Windows already tracks everything you do on your PC

Windows already tracks everything you do on your PC

Microsoft's Activity Tracking feature, which was used for the now retired Windows Timeline functionality keeps a log of everything you do on your PC. Here's how to turn it off in a minute.

In the digital age, privacy is a paramount concern. With the advent of advanced technology, companies have the ability to track and record our activities on their devices. One such company is Microsoft, which has an 'Activity Tracking' feature that logs everything you do on your PC. This feature was initially used for the now-retired Windows Timeline functionality. However, it has recently come under scrutiny due to privacy and security concerns.

Microsoft's Activity Tracking feature is a powerful tool that can keep a comprehensive log of all your activities on your PC. From the documents you open, the websites you visit, to the apps you use, everything is recorded. This might seem intrusive, but it was designed with a purpose. The feature was initially introduced to support the Windows Timeline functionality, which allowed users to go back in time and resume their work from where they left off.

However, in the last few days, Microsoft Recall, the company's upcoming AI-powered feature, has been criticized by both developers and users. This feature aims to make everything you do on your Windows machine searchable, raising privacy and security concerns. Critics argue that such a feature could potentially be misused, leading to breaches of privacy.

In response to these concerns, Microsoft has taken steps to address the issues. The company has disabled the feature out of the box and added Windows Hello security authentication. Despite these measures, it is likely that Microsoft is still tracking everything you do on your PC.

Back when Microsoft introduced Timeline, a less capable version of Recall, the company also added a new functionality called 'Activity Tracking'. This feature allowed Microsoft to sync user data across devices, enabling users to resume their work anywhere, anytime. However, in 2021, Microsoft announced that it was retiring Timeline. Despite this, the Activity Tracking feature remains enabled by default.

If you're concerned about your privacy and want to disable Windows Activity Tracking, here's how you can do it in a minute:

 

1. Open the Settings app on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 device.
2. If you're using Windows 10, click on 'Privacy'. For those on Windows 11, head over to the 'Privacy and Security' section.
3. From the left pane, find and click on 'Activity History'.
4. Untick the 'Store my activity on this device' option along with the 'Show activities from these accounts'.

 

If you want Windows to forget your activity history, click on the 'Clear' button beneath the 'Clear activity history' section. And just like that, you're good to go.

For those wondering, disabling the activity history on Windows won't have any downsides. The feature was designed for the Timeline feature, which was deprecated almost 3 years ago. Therefore, turning it off won't affect your PC's performance or functionality.

In conclusion, while advanced features like Activity Tracking can enhance user experience, they also raise important questions about privacy and security. It's crucial for users to be aware of these features and take necessary steps to protect their privacy. After all, in the digital world, your privacy is your right. And it's up to you to safeguard it.