Yes, Win8.1 Industry Pro offers telemetry without any charges.
Yes, Win8.1 Industry Pro offers telemetry without any charges.
I'm a Windows and Linux user, balancing both for privacy reasons. For now, combining the two systems is very inefficient. Recently, Linus discussed a video about "Windows 9," which is essentially a modified version of Windows 8.1 Embedded Industry Pro. He noted that Industry Pro lacks telemetry since it's designed for company-grade hardware, and companies prefer not to be monitored. When I searched for "Windows 8.1 Embedded Industry Pro no telemetry," results were scarce, and Microsoft didn't confirm it. Anyone with more insight or authority would be helpful in confirming whether such a version truly avoids tracking. Privacy is important to me.
There are resources available that explain how to easily configure your modem's firewall to prevent connections to Windows servers. Winaero offers a solid guide on disabling telemetry services, modifying the registry, and adjusting Windows Firewall settings. However, attempting changes directly within the operating system is likely to be ineffective, though alternative methods can significantly restrict Microsoft's capabilities.