I've been studying Windows telemetry for a decade - here's the only setting I turn off

**Executive summary:** This ZDNET article reviews how Microsoft collects Windows diagnostic (telemetry) data, explains the difference between Required (essential for updates, reliability, and security) and Optional (more detailed device, usage, and browsing-related data) diagnostic levels, covers regulatory and privacy context, and advises privacy-conscious users to disable Optional diagnostics while noting Microsoft provides tools (e.g., Diagnostic Data Viewer) to inspect telemetry.