Revealed! Crucial detail that Windows 10 privacy critics are missing

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  1. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #10

    Unforunately, Ed Bott, in his determination to whitewash the whole spying controversy, is confusing terms -- to defend MS collecting data on us all.

    What he is talking about, even though he uses the term "analytics" is really nothing more than data analysis -- and that analysis concerns what is DONE with the data. It does not excuse, nor does it justify, collecting data on folks.

    Let's suppose I was able to access your bank records for the past 90 days, and not only yours, but everyone you know -- and ALL I did with that information was generate graphs of product purchasing trends -- what kinds of items, what price ranges, how often purchased, etc. And, I then used that information to inform product manufacturers of the relative successes of their product in the recent marketplaces. That's -- data analysis, or what Ed Bott and MS prefer to call "analytics".

    Does that mean I did not SPY on your financial information, insofar as I collected it without getting your specific permission for each item, ahead of time. NO! I DID spy on you -- the fact that I did not use any of your personal identity information for nefarious purposes, or for personal gain, has nothing whatsoever to do with WHAT I did, only WHY I did it.

    MS collects personal data -- their previous admissions and written statements make this clear -- that they use it ONLY to do data analysis (for which, BTW, we only have their word and the word of their defenders), does not change the fact that it is still spying on folks.
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  2. Posts : 128
    Windows 10 Pro
       #11

    Mark Phelps said:
    MS collects personal data -- their previous admissions and written statements make this clear -- that they use it ONLY to do data analysis (for which, BTW, we only have their word and the word of their defenders), does not change the fact that it is still spying on folks.
    The only data I am willing to ever "share" with MS - or any software company - is the data collected concerned when I purchased my licenses. Put those figures in some spreadsheet somewhere and do with it what you will.

    If I need help - I will reach out to you.

    Sonic.
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  3. Posts : 139
    Tried 10 Returned to 8.1
       #12

    Mark Phelps said:
    Unforunately, Ed Bott, in his determination to whitewash the whole spying controversy, is confusing terms -- to defend MS collecting data on us all.

    What he is talking about, even though he uses the term "analytics" is really nothing more than data analysis -- and that analysis concerns what is DONE with the data. It does not excuse, nor does it justify, collecting data on folks.

    Let's suppose I was able to access your bank records for the past 90 days, and not only yours, but everyone you know -- and ALL I did with that information was generate graphs of product purchasing trends -- what kinds of items, what price ranges, how often purchased, etc. And, I then used that information to inform product manufacturers of the relative successes of their product in the recent marketplaces. That's -- data analysis, or what Ed Bott and MS prefer to call "analytics".

    Does that mean I did not SPY on your financial information, insofar as I collected it without getting your specific permission for each item, ahead of time. NO! I DID spy on you -- the fact that I did not use any of your personal identity information for nefarious purposes, or for personal gain, has nothing whatsoever to do with WHAT I did, only WHY I did it.

    MS collects personal data -- their previous admissions and written statements make this clear -- that they use it ONLY to do data analysis (for which, BTW, we only have their word and the word of their defenders), does not change the fact that it is still spying on folks.
    Mark, I agree with you 100%

    What amazes me is how many people just don't care.

    I am not paranoid but facts are facts and legislation regarding this type of data collection is decades behind where it should be.
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  4. Posts : 1,811
    W7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), LM 19.2 MATE (64 bit), W10 Home 1703 (64 bit), W10 Pro 1703 (64 bit) VM
       #13

    The problem is:
    • The more companies that store data about you, the more likely it is to be stolen by hackers
    • Security costs money therefore it is one of the first areas to be subjected to budget cuts
    • AFAIK, MS hasn't explained where to find this info to confirm that it only contains what they claim it does


    No one could have stolen user credit card details from Sony if they hadn't been storing them in the first place.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_PlayStation_Network_outage

    gator2013 said:
    I am not paranoid but facts are facts and legislation regarding this type of data collection is decades behind where it should be.
    It's not paranoia when they are out to get you.

