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Intel's GPU Drivers Now Collect Telemetry, Including 'How You Use Your Computer'

extremetech.com

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Re: Intel's GPU Drivers Now Collect Telemetry, Including 'How You Use Your Computer'

#21

Post by rvnx »

titzer wrote: post #4

What is the thought process that goes into thinking such a thing is a good idea, then proposing it, arguing for it, and then it being approved (presumably) by product managers and executives? It's just a downward spiral at this point as each new generation of software and each new year brings a worse and worse privacy default with even more self-justification and half-assed anonymization. Drivers need to know website…

If they would collect what games you are playing, to know on which games they have to optimize the drivers / framerate down-the-road that'd be ok.

But websites you visit...

Re: Intel's GPU Drivers Now Collect Telemetry, Including 'How You Use Your Computer'

#22

Post by aboringusername »

One question I don't see asked in the various threads covering this: why does windows freely offer such data? At least Intel does give you an opt out (should be opt in really), but other applications can freely collect this data without you knowing.

Windows needs to have much better control maybe a "telemetry" setting to control each apps access to the data, but that would most likely require some serious reengineering.

Just use an app like Simplewall and block outbound connections, you should be doing that anyway as windows sends so much data off to the NSA anyway.

Re: Intel's GPU Drivers Now Collect Telemetry, Including 'How You Use Your Computer'

#24

Post by amelius »

rvnx wrote: post #21
titzer wrote: post #4

What is the thought process that goes into thinking such a thing is a good idea, then proposing it, arguing for it, and then it being approved (presumably) by product managers and executives? It's just a downward spiral at this point as each new generation of software and each new year brings a worse and worse privacy default with even more self-justification and half-assed anonymization. Drivers need to know website…

If they would collect what games you are playing, to know on which games they have to optimize the drivers / framerate down-the-road that'd be ok. But websites you visit...

To be fair, websites can also contain games and other stuff that might use a GPU.

Re: Intel's GPU Drivers Now Collect Telemetry, Including 'How You Use Your Computer'

#25

Post by fluoridation »

steeleduncan wrote: post #19

I'm not familiar with the details of such things, but would it be possible to "port" the Intel's open source Linux GPU driver to Windows? That would make for a working driver without this junk

Even if you were to overcome the massive hurdle of porting a driver between two completely different kernel architectures, you would not be able to load it without enabling driver testing mode at boot time, or without buying a code signing certificate.

Re: Intel's GPU Drivers Now Collect Telemetry, Including 'How You Use Your Computer'

#26

Post by api »

aboringusername wrote: post #22

One question I don't see asked in the various threads covering this: why does windows freely offer such data? At least Intel does give you an opt out (should be opt in really), but other applications can freely collect this data without you knowing. Windows needs to have much better control maybe a "telemetry" setting to control each apps access to the data, but that would most likely require some serious reengineeri…

Even if it had better isolation a video driver is going to have system permissions.

Re: Intel's GPU Drivers Now Collect Telemetry, Including 'How You Use Your Computer'

#27

Post by globular-toast »

titzer wrote: post #4

What is the thought process that goes into thinking such a thing is a good idea, then proposing it, arguing for it, and then it being approved (presumably) by product managers and executives? It's just a downward spiral at this point as each new generation of software and each new year brings a worse and worse privacy default with even more self-justification and half-assed anonymization. Drivers need to know website…

Have you ever worked in a big company? Appeals to ethics or even common sense won't get you very far. On the other hand, just doing what you're told is expected and rewarded. Like the Emperor's New Clothes. You either play along with the narrow-minded, often cultish, pursuit of whatever is deemed good for "the business", or you leave.

Re: Intel's GPU Drivers Now Collect Telemetry, Including 'How You Use Your Computer'

#29

Post by anotherhue »

titzer wrote: post #4

What is the thought process that goes into thinking such a thing is a good idea, then proposing it, arguing for it, and then it being approved (presumably) by product managers and executives? It's just a downward spiral at this point as each new generation of software and each new year brings a worse and worse privacy default with even more self-justification and half-assed anonymization. Drivers need to know website…

It's the "Don't be Evil" rule at work again.
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