Nov 10, 2022 20:00:00

Internet users discuss the blog that ``Microsoft is sending the contents of PowerPoint slides to the server''

In October 2022, a person posted a blog claiming that ``Microsoft is sending the contents of PowerPoint slides to its own servers.'' This article has become a hot topic on the social news site Hacker News and the overseas bulletin board Reddit, and has sparked various discussions among users.

Microsoft is phoning home the content of your PowerPoint slides. | Roger González Gutiérrez

https://rogermexico.bearblog.dev/microsoft-is-phoning-home-the-content-of-your-powerpoint-slides/

Microsoft is phoning home the content of PowerPoint slides | Hacker News
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33506576

Microsoft is phoning home the content of your PowerPoint slides : microsoft
https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/yopoel/microsoft_is_phoning_home_the_content_of_your/

A blog posted on October 27 by Roger González Gutiérrez points out that creating slides in PowerPoint and clicking the Designer button sends traffic to the outside world even if the cloud option is turned off. . Gutiérrez said, ``This behavior makes sense because this tool (designer) reads your text and suggests designs and provides photographic materials. It means that data that you want to keep private is also being sent to Microsoft. Did you agree to this?'

This blog does not include screenshots, etc., and it is not clear what kind of backbone Mr. Gutiérrez has. However, after the blog was reprinted on Hacker News and Reddit, various discussions broke out among users.

One Reddit user commented, ``Word will do the same thing with its editor function, and you should think that it will connect to the cloud if you use support tools.''


Another user pointed out, ``Just because there is traffic in the first place, it doesn't mean that content is actually being sent, and it is difficult to think

that all slide content, which sometimes weighs several GB, is being sent.'' , and some comments criticized the blog description for exaggerating clicks.


Hacker News also commented that ``PowerPoint's designer function uses machine learning to propose content layout and design changes, and it is natural that the proposal requires data on the contents of the slide.'' increase.

In addition, it has been

pointed out that if you are using the designer or other AI-related functions ( intelligent services ) in PowerPoint for the first time, a message will be displayed asking if it is okay to send data to Microsoft. may have forgotten that they previously agreed.

On the other hand, it is

pointed out that many users agree without understanding the details, and although a lot of information is omitted in the article, Microsoft should ask users for their consent in terms that are easier to understand. There were also comments that indicated understanding.

In addition, the question 'How can I prevent traffic from being sent to an external server?' was raised , and comments such as recommending the use of OpenSnitch , a firewall software for Linux, were received.