*Doctor Who Theme plays*

They have a Global Device Identifier (GDID) Tracker that functions as a fingerprint for your PC that can surpass VPNs, proxy servers and countries. Although it can't survive a clean reinstall of Windows (it can survive updates), because Microsoft forces you to go to the internet and log in into a Microsoft account, they will be able to get to you.

Microsoft kept it secret and it was only found out when the FBI tracked a hacker thanks to the information Microsoft gave them.

You should be paying attention to this, and possibly consider moving away from Windows. If a government, especially the US government, doesn't like you for some reason, this could be seriously concerning.

This article specifically notes:

For journalism, activism, or domestic abuse situations, skip Windows and use Linux routed through Tor instead of a commercial VPN. A GDID doesn’t care which VPN you use, only that it’s still the same Windows installation.

Other important quotes:

What has researchers uneasy is everything else the case reveals. Costin Raiu, a well-known malware researcher, asked on the Three Buddy Problem podcast how much of this exists on other platforms, and whether it is linked more permanently to hardware. Matthew Hickey, another security researcher, called Windows “surveillance software”.

Two things back that up:

There’s no consent screen. A GDID gets assigned when you sign into a Microsoft Account. Apple’s advertising identifier needs an App Tracking Transparency prompt and a visible reset; Android’s works the same way. GDID has neither, and a Windows reinstall only gets you a new number Microsoft can still get back to the same account.

Then there’s activation. Massgrave, the group behind Microsoft Activation Scripts, notes that Windows setup sends hardware info to Microsoft and gets identifiers back, the same tokens later used for Store access and licensing: “It’s impossible to prevent Windows from getting a GDID without breaking activation and UWP app[s].” Anyone who lost a license after swapping a motherboard has already met a smaller version of this.

Here's the complaint filed to the court, the primary source for the case mentioned in the article. You can find mentions of GDID on page 30 of the document or 34 of the PDF.

I also made a PDF version!!

For comprehensive deets, tomshardware explains

horror is my favorite genre. gothic horror is part of that. im writing a story rn where an indigenous lady fucks her absuive haunted house. it is an insult to call the ignoble invasion "gothic" when it is nothing more than more raceplay slop and drivel.

and the absolute fucking gall to say readers of color are too sensitive when your massive animalistic dark skinned slave BEING LEAD AROUND BY A NOOSE is magically turned white when seen removed of his monsterous features and curse. and dont even get me fucking started on the race science behind the mutation's behavioral effects

“you can’t call it transmisandry, misandry isn’t real and is an MRA talking point”

ok, my experience with transandrophobia—

“you’re not experiencing oppression for being a man, you’re just experiencing misogyny and transphobia (but you can’t call it transmisogyny, that doesn’t apply to you)”

ok, my experience with isomisogyny—

“you don’t experience misogyny, you’re a man, and you can’t call it your own special brand of misogyny anyways, you don’t have it worse than anyone else”

ok, my experience with anti-transmasculinity—

“transmasculinity is rewarded, as is all expressions of masculinity in this society. You’re transitioning into privilege”

ok, my experience with transandromisia—

“you don’t experience oppression, look at all these stupid words you made up to make yourself feel special you little birthday boy tMRA”

Should "Sit pretty and shut up"

Should be assaulted for what they're saying

Have no meaningful thoughts

Are only good for having sex with

Are only good for getting pregnant

Should be impregnated as a punishment

Only exist to serve others

Are being "bitchy" for being upset

Are making up the problems they're talking about

Are too stupid to talk about their own experiences

Must be exaggerating the extent of the treatment they face

And are too stupid to be in control of their own bodies

IS NOT FEMINISM!!!

You are repeating misogynistic rhetoric, and are a piece of shit.

You cannot be a feminist while using "bitch", "cunt", "whiny", and "hysterical", as insults.

Hmmm 🤔💭 Are you sure about that? Now, I agree with this sentiment when it's said by other Black people in fandoms. But when white fans start parroting this... I find it rather eyeroll inducing. Sorry, but I can't help but question if they actually believe what they're saying. Btw, I say white people in fandom because they're the main cause of the issue I want to talk about, but that doesn’t mean non-black fans of any ethnicity cannot contribute to it.

So here's my question for white & non-black fans: Is that really what y'all want? Because whenever there is a flawed Black character in a movie, tv show, video game, whatever, y'all crucify them to the highest heaven. God forbid a Black character slips up from time to time, isn't always nice, or has a disagreement with the non-black main character, then suddenly there's a flood of video essays titled Why [Blank] Is The Worst Fucking Character Since The Dawn Of Television. Black characters can't even be a little sarcastic or snippy without people feeling some type of way about it. You can also expect fandoms to respond with even more hostility if the Black character is a woman.

So, again - Are y'all sure? Are y'all sure you want Black characters who are flawed, complex, & three-dimensional? Because we can't even get past "Stage One: Black Character Makes Mistakes", without fandoms erupting into a shitstorm. This means we're in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. A Black character is perfect? Non-black fans will hate them because they're a "flawless token". A Black character has flaws? They're still hated because fandom culture is notoriously racist and anti-black.