Does Windows 10 really include a keylogger?

Here is Ed Bott's take of the matter:


Here we go again.

With Windows 10, Microsoft has adopted a rapid-update development cycle. Maybe that faster pace is affecting the tech press too, because it took less than a week for the first

Windows 10-driven conspiracy theory to burst onto the scene.


It started with a Friday-afternoon article in The Inquirer, a tech tabloid known for its breathless headlines and factually challenged prose. In true Inky fashion, the headline declared that Windows 10 "has permission to watch your every move," adding, ominously:

"Its 'privacy' policy includes permission to use a keylogger."


From a legalistic point of view, this headline is cleverly constructed. It doesn't actually say that Windows 10 contains surveillance software that monitors your keystrokes and sends a log of those keystrokes to Redmond. In fact, the implication that there is an actual keylogger embedded in the Windows 10 code is contradicted by this key graf, buried near the end of the story:

In other words, in effect, you are giving permission for Microsoft to screen your

files, and in effect keylog your keyboard input. [emphasis added]

"In effect." Not in actuality. And in fact there's little evidence that the author has enough background in computer science or security to tell a keylogger from a key lime pie. But the story was picked up by a few other sources and fits neatly into conspiracy theories, so here's a bucket of cold water to pour on the rumors.

If there were really anything resembling a keylogger in the Windows 10 Technical Preview,

it would be very easy to discover and document exactly what information it's transmitting. I've done a cursory check and can't find anything that matches that description. And I'm certain that researchers in the security and privacy communities would immediately publish details of their findings if they found something through a more thorough search.

I'll update this post immediately if any such evidence turns up. So far, there's nothing.


Source: http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-youve-got-questions-ive-got-answers/?tag=nl.e539&s_cid=e539&ttag=e539&ftag=TRE17cfd61

Microsoft does monitor some of our activities on Win 10 TP, It was in the agreement. Are they going to misuse this info? NO! Like BunnyJ said, Be more concerned about hackers than MS.

If anything you should be more worried about google but honestly what the hell they gonna do with what I look up? Find out I like pc related stuff and go on youtube and social sites which are public anyways. Might as well just delete system 32 if you're that paranoid.
FYI don't do that you will wipe out your installation just a joke lol

Yea I know, just felt like mentioning that a company like google is more likely spying on you. They pretty much own the internet by now. I've noticed the add thing too with them offering me graphics cards sometimes and or other electronics like phones linking to amazon ect.

Ok, Windows comes with a included keylogger. Yeah, that's for sure. Not that I am against asking critical questions. I would also call myself a sceptic person who questions a lot of things. But all those conspiracy theorists are really starting to annoy me. I wonder how they sleep at night if they see evil things behind everything and everyone. Maybe they even dream of a all knowing MS keylogger that is spying on their entire life

Felix Svizzera