Whos Spying on You the Most? Microsoft, Google, Nvidia, or Steam? Lets Find Out!

Hey everyone! Let’s talk about something we all know but don’t always think about: tech companies spying on us. Yeah, it’s no secret that our devices and apps are constantly collecting data, but have you ever wondered who’s doing it the most? Is it Microsoft? Google? Nvidia? Steam? Or maybe even EA? I decided to run a little experiment to find out, and the results were… eye-opening.

The Experiment: Who’s Talking Behind Your Back?

I set up a system with all these services running and monitored the connections being made in the background. And by “background,” I mean while I was doing absolutely nothing. No browsing, no messaging, no gaming—just my computer sitting there, minding its own business. The goal? To see who’s sending data without my explicit consent (well, technically, I did consent when I agreed to those endless terms and conditions, but let’s not go there).

Microsoft: The Overachiever of Data Collection

Let’s start with Microsoft because, well, they’re everywhere. Here’s what I found:

1. Microsoft Rewards: This is their “reward” platform where they collect your search data and give you points for it. Sure, you can donate to charity with those points, but at what cost? Your privacy, apparently.
2. Edge Browser: Even when I wasn’t using it, Edge was busy making connections to things like api.edge.offer (probably for ads or new features) and assets.msn.com (likely preloading content to make browsing faster).
3. Windows Defender: This one’s a double-edged sword. While it’s great for security, it’s also sending every single app and website you interact with to Microsoft’s servers. Yep, everything you do is being watched.
4. Copilot: I had Copilot disabled on this system, but guess what? It was still making connections to copilot.microsoft.com. Classic Microsoft move.
5. Activity Tracking: There was a mysterious connection to activity.windows.com. I’m still digging into what this is, but it smells like system activity tracking. And remember, this is on a system with minimum telemetry enabled. Imagine what happens when you don’t opt out!

Nvidia: The Silent (But Busy) Observer

Next up, Nvidia. If you’re a gamer or use their GeForce Experience app, you’ll recognize this:

• Nvidia Container: This process was constantly connecting to ops.gx.nvidia.com on port 443. It’s part of their driver ecosystem, and while it’s not as aggressive as Microsoft, it’s still sending data back to Nvidia.

Pro tip: If you’re using Nvidia, switch to their new app instead of GeForce Experience. It anonymizes your data a bit better, which is a small win for privacy.

Google: The Sneaky One

Surprisingly, Google wasn’t as active as I expected—on this system, at least. But don’t be fooled:

• Google APIs: Even if you’re not directly using Google services, their APIs are baked into so many things. Using Maps? Google’s tracking you. Seeing ads? Google’s tracking you. It’s like they’ve got hooks in everything.

I’d love to run this experiment on an Android device next. I have a feeling Google would be way more active there.

Steam and EA: The Good Kids

Now, here’s the shocker: Steam and EA were practically silent. Despite being always-online services, they didn’t make a single connection while idle. No constant pinging, no background data collection—just pure, respectful silence. Even when I opened Steam, it only connected to store.steampowered.com when I actually visited the store. That’s how it should work.

Compare that to Microsoft’s 150+ connections in the same timeframe, and you start to see the difference in design philosophy.

Discord: The Middle Ground

Discord, being a messaging platform, made one connection while idle. That’s it. Again, it’s refreshing to see a service that doesn’t feel the need to constantly phone home.

The Big Takeaway: Microsoft is the Worst Offender

Here’s the thing: this isn’t normal. If you go back to older versions of Windows like XP or 7, you’d see maybe one connection to update.microsoft.com while idle. That’s it. But modern Windows? It’s a data collection frenzy. And this is with minimum telemetry enabled. Imagine what happens when you don’t opt out.

Steam, EA, and even Discord prove that it’s possible to design software that doesn’t constantly spy on you. Microsoft’s approach? Not so much.

What Can You Do About It?

If you’re concerned about all this data collection, here are a few tips:

1. Use a Firewall: Block unnecessary connections.
2. Edit Your Hosts File: Redirect suspicious domains to localhost.
3. Third-Party Tools: Tools like O&O ShutUp10 or W10Privacy can help you disable telemetry.
4. Switch to Linux: While even Linux distros like Ubuntu have some telemetry, it’s nowhere near as invasive as Windows.

Shoutout to Today’s Sponsor: ThreatLocker

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Final Thoughts

So, who’s spying on you the most? Based on this experiment, Microsoft takes the crown, with Nvidia and Google not far behind. Steam and EA, on the other hand, are surprisingly respectful of your privacy.

What do you think? Are you surprised by these results? Let me know in the comments below! And if you’re a networking whiz, I’d love to hear your thoughts on some of these connections and server names.

As always, stay informed, stay secure, and I’ll catch you in the next one!