Could Windows and installed apps upload all my personal files?

EmilDK · 11 Jun 2021

Hello all

I have deleted Onedrive and disabled File system access in Privacy.

1.
I would like to know, which other ways that my personal files could be uploaded in a non-malicious non-hacker way?

2.
Just by using Windows, Microsoft could upload all my personal files to themselves if they would?

3.
Does every installed App / software have full access to my whole drive and could upload it all? How can I found out, how much access an App has?

Thank you for your interest and reply

Best regards

Steve C · 12 Jun 2021

Any genuine program or well designed malware having system access can do whatever is programmed.

CountMike · 12 Jun 2021

1. Anything that does upload your personal data files without your explicit permission, can be considered "malicious and hacker way".
2. Yes they could but it's highly unlikely, would be "malicious and hacker way" but that would have been found out and would be highly scandalous and practically kill windows and revenues. Can you just imagine how much effort would be to go thru billions of such file just to decide what to download ?
3. Most if not all APPs and programs must have access to all connected storage in order to read and save files, couldn't work otherwise. So in theory any such SW can upload anything they have access to but that would be also considered malware and hacking.
Judicious use of Firewall can somewhat limit what can be uploaded to some extent.
Beside disconnecting internet best way is to encrypt such files, keep them in place inaccessible to programs or internet.