Can I prevent RADAR from sending info back to Microsoft?

RAS230 · 16 Dec 2017

I try to keep the amount of data my system leaks to a minimum and while RADAR wasn't a huge concern to me when I first started using windows 7, Microsoft has gotten rather greedy with collecting info on its customers and they haven't always been ethical about how they get it. I have no reason to think it's sending anything right now, but eliminating as much communication as I can between my machine and Microsoft's servers seems like a worthy goal. I doubt RADAR can be removed entirely, but is it possible to keep it from sending data back to Microsoft?

Snick · 16 Dec 2017

Hi RAS230,

You could delete the registry entry for RADAR. I'm a security fanatic & RADAR remains enabled on all my machines.

ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY AND/OR CREATE A RESTORE POINT PRIOR TO ANY CHANGES AS YOU MAY INADVERTENTLY CAUSE A MAJOR SYSTEM CRASH.

Here's the location of that key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\RADAR

To backup registry entry:

Click Start, type regedit.exe in the search box, and then press Enter. If you're prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
In Registry Editor, locate and click the registry key or subkey that you want to back up.
Click File > Export.
In the Export Registry File dialog box, select the location to which you want to save the backup copy, and then type a name for the backup file in the File name field.
Click Save.

To restore registry entry:

Right-click the Start button, then select Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Backup and Restore.
Select either Restore my files or Restore all users' files.
In the Import Registry File box, select the location in which you saved the backup copy, select the backup file, and then click Open.

To delete registry entry:
Right-click registry entry > Delete

I use AOMEI backupper, free program with simple intuitive GUI and save to external Hard Drive. I image my entire Drive regularly and every time I make any critical system changes. Yes, changing or deleting registry entries IS A CRITICAL SYSTEM component.

Megahertz07 · 16 Dec 2017

Have a look Spybot Anti-Beacon for Windows

Snick · 16 Dec 2017

Yep, that'll work too, slipped my old mind!

looked · 17 Dec 2017

Snick said:

Hi RAS230,

You could delete the registry entry for RADAR. I'm a security fanatic & RADAR remains enabled on all my machines.

Is there any other way of dealing with Radar without deleting it?
Like changing registry values or blocking it?

Snick · 17 Dec 2017

Okay, well, lets go a different route then.

Be advised that: The Diagnostic Policy Service enables problem detection, troubleshooting and resolution for Windows components. If this service is stopped, diagnostics will no longer function.

Click Start Orb type services.msc, if highlighted press enter, if not navigate to it click.
Scroll down to Diagnostic Policy Service, double-click
In the pop-up type: drop-down window choose disable.

I'm a security fanatic & privacy advocate. I don't have an issue with this M$ function and it is enabled on all my machines.

Here's an article on disabling Windows Telemetry that may interest you click here.

Bat 1 · 17 Dec 2017

By "RADAR" I'm guessing the OP is referring to telemetry ? AFAIK Microsoft RADAR (tm) https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/radar/ never made it out of R&D and was never installed in an OS, but I might be wrong ?

To prevent telemetry being sent I'd say the first thing to do is set Windows Update to Never check for updates. Either run an out-of-date Vulnerable system or put your trust in an aftermarket tool like WUMT and download the updates on another PC. Otherwise you're sending Microsoft your complete hardware configuration, MS Programs installed along with their updates, as well as Who Knows What every time your PC runs WUS. You can also use Spybot Anti-Beacon as posted above and then block ALL MS IPs with a Host file or aftermarket firewall.

Seriously, "some" communication between your PC and Microsoft is necessary to keep it running safely, Otherwise the Best option is just to never go online.

I Don't install the Optional "Preview" updates or Silverlight. In hidden updates besides Skype for desktop, I have these 6 hidden.
KB3021917
KB3068708
KB3080149
KB3133977
KB3150513
KB3172605

IF I ever go back to MDL I'll have to check with Aboddi because I think he said that one or possibly two of those might have been put in a CU ?

RAS230 · 17 Dec 2017

Bat 1 said:

By "RADAR" I'm guessing the OP is referring to telemetry ?

RADAR is an embedded system Windows 7 that monitors in real time for memory leaks and reports that data back to Microsoft. The idea is that they could catch problems immediately and pull data from every system. They built it with privacy in mind, but the kind of data they collect and send to Microsoft would at a minimum contain the name of every processes on your system that uses a large amount of memory.

You can see more info here: Inside Windows 7: RADAR - Windows Automatic Memory Leak Detection Channel 9

RAS230 · 17 Dec 2017

Megahertz07 said:

Have a look Spybot Anti-Beacon for Windows

that looks great! I've been carefully monitoring windows updates to keep the telemetry stuff out, but I think I'll run this just to be safe.

Bat 1 · 17 Dec 2017

RAS230 said:

RADAR is an embedded system Windows 7 that monitors in real time for memory leaks and reports that data back to Microsoft. The idea is that they could catch problems immediately and pull data from every system. They built it with privacy in mind, but the kind of data they collect and send to Microsoft would at a minimum contain the name of every processes on your system that uses a large amount of memory.

You can see more info here: Inside Windows 7: RADAR - Windows Automatic Memory Leak Detection Channel 9

I always turn off error reporting so I'm wondering if that would get through ?