Is it true that Microsoft keeps ghost folders in our Windows O/S to keep an eye on us?

Question

I read an item on an anti Hotmail site recently that Microsoft keeps hidden folders on our computers which log everything we do on our computers, if it is true, then would it be possible to find them and safely delete them without harming the o/s? Would the files be replaced by Microsoft at the next update for windows?

Answer 1

Yes, it is true. Microsoft keep on record the last 21 sites you visit. This is continually updated. The way to avoid this is to Delete the Registry KEY which is typedurls.To do this press Start. Click onto RUN and type in regedit and press OK. In the Registry you will see FIVE KEYS commonly known as a hive. There is a small box to the Left of each ket. Click onto the box to the left of each of the following.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Software
Microsoft
Windows
Current version
Internet settings
Cache
Typedurls
Single Right Click Typedurls and Delete it. You will receive a prompt asking for confirmation. Click Delete and be sure to Delete the SUBKEY[S] By doing this no Websites will be logged into the computer but, the downside is that you will not be able to access previous website addresses via the dropdown menu in Internet Explorer. You will have to retype every address. As you read this answer you are being monitored by Microsofts Windows Server. To disable this do the following. Double click the Clock in the lower right in your task bar and in the window you will see the server is
time.windows.com In the drop down menu to the right change this to time.nist.gov and click Apply. Then click update. You are also being tracked via User tracking.To disable this this requires chanhing a DWORD in the Registry. As i do not know if you are comfortable working in the Registry i suggest that you carry out a Yahoo od Google search typing in the following
Manually disable user tracking in the Registry. The route is
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Software
Microsoft
.Windows
Current Version
Policies
Explorer
You also have Hidden Devices in Device manager and again this requires changes in the Registry.Hopefully this Factual information will be of some assistance. Below is a link to help you in the Registry.

http://www.agilerm.net/linux2.html

Answer 2

There are some folders that are hidden both as files and as registry keys that are just there and no one knows what they do.

For instance the "xerox" folder on the root of C:\, that won't go away no matter how many times you delete it.

Whether these files hold any malicious intent is doubtful. If this were the case, they would have tracked down every illegal copy of Windows or other MS apps and sued or fined the user.

Answer 3

Lol it's true all right sides not even the goverment know's everything although they think they do.. Microsoft build back doors into all of there programms. Trust me on this it's why windows was soooooo so hackerble.. cos of all da back doors they left:-):-) why else do u think they release so many "Hot Fix's"??:-) :-) :-) get over it and live with the results casue u could always by a Mac!!!!

Answer 4

Disturbingly, yes its true. I read somewhere in the Microsoft labs section (I was bored one afternoon) that there are cookies build into Windows and Office that do log how their software is used. For example they know which toolbar buttons are most used, (Bold, Cut & Paste in Word if yr interested.) Ditto which keyboard keys are used most and so on.
They say the information is gathered anonymously, they're just seeing how their software is used by millions of people and turned into stats to help them make improvements. (And they then came up with Office 2007, yeah right!)

Whether you can opt out of this is another matter. I don't think you can.

BUT I did notice that when I tried to update MSN Messenger recently it did offer me the chance to opt out of being part of of their evaluation info. gathering process. Rather as Google, Yahoo and other web companies are having to offer opt out clauses in their privacy policies about allowing your web use to feed into their evaluation and improvement process.

Facebook is in the news at the moment for trying to match what you type in your profile to suitable adverts. (I put in my profile I was a fan of Heroes, lo and behold I got a Heroes DVD box set advert on my page.) There are protests at this, though I find it innocuous.

If you're using Internet Explorer you really should be thinking of changing to Mozilla Firefox. Much better privacy/security controls. Less likely to pick up a virus too.
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

Answer 5

i don't know about that... but can you imagine the volume of the info? i know that they have little files that will slow down your comp and you will need to upgrade... i had the before 1995 comp and it could do anything that my XP doing... and pretty fast. Only thing that I could upgrade - USB and Bluetooth connection. Apart from that - it was fine. I wonder why we need to upgrade comps so often?

Answer 6

MS have been criticised for the amount of information that is sent to them. A lot of the information is not a secret as such. They collect information like your processor and hard disk serial numbers to ensure you are not pirating your copy of Windows.

It was also revealed that they were able to access everyones email, but I think that they did that because the US Government instructed them to do that.

Answer 7

it just save the lınks and searchs . talks on msn and things like that to clear i to too tools right above you to your left press interneet options

clear history
delet cookies
delete files

then press contens on the same menue bar
clear ssl
clear certificates

i wouldn mind a top answer as i have not got one yet :P

Answer 8

It must be the ghost of Christmas past.

Answer 9

In a word, yes. They are built into the software and are there to stay!

MS sucks dick!

Answer 10

that's so fake.
the government would have shut down microsoft long ago if they did that.
use logic.