending of optional diagnostic data by navigating to Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & feedback. They can also turn off the Tailored experiences feature, delete previously collected data, and set Feedback frequency to Never. 2. Targeted Ads: To minimize targeted ads, users should go to Settings > Privacy & Security > General and toggle off the option for apps to show personalized ads using the Advertising ID. They can also disable tracking for app launches and hide suggested content. 3. Annoying Notifications: Users can manage notifications by going to Settings > System > Notifications and unchecking options like Get tips and suggestions when using Windows and Show the Windows welcome experience after updates. They can also customize notifications from specific apps. 4. Widgets: To disable widgets, users should go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar items and toggle off the Widgets option. They can also customize the panel by hiding specific widgets. 5. Search Highlights: Users can turn off the search highlights feature by navigating to Settings > Privacy & Security > Search permissions and disabling the Show search highlights toggle.
Winsage
July 11, 2024
Microsoft collects required data for Windows operation, including basic details of the device and diagnostic data for system failures. Optional data collected includes browsing history, connected devices, inking and typing, product and service performance, product and service usage, software setup and inventory, and location. Users can opt out of optional data collection by navigating to Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback and toggling the relevant options to Off. To view the data collected by Windows 11, users can install the Diagnostic Data Viewer app from the Microsoft Store.
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