72Trust
Likely Accurate
🔍 Web Verified
Julian OliveronMastodon2d ago
A great article on Microsoft's shady GDID, a device fingerprint snuck into Windows 11 that can and has already been used to track with precision, activity reports sent back to the mothership indefinitely.
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
87
62
70
45
Accuracy87%
Framing62%
Context70%
Tone45%
Analysis Summary
Microsoft's Windows 11 contains a persistent device identifier called GDID that gets sent to Microsoft whenever Windows phones home for updates, crash reports, licensing, and telemetry. A baseline level of GDID-linked data continues to be sent as long as the system uses Microsoft services, and it cannot be fully disabled on consumer editions. Users can limit what additional data gets tied to the identifier through specific settings, but complete disabling is not possible. The identifier operates at the OS level, meaning standard privacy tools like VPNs cannot block Microsoft from receiving it.
Claims Analysis (3)
“Microsoft's GDID is a device fingerprint snuck into Windows 11 that can and has already been used to track activity”
Multiple outlets confirm GDID exists, is persistent, and was used by FBI to track the Scattered Spider hacker. Widely documented in recent coverage.
“Activity reports are sent back to Microsoft indefinitely”
Sources confirm VPNs cannot block OS-level GDID logging and Microsoft collects the data. 'Indefinitely' is implied but not explicitly stated in available coverage — the tracker persists and Microsoft retains logs, but retention policies are not detailed in sources reviewed.
“GDID cannot be fully disabled”
The linked article title explicitly states 'You can't fully disable Microsoft's GDID.' Confirmed across all coverage sources. Users can limit what it captures but not turn it off completely.
⚠ Flags (1)
😨 Appeal to Fear
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