79Trust
Verified
🔍 Web Verified
EarthshineonMastodon4d ago
I'm "paranoid" and "alarmist" for things like refusing to sign in to windows with a Microsoft account over privacy and control concerns, but then when this kind of shit happens my critics always conveniently forget that I told them so: https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/10/you-cant-fully-disable-microsofts-gdid-windows-11-tracker-but-these-settings-limit-what-it-captures/
Trust Metrics
93
72
70
55
Accuracy93%
Framing72%
Context70%
Tone55%
Analysis Summary
Microsoft's Windows 11 includes a persistent Global Device Identifier (GDID) that cannot be fully disabled, which the FBI used to trace a Scattered Spider hacker despite VPN usage. The author has been warning about privacy risks from Microsoft account integration and data collection — this incident validates those concerns. The framing is dramatic but the underlying technical facts are confirmed: users can limit what data ties to GDID but cannot remove the identifier itself, meaning Windows assigns a permanent tracking ID that persists even when privacy measures are applied.
Claims Analysis (2)
“Windows 11 has a GDID tracker that cannot be fully disabled”
Multiple sources confirm Microsoft's GDID (Global Device Identifier) exists and cannot be turned off entirely. Windows Latest, Yahoo Tech, and Cybernews all document this as an admitted feature.
“GDID helped FBI trace a hacker despite VPN usage”
Multiple sources confirm FBI used persistent GDID to identify and capture Peter Stokes, a Scattered Spider hacker, demonstrating the tracker's persistence even when VPNs are in use.
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