Windows 10: Microsoft faces criticism over privacy

[Ichingcarpenter]

Windows 10 is under attack over default settings which users say compromise their privacy, just days after the operating system’s successful launch saw more than 14 million installs in the first 24 hours.

Hundreds of commenters on sites such as Hacker News and Reddit have criticised default settings that send personal information to Microsoft, use bandwidth to upload data to other computers running the operating system, share Wi-Fi passwords with online friends and remove the ability to opt out of security updates.

Many of the complaints relate to the new personalised adverts embedded in Windows 10. When the OS is installed, Microsoft assigns the user a unique advertising ID, which it ties to the email address registered with the company. That email address is also associated with a raft of other services, such as the company’s productivity and communication programs, as well as app downloads and cloud-storage uploads.

Using that information, Microsoft is able to personalise ads to the user, during both web surfing and, for newer apps downloaded from the Windows Store, app usage. Microsoft itself is leading the way on that front, even turning the in-built version of Solitaire (the card game that has been a staple of Windows installations since 1990’s Windows 3.0) into a freemium game, complete with unskippable video adverts.

Elsewhere, Windows 10 also harvests user information in order to teach the built-in personal digital assistant Cortana, Microsoft’s answer to Siri. To enable Cortana, the company says, it “collects and uses various types of data, such as your device location, data from your calendar, the apps you use, data from your emails and text messages, who you call, your contacts and how often you interact with them on your device”.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/31/windows-10-microsoft-faces-criticism-over-privacy-default-settings


I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9976298


GUIDE How to disable data logging in W10.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3f38ed/guide_how_to_disable_data_logging_in_w10/

[MattP]

1. Is it just microsoft browser?

If you use third party browser does it still apply

[villager]

2. Of my two laptops, the older is a Win 7 machine, and I am considering the upgrade...

...but it sounds like I would not want to opt for the "express install" in this instance..

[Gormy Cuss]

15. I have one with 7, one with 8.1

I'm leaving the one with 7 alone while all the start-up reviews come in, but as a general practice I never opt for "express install."

[PATRICK]

3. Via my son

Disabling the data logging would have to be done every time Windows updates and updates are automatic under pain of Windows denying security support.

The only cure might be the PRO version, especially if businesses don't want all their data(online or not) wide open. But then you'd still be dealing with computers of customers and dealers and partners wide open under the Wow-it's-free version.

This kind of openness is a lot more than data mining. In fact the jaw dropping data mining is just the pretty side of their defense. All files are at risk.

And it is an election year. The all important lead page W10 automatically loads can skew headline political influence. That is just the "innocent" potential. How many laptops were stolen or hacked in election years? No need for even more wide open results.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. I noticed this on the trial version of Windows 8....

I slapped in a small hard drive and installed it just to check it out.

On the map feature it asked if I wanted to use my current location as "home" so I figured, sure, why not?

I assumed it would be the town. I zoomed in.

It was the HOUSE. The exact HOUSE. It had traced the IP to the exact building I was in.

THAT is creepy as hell.

The new OS doesn't even ASK.

This isn't "windows".

This is more like walking around naked in a glass house.

[BeanMusical]

6. Holly shit!

That's creepy as hell!

[davidpdx]

7. Yeah I've had a similar experience with my android phone, but it does ask me

and I keep hitting no. I just bought a computer with Windows 8 and I just checked and I turned that feature off. I'll be very careful if I switch to Windows 10.

[Alfalfa]

5. Time to switch to Linux

[winter is coming]

16. I'm already using Linux.

I had a dual-boot machine for a while, then got rid of the Windows partition when I realized I was only using it about once a month. I was thinking about maybe going back to dual boot, but nope. Just nope.

[davidpdx]

8. So if you want to use Cortana you have to allow Windows 10 to collect the information?

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. I wouldn't just read the 4 paragraphs of the Guardian

I submitted but the links which explain a lot more

I have windows 7 and I'm gonna wait a while.

[Enthusiast]

10. Corporate overlords....

[hobbit709]

11. One of the reasons I already never use my actual name to set up any of my computers.

And I NEVER use Internet ExploDer, Orifice, or any other M$ applications.

As far as that goes even my FB page is not accurate in what is in my profile.

[Baclava]

12. I just upgraded to 10 and it works great - smooth and fast, like a new computer!

The download went fine and all my files and settings from other programs were saved, didn't lose a thing.

I did use some of those suggestions and turned off everything but my phone and tablet camera connections

and haven't signed in to use Cortana or OneDrive, and I still use Chrome

After Installation

Head to Settings > Privacy, and disable everything, unless there are some things you really need.
While within the Privacy page, go to Feedback, select Never in the first box, and Basic in the second box.
Head to Settings > Update and Security > Advanced Options > Choose how updates are delivered, and turn the first switch off.

no worries, mate

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. in Microsoft’s 12,000-word, 45-page terms of use agreement:

in Microsoft’s 12,000-word, 45-page terms of use agreement:

“We will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to.”

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/07/30/windows-10-privacy-settings/

[Baclava]

17. I ain't ascared, I shut off all the feedback on everything - ever looked at your phone tracking U?

The government is recording everything you say on the phone now too you know!...and Facebook is 100 times worse!

So my old laptop was running windows 7 and on it's last legs, freezing up under multiple windows, etc - I was about to replace it but gave win 10 a try - works better than new now, stable!!!...and like MS would want anything I have on it anyway - ha ha.


opt out of everything when you start it up

http://bgr.com/2015/07/30/windows-10-upgrade-installation-settings/

[whatthehey]

20. necessary to what?

Why clip the quote there I wonder.....

[Johonny]

13. Just what I need more Microsoft bloatware in programs I wont use to slow down

my computer. I'm not upgrading now and that's for sure.

[KG]

18. heh. why I decided to opt out of this mass beta test

[TransitJohn]

19. At this point, we all must accept that we gave up privacy by choosing to use these devices and

software. It sucks, but we're free to build our own cell phones and write our own OS's, lol.