Microsoft's GDID Spied on Users: Windscribe Script Blocks Hidden Tracker

A recent court filing revealed that Microsoft uses a unique identifier called Global Device Identifier (GDID) to tie online activity to a specific Windows machine. This identifier is generated on Microsoft's servers and stays attached to a Windows installation through software updates.

Windscribe, a VPN provider, developed the deGDID script in response to this revelation. The free, open-source PowerShell script blocks the Microsoft domains involved in issuing new identifiers and wipes local copies of the GDID from the target user account and system stores.

The script runs on Windows 10 version 22H2 or later, but its use is not without consequences. Running deGDID can break or degrade sign-in access to Microsoft services such as Xbox, Outlook, and OneDrive tied to a Microsoft account.