This problem has not been investigated yet.
The network connection status icon, found at the lower-right of the taskbar (the tray), is a privacy flaw.
This is because in order for it to operate, it has to reach out to check. Its first check will be its internal IP, to your router. Its second check is to ping a Microsoft server. This means every time your computer boots up, or wakes up, it’s informing..
- Windows itself
- Your router
- Your internet service provider (ISP)
- PRISM
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Windows itself is sortof okay.
- However, it probably keeps connection logs.
- Nobody should think their computer is secure. If your computer is available from the outside, then either the logs are available, or logging malware might be installable.
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Your router should be okay.
- It will know when your computer is connected to it, and your computer will have a unique ID for it.
- It may keep logs.
- Like Windows itself, if your router is accessible from the outside, then either the logs are available, or logging malware might be installable. Don’t think its secure.. when’s the last time you updated your router?
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Your ISP is probably trustable.
- .. as far as trust can go for a company you can’t observe or control.
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PRISM is totes trustable, honest.
- It’s specific for internet traffic logging and intelligence gathering. It is a database useful for retroactive accusations, when that is pushed into legal systems. Because terrorism.
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Microsoft does no wrong, honest.
- They have a long history of both joyfully being bad guys themselves, and being in bed with bad guys.
