{
  "id": 389802,
  "title": "This VPN firm has created a way to stop Microsoft's hidden tracking tool on Windows — although it will break some key cloud services",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/this-vpn-firm-has-created-a-way-to-stop-microsofts-hidden-tracking",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-09T16:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/this-vpn-firm-has-created-a-way-to-stop-microsofts-hidden-tracking-tool-on-windows-although-it-will-break-some-key-cloud-services"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Windscribe, a VPN provider, has developed an open-source script named deGDID to eliminate Microsoft's persistent tracking identifier, known as the Global Device Identifier (GDID), from Windows systems. The script functions at the registry level, effectively removing cached GDID keys and blocking the DeviceAdd endpoint, which prevents Microsoft identity services from recognizing the machine. However, this comes at the cost of breaking certain Microsoft services and account functions. The script is available for download on GitHub and can be executed with administrator privileges on a Windows 11 machine. After running the script, users may experience issues with login services such as login.live.com and account verification through login.microsoftonline.com. Additionally, some Microsoft applications may return connection errors. Despite these limitations, the script provides a partial solution to address privacy concerns related to Microsoft's tracking identifier.",
  "summary": "Windscribe's deGDID removes Windows tracking identifiers while preventing new ones, although several Microsoft cloud authentication services stop functioning afterward.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Record",
        "title": "China-linked hackers turning popular cybersecurity tool into ransomware launchpad, Microsoft warns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/china-linked-hackers-turning-popular-cybersecurity-tool-into",
        "published": "2026-08-10T13:15:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}