Microsoft opens up on Windows telemetry, tells us most of what data it collects
The actual list of what it gathers: <a href="https://technet.microsoft.com/itpro/windows/configure/configure-windows-telemetry-in-your-organization#telemetry-levels" rel="nofollow">https://technet.microsoft.com/itpro/windows/configure/config...</a><p>Included:<p>"Storage attributes, such as number of drives, type, and size" -- So ID numbers of all USB storage drives you've connected? Better not put sensitive data on a USB and send it to a journalist...<p>"the number of crashes or hangs, and application state change details, such as how much processor time and memory were used, and the total uptime for an app." -- To e.g. determine when you used the TOR browser, since the difference in uptime between two time points is how much it was up during that interval.<p>"App usage data. Includes how an app is used, including how long an app is used, when the app has focus, and when the app is started" -- Oh, never mind, they also explicitly state they gather which apps you have installed and how much and when you use them in the next section.<p>"Accessory device data. Includes a list of accessory devices, such as printers or external storage devices, that are connected to Windows PCs and whether these devices will function after upgrading to a new version of the operating system." -- Print poster and glue it to a wall -> Printer gets identified via tracking dots ( <a href="https://www.eff.org/pages/list-printers-which-do-or-do-not-display-tracking-dots" rel="nofollow">https://www.eff.org/pages/list-printers-which-do-or-do-not-d...</a> ) -> Printer is linked back to you, even if you bought it with cash. I hope you didn't print anything your local sheriff would dislike!<p>Edit: This is all in the 'basic' level, which you can't disable.