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The issue is that both SmartScreen and Defender 'cloud' protection upload or otherwise inform Microsoft about what you are downloading. For example, it could co

The issue is that both SmartScreen and Defender 'cloud' protection upload or otherwise inform Microsoft about what you are downloading. For example, it could conceivably track and prevent you from downloading and using Tor. For most Western countries that's not a problem, but is the data sent encrypted? Could an adversary (nation-state) MITM your connection (e.g. GFoC) and immediately be informed about who downloaded Tor, even if they had been using a VPN or other circumvention mechanism? (Windows Defender scans files as soon as you open the directory, not just the first time) Also, I don't think Defender's cloud-based protection has anything to do with updates. These are delivered via WU; I think it's more to do with informing Microsoft about detection or suspicious files so they can be analysed. (Not voted either way) Edit: I really wish people would say why they downvote. Otherwise I have no idea what you disagree with or whether you think what I've written is factually incorrect.

jonathonf 11y ago
Here's the exact wording from Windows Defender settings: "Get better, faster protection by sending Microsoft information about potential security problems Windows Defender finds" The 'Privacy Statement' underneath links here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-privacy-statement http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-privacy-s... (and yes, this was a Windows 8.1 -> 10 upgrade, not a tech preview install). Under 'Data We Collect', the third bullet point: "when you open a file, we may collect information about the file, the application used to open the file, and how long it takes to use it for purposes such as improving performance (e.g. to help retrieve documents more quickly)" Note, I have 'Cloud-based protection' disabled and I'm still getting (near daily) definition updates, so the two definitely are not related.

jonathonf 11y ago

Here's the exact wording from Windows Defender settings: "Get better, faster protection by sending Microsoft information about potential security problems Windows Defender finds" The 'Privacy Statement' underneath links here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-privacy-statement http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-privacy-s... (and yes, this was a Windows 8.1 -> 10 upgrade, not a tech preview install). Under 'Data We Collect', the third bullet point: "when you open a file, we may collect information about the file, the application used to open the file, and how long it takes to use it for purposes such as improving performance (e.g. to help retrieve documents more quickly)" Note, I have 'Cloud-based protection' disabled and I'm still getting (near daily) definition updates, so the two definitely are not related.