Question:

How can I prevent my college from tracking my personal devices through Microsoft accounts and device management software?

I searched the web for some information that might help you with this issue. Here are some of the results I found:

• According to [this article], your school can see what websites you visit, where you are, and what you do on your phone or laptop whenever you connect to the school’s Wi-Fi or use a school-provided email account. It also suggests some ways to stop your school from tracking you, such as using a VPN, separating your private and academic correspondence, and wearing anti-surveillance accessories.
• According to [this post], your school might have enrolled your PC in the domain’s management settings, which could give them access to your files and system. Some users suggested creating a separate user account for school purposes, or reinstalling Windows to get rid of the management software.
• According to [this report], students should be aware of the privacy risks of using school-issued devices and ed tech providers, and should take steps to protect their personal data, such as checking the privacy settings, opting out of data collection, and using encryption tools.

I

hope this helps you understand your situation better and find a solution that works for you. 😊

Answer:

How to Stop Your College from Tracking Your Personal Devices

If you are a college student who uses your own phone or laptop for school-related activities, you might be wondering if your college can track your online behavior, location, and data. The answer is yes, they can, and they might be doing it without your consent or knowledge.

According to [this article], your school can see what websites you visit, where you are, and what you do on your phone or laptop whenever you connect to the school’s Wi-Fi or use a school-provided email account. They can also install device management software on your devices, which can give them access to your files, system settings, and even your camera and microphone. This can pose serious threats to your privacy, security, and academic freedom.

Fortunately, there are some ways to stop your school from tracking you and protect your personal devices from their intrusion. Here are some of the steps you can take:

• Use a VPN: A VPN, or virtual private network, is a service that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server, hiding your IP address and location from your school and anyone else who might be snooping on you. A VPN can also help you bypass any censorship or restrictions that your school might impose on certain websites or apps. There are many free and paid VPN services available, but make sure you choose one that is reputable, secure, and does not log your activity.
• Separate your private and academic correspondence: If you use your personal email account or social media platforms for school-related communication, you might be exposing your personal information and contacts to your school. To avoid this, you should create a separate email account and profiles for your academic purposes, and use them only for that. You should also avoid logging into your personal accounts on school devices or networks, and vice versa.
• Wear anti-surveillance accessories: If you are worried that your school might be spying on you through your device’s camera or microphone, you can use some simple accessories to block them. For example, you can cover your webcam with a sticker or a sliding cover, or plug in a dummy microphone or headphones to disable your device’s audio input. You can also turn off your device’s location services and Bluetooth when you are not using them.
• Create a separate user account for school purposes: If your school has enrolled your PC in the domain’s management settings, which could give them access to your files and system, you can create a separate user account for school purposes, and use it only when you need to access school-related resources. This way, you can limit the amount of data and control that your school has over your device. You can also use different browsers or incognito mode for your school and personal browsing.
• Reinstall Windows to get rid of the management software: If you want to completely remove the management software that your school might have installed on your PC, you can reinstall Windows from scratch. This will erase all the data and programs on your device, including the management software, and give you a fresh start. However, this is a drastic measure that should be taken only as a last resort, and you should back up your important files and data before doing it.
• Check the privacy settings and opt out of data collection: If you use school-issued devices or ed tech providers, such as Microsoft Teams or Office 365, you should be aware of the privacy risks that they pose. These services can collect and store your personal data, such as your name, email, location, device information, and usage patterns, and share them with third parties, such as advertisers, researchers, or government agencies. You should check the privacy settings and policies of these services, and opt out of any data collection or sharing that you are not comfortable with. You should also use encryption tools, such as Signal or ProtonMail, to secure your communication and data.

By

following these steps, you can stop your college from tracking your personal devices and safeguard your privacy, security, and academic freedom. Remember, you have the right to control your own devices and data, and you should not let your school violate that right.