The drivers for Graphic card Intel in their version 101.4578 activate a PC data collection procedure by default.
When testing the ARC Alchemist A750 and A770 cards, we praised the remarkable follow-up from Intel which, since the release of these graphics cards, has published new drivers on a very regular basis. Be careful not to overdo it, though…
Multiple data collection
Our colleagues from TechPowerUp were among the first to report a problem with the latest version of Intel graphics drivers. Stamped 31.0.101.4578, they actually have a small option activated by default. An option with an almost innocuous name.
Called Compute Improvement Program, the option suggests that it is an asset to improve the support and operation of GPUs signed Intel. It may not be completely wrong. Only, to achieve this, the thing collects the details of your configuration: CPU, GPU, RAM, system configuration, battery usage in the case of a laptop…
On the software side, what is also called telemetry to seem less malicious than “data collection” can also be used to memorize the configuration of the machine (regional settings, time zone), and goes a little further by retaining the category websites visited. But Intel insists that the URLs themselves are not stored. Yeah.
Not an isolated case?
That collected data can be used to improve the operation of software is conceivable. As always, the problem is in the actual use made of this data and the risks in the event of a security breach and theft of said data.
Remember, however, that Intel is not alone in this case. NVIDIA, for example, caused a scandal when a security flaw linked to GameStream pinpointed the data collection carried out by the GeForce Experience software. Again, it’s officially for a good cause, but the question of misuse of said data still arises.
In addition, it is worth highlighting an important point, because NVIDIA does it in a very discreet way, without ever talking about it and without allowing this collection to be disabled. Intel does the opposite and first set up a whole official page to explain the thing. It also allows the option to be disabled when installing the drivers. It’s always that.
The same goes for AMD. In both cases, it’s obviously “softer” than at NVIDIA, but we still regret that the option available at the time of installation is not clearer (Intel) or easier to find (AMD ).
Source : TechPowerUp
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