the phone-home register
Ubuntu Insights
What Ubuntu Insights sends out of your computer by default, when, to whom, and the switch that stops it, version by version, with how we know.
The answer
Seen on a machine of ours, in the program's own record of four uploads dated 2026-07-06 (twice), 2026-08-06 and 2026-09-08, read 2026-09-28 with 0.9.3ubuntu installed, and read in its README: a weekly user timer uploads a report to metrics.ubuntu.com, and with consent off that report says only that you opted out; masking its two user timers (ubuntu-insights-collect.timer and ubuntu-insights-upload.timer) with systemctl --user, for each account, stops it, which we set and read back but did not wire-check; a copy of each report it sent stays on your disk.
Builds and versions
the distro's package ubuntu-insights 0.9.3ubuntuOn by default?yes · seen on a machine of ours, and read in its own documentsMeasured here?no · witnessedDate checked (UTC)2026-10-10
- Version
- 0.9.3ubuntu · the Ubuntu 26.04 package
- Where the evidence came from
- Ubuntu 26.04 desktop, x86-64 (a machine of ours, not a stock install)
- On by default?
- yes · seen on a machine of ours, and read in its own documents: a report saying you opted out, even with consent off
- Measured here?
- no · witnessed
- Date checked (UTC)
- 2026-10-10
- Why we say so
- the program's own upload records on a machine of ours, read 2026-09-28; its README at the package version read 2026-10-10
Each call out
opt out report · 0.9.3ubuntu
- Version · build
- 0.9.3ubuntu · the Ubuntu 26.04 package · Ubuntu 26.04 desktop, x86-64 (a machine of ours, not a stock install) · the distro's package ubuntu-insights 0.9.3ubuntu
- Sends by default
- yes · seen on a machine of ours, and read in its own documents: a report saying you opted out, even with consent off
- Kind
- reports
- Trigger
- on its own
- When
- A weekly user timer runs the upload. Seen on a machine of ours: the program's own record of four uploads, dated 2026-07-06 (twice), 2026-08-06 and 2026-09-08, read 2026-09-28; and the upload address in the binary (seen on a working network).
- Where
- OS telemetry · metrics.ubuntu.com
- What it sends
- a report holding only an opt-out flag ("OptOut": true), when consent is off (consent state)
- The vendor's stated purpose
- “If consent is not given for a source, an opt-out notification will be sent regardless of the locally cached insights report's contents.” — its README at 0.9.3ubuntu, read 2026-10-10
- Grade and method
- witnessed · the program's own upload records on a machine of ours, read 2026-09-28; its README at the package version read 2026-10-10 · read 2026-10-10
version at the witness: 0.9.3ubuntu was installed when the records were read on 2026-09-28; the version at each upload date is not recorded here - Receipts
- witness extract: the upload records (written at build by script from the private read) · its README at the package version: the opt-out notification · the package
The switch
mask its two user timers
- Accepted values
- masked
- What it is
- systemd user timers (ubuntu-insights-collect.timer, ubuntu-insights-upload.timer)
- Where it must be set
- for each account: systemctl --user mask on both timers · turn them off
- Proof
- set, read back; not wire-checked
- For the call
- opt out report · 0.9.3ubuntu
Listens beyond the machine, and other cloud features
Listens beyond the machine by default
- n/a · a reporting tool (0.9.3ubuntu the Ubuntu 26.04 package)
Other cloud features
None found.
Brings in, and installed for you by
None on the register.
Credit
- Its README documents the opt-out notification, and a copy of every report it sent stays on your disk to read. — git.launchpad.net · README.md, read 2026-10-10
Vendor documents it? · public discussion
Vendor documents it?
- opt out report · 0.9.3ubuntu: yes · Its README says an opt-out notification is sent when consent is not given, and that uploaded reports are kept in an 'uploaded' folder. · git.launchpad.net · README.md · read 2026-10-10
Public discussion
History
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