Have you monitored the data flowing in and out of your home network? You can use tools such as port scanners and packet sniffers to see just how noisy the devices are in your home. Whether your printer is calling home to see if there are any firmware updates or your set-top TV boxes are receiving scheduling updates you may be surprised just how much traffic is flowing in and out of your home network without any of your knowledge.
One such type of data that has interested me recently is telemetry data. This is data that operating systems and devices send back to their manufacturer to help them improve their products.
Let’s take Microsoft Windows as an example. It has four levels of telemetry data:
Security to help keep their OS secure.
Basic for everyday use.
Enhanced for how you are using the OS.
Full for collecting as much info as possible.
The worrying thing is they don’t go into much detail about what exactly they are collecting and how this may affect your privacy.
Searching online we learn that the telemetry data should include:
Device specifications and health
App usage and performance
Error reports and crash dumps
Feedback and ratings
Browser history and search queries
Location and activity history
Advertising ID and interests
This data could be used to help them improve their software, but it could also be used to profile you. What software you use, what devices you have, when you are online and from what location, what you are viewing and buying online. All valuable information. To someone.
So are you happy for your devices to send telemetry data?