Microsoft admits Windows 11 has a GDID tracker with no off switch, first documented publicly in an FBI hacker complaint
2026-07-15 06:15 UTC
GDID is the persistent Windows ID that helped FBI trace a Scattered Spider hacker despite VPNs. Here’s how it works and how to limit it.
Replies (4)
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@Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world 2026-07-15 07:23
Well fuck that
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@saltesc@lemmy.world 2026-07-15 08:29
What’s astonishing is a hacker using Windows 11
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@nibbler@discuss.tchncs.de 2026-07-15 09:31
Microsoft’s records showed that at that exact same minute, a Windows device carrying GDID g:6755467234350028 had visited the ngrok signup page. Three hours later, the same GDID To me the problem is not some uuid in some file/registry entry. The issue is, that somehow MS knows what webpages you visit??? why is this transferred? full log of what you do? edge? firefox? system service reporting outgoing IP connections? WTF.
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@usernameunnecessary@lemmy.zip 2026-07-15 08:32
I’m happy that SteamOS covers my gaming wants and MacOS covers my professional needs. Every time I had to interact with Windows in the last 5 years I am dumbfounded at the amount of bad UI/UX decisions and bloat.