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Windows Telemetry GDID Used to Track and Arrest Hacker

By PulseAugur Editorial · [2 sources] ·

The recent arrest and extradition of hacker Peter Stokes have highlighted the role of Microsoft Windows' Global Device Identifier (GDID) in tracking users. Authorities used Windows telemetry data, including the GDID and visited URLs, to connect Stokes to his online activities and accounts. This case underscores how software telemetry, even when intended for debugging or feature improvement, can serve as a digital fingerprint, with various tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Apple collaborating in such investigations. AI

IMPACT Highlights how software telemetry can be used for user tracking and law enforcement, impacting privacy considerations in digital environments.

RANK_REASON Article details how a specific software feature (Windows telemetry GDID) was used in a real-world case to track and apprehend a criminal, rather than announcing a new product or research.

Read on Tom's Hardware →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 2 sources. How we write summaries →

Windows Telemetry GDID Used to Track and Arrest Hacker

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Article details how a specific software feature (Windows telemetry GDID) was used in a real-world case to track and apprehend a criminal, rather than announcing a new product or research.
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2 independent sources
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product, policy
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92 days old
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COVERAGE [2]

  1. Tom's Hardware TIER_1 English(EN) · Bruno Ferreira ·

    Arrest and extradition of Scattered Spider hacker shines light on how Windows telemetry GDIDs can identify and track users — Microsoft device identifier is just one digital fingerprint in a software world rife with them

    While the use of Windows' GDID to catch Scattered Spider hacking group member Peter Stokes is unusual, that device identifier is only one bit of telemetry that can be used to fingerprint a user across the wider Internet these days.

  2. Mastodon — fosstodon.org TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    Arrest and extradition of Scattered Spider hacker shines light on how Windows telemetry GDIDs can identif… While the use of Windows' GDID to catch Scattered Spi

    Arrest and extradition of Scattered Spider hacker shines light on how Windows telemetry GDIDs can identif… While the use of Windows' GDID to catch Scattered Spider hacking group member Peter Stokes is unusual, that device identifier is only one bit of telemetry that can be used t…

    LINKS tomshardware.com/…/arrest-and-extradition… tomshardware.com/tech-industry

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