this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2026
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Microsoft admits Windows 11 has a GDID tracker with no off switch, first documented publicly in an FBI hacker complaint (www.windowslatest.com)
submitted 3 days ago by inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] krisevol@lemmus.org 1 points 2 days ago (2 children)

His social was logged into with that identifier

[–] Windex007@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

From the article:

Microsoft’s records showed that at that exact same minute, a Windows device carrying GDID g:6755467234350028 had visited the ngrok signup page.

Why does Microsoft have a record that includes both the GDID and a web addresses? I am confused by this mechanism.

[–] krisevol@lemmus.org 7 points 2 days ago

Because everything you do is tracked

[–] The_Decryptor@aussie.zone 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Could be using Edge (Account syncing), or using Bing while signed in (Considering they were signing into private accounts while on the VPN, seems possible)

[–] Windex007@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (2 children)

This seems the most likely... but still I want clarity on the mechanism. An identifying token defined in the registry is being sent over the wire. That mechanic is pretty substantial, and I'm surprised a bigger fuss hasn't been made about that. This is pretty far beyond conventional header fingerprinting.

[–] The_Decryptor@aussie.zone 2 points 2 days ago

From other articles I've seen (Here's an example) it was telemetry and cross referencing the IPs used.

VPNs might help hide from passive identification, but they don't help when you connect to the same service on your normal and private connections alternatively. The computer equivalent of using both your real name and an alias with the same person, they'll know who you are.

[–] rimu@piefed.social 1 points 2 days ago

Yep. Assume the worst, imo

[–] AppleMango@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

and how do you think the social account was linked with said identifier?

[–] krisevol@lemmus.org 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Because that identifier is logged by the website when he logged in.