Microsoft released a new Windows 11 build to its Canary channel recently. Tech expert and Microsoft Insider Preview tester Xeno noticed that the company has been removing some unpopular P2P legacy services from this version. These services allow devices on the same network to download updates from each other over the Internet or local area networks, which reduces the load on Microsoft servers. However, they also raise privacy and security concerns.
Windows Update Delivery Optimization
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should have heard about Microsoft’s Delivery Optimization feature that uses peer-to-peer sharing to optimize the download process for Windows updates and Microsoft Store apps. It works by combining partial bits of the update from PCs (local and non-local) with parts downloaded directly from Microsoft servers during a background update.
You can disable Delivery Optimization through the Settings app on your device or by using a Registry Editor. However, these methods can be a bit risky for beginners and you may end up losing some important data.
The good news is that you can disable Delivery Optimization on your Windows 11 device without compromising your privacy or damaging your computer. This can be done by changing a few hexadecimal values in the Registry editor. Here’s how to do it:
Workgroup Networking
Workgroup Networking is a peer-to-peer network that allows computers running Microsoft operating systems to share resources on the same local area network (LAN). Computers in the same workgroup communicate directly with each other. They can also share files and printers with other computers in the same workgroup. A workgroup can have as few as 15 computers.
Each workgroup computer maintains its own security. This means that users must have an account in the local security database on each computer to log on. However, the https aka ms mfasetup and passwords on one computer don’t automatically sync with the other computers.
The removal of Workgroup networking is part of a larger effort to improve security in Windows 11. Some users have noticed a sudden loss of network PCs from the list of computers in Explorer. This may indicate that Microsoft is shifting away from P2P networking in favor of more secure alternatives. Fortunately, there are a few ways to fix the problem.
P2P Networking
Each version of Windows adds new features but it also removes some. Generally, these are replaced with a newer option. For example, Microsoft’s built-in Team chat was pulled from the operating system and replaced with a free standalone app that has more flexibility.
P2P networking has been used for everything from file sharing to gaming to content distribution. IT administrators usually don’t allow it on their networks as it can tie up bandwidth and open up security holes that attackers will exploit.
Windows 11 will stop supporting Wi-Fi connections that use WEP and TKIP ciphers, which aren’t as secure as newer standards. This will be a good time to update all your wireless routers to support the more modern AES ciphers. Also, the cross-device syncing of your activity history through Microsoft Entra is deprecated and might be removed in a future release. You’ll need to manually upload your timeline on each device if you want to keep it.
Security
In addition to removing unpopular P2P features, Microsoft has been making some other changes that affect users. The company has been quick to release fixes for issues such as a File Explorer bug, issues with AMD Ryzen processors, and the Windows Security issue.
However, some of these changes have also brought with them new privacy concerns. In particular, Windows 11 collects a lot more data about the way you use your PC than its predecessor did. You can control to some extent what diagnostic information is sent to Microsoft by heading to Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback and moving the sliders to the Off position.
It’s still important to note that even with these options, some diagnostic information will still be sent to Microsoft. You should read Microsoft’s Privacy Statement to learn more about what data is collected and how it will be used. If you feel that this is a breach of your privacy, you can opt-out by going to this page and clicking the “Delete diagnostic data” button.
