Vista harvesting user data for Microsoft?

[JDPower]

Are you using Windows Vista? Then you might as well know that the licensed operating system installed on your machine is harvesting a healthy volume of information for Microsoft. In this context, a program such as the Windows Genuine Advantage is the last of your concerns. In fact, in excess of 20 Windows Vista features and services are hard at work collecting and transmitting your personal data to the Redmond company.

Full article here

[Humpty]

Thanks for that article JD.May just look at the advice given in post N#4 from the link:

Comment #4 by thejynxed on 2007-07-03, 03:09 GMT

This crap is easily overcome:

 

Autopatcher Vista. All of the MS updates, and extra MS software, and none of the spying and crap associated with MS themselves.

 

Never rely on Microsoft for updates ever again. In fact, you can blackhole every single one of their IP addresses, and still use their so-called "features" in Vista. You can get an entire list of Microsoft address ranges to block from www.bluetack.co.uk. That is the site of Bluetack Internet Security Solutions, creators of Protowall and the Blocklist Manager. They also have an online converter, to convert the blocklist into compatible listings to integrate into IPTables, IPChains, Sygate Pro, Outpost Firewall, etc.

 

For Autopatcher Vista, visit: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enh...her-Vista.shtml

[Humpty]

Found another app that may just come in handy.

 

Vispa:

There are many reasons why you wouldn't want your operating system connect to Microsoft's server, be it for practical reasons or pure idealism. Based on the source-code of the award-winning xpy (version 0.9.8), Vispa allows you to easily tweak your Windows Vista for better privacy and security, even system performance. Do a few clicks rather than finding the write registry keys or program settings.

 

The only recommendation I can give is not applying settings without vague knowledge of what you're doing. Not every setting is desired in every environment. Vispa is no tool for beginners, just a more convenient way of tweaking your operating system.

Vispa Link

[lotse]

Is there a help file for this program? I don't think I'd know where to start.

 

It reminds me of xp-antispy, which also works well, but can get confusing.

 

http://xp-antispy.org/component/option,com...tpage/Itemid,1/