Consolidator task (wsqmcons.exe) enabled by default ?

[bjoswald]

First of all, you might have accepted it without realizing what you were doing. For example, if you selected "Use Recommended Settings" when you installed Windows, you will automatically opt-in. However, it's not permanent and can be safely disabled. For Windows 7, all you have to do is go to Control Panel > Action Center > Change Action Center Settings > Customer Experience Improvement Program Settings. I'm not sure about Vista since I don't use it anymore. I'm sure a quick Bing or Google search would help you, though.

[Aasum]

I think MS can't send some private data without the possibility to the user to know or disable it somewhere, because of the risk of a trial. But, who knows... The IPSec service, by example, allow direct communications with data encryption (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Security).

I think an independent organization should control that kind of security issue, with the possibility to access the entire source code.

If you have issues with it maybe its time to make the jump to Linux! You may want to review all the source code before you install it though! Make sure those evil open source dudes aren't working for Microsoft or worse.

[Anibal P]

I have a sale on tin Foil hats for the op