    The majority of compaines shouldn't be allowed to collect this type of info in the first place.
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  5. Posts : 407
    Windows 10
       #14

    The PROBLEM is that people have been spoiled by Firefox (and other browsers?) allowing users to opt-out of data/telemetry collection. So, quite naturally, we wonder why the Windows10 O.S. doesn't allow a similar "opting out".

    Most likely there isn't an opt-out because Windows-10 is FREE. When you accept something that's free, (like govt food stamps), there are always strings attached.

    My gut feeling is that data-gathering is just one mandatory condition that comes with using Windows-10. There will be more that come to light as time passes.
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  6. Posts : 630
       #15

    The problem I have with Ed Bott the author of the article, is, that he is almost like a shill for Microsoft. According to him, Microsoft is more omnipotent than God.
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  7. Lee
    Posts : 4,793
    OS X, Win 10
       #16

    It must be hard going through life sitting in font of a computer screen worried about who is watching, and who is data mining your computer so that they can built up a portfolio on just you, so that they know know what it is you do every day you life. Just thank about it Microsoft probably knows when you get up to the bathroom, what kind of takeout food you order, "oh BTW" so does Apple, The NSA, Google, the CIA, (along with other world intelligence organizations. . . .Good luck to all of you, and do whatever it takes to stay hidden. . .:)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 27,166
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #17

    Lee said:
    It must be hard going through life sitting in font of a computer screen worried about who is watching, and who is data mining your computer so that they can built up a portfolio on just you, so that they know know what it is you do every day you life. Just thank about it Microsoft probably knows when you get up to the bathroom, what kind of takeout food you order, "oh BTW" so does Apple, The NSA, Google, the CIA, (along with other world intelligence organizations. . . .Good luck to all of you, and do whatever it takes to stay hidden. . .:)
    Uh-oh! @Lee! You just mentioned all those companies and agencies, you're on their RADAR now!
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #18

    Lee said:
    It must be hard going through life sitting in font of a computer screen worried about who is watching, and who is data mining your computer so that they can built up a portfolio on just you, so that they know know what it is you do every day you life. Just thank about it Microsoft probably knows when you get up to the bathroom, what kind of takeout food you order, "oh BTW" so does Apple, The NSA, Google, the CIA, (along with other world intelligence organizations. . . .Good luck to all of you, and do whatever it takes to stay hidden. . .:)
    No rep allowed in the News section, otherwise you had got some! My sentiments exactly.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 406
    Windows 10 21H1
       #19

    Well, that's an interesting discussion but I think it's important to understand, what exactly is being collected and whether one can stop it from happening.

    First of all, if someone is completely opposed to anything at all being sent from their computer to Microsoft, then you should turn those features off. In Windows 7 it's fairly straightforward, in Windows 10 it looks like the settings alone do not allow you to do much, but you can always block those transmissions with a firewall (perhaps a third-party firewall) or simply by modifying your hosts file.

    Now, if you are not that paranoid, you should still think of whether your computer actually contains any personal information, if yes, than in what form. Do you really think that some Microsoft code searches through your pdf files (and I can't think of any other way of keeping personal information on a PC)? If yes, then keep your pdf files in a separate folder (certainly not your Documents folder) and encrypt it. In addition you can restrict access to that folder so that only you can access it.

    Finally, there have been "reports" (claims rather) that Microsoft has included a keylogger into Windows 10. I don't believe any of them are credible, I guess if it would really the case, it would be all over TV by now. But if you actually believe this to be true, then don't use 10, nobody forces you to.

    Last, but not least, I completely disagree with the notion that one has to put up with anything Microsoft is doing because Windows 10 is free. It's not really free. For example, I chose not to use the free upgrade offer, so when I buy a new PC it will most certainly come with Windows 10 and I will be paying for it. I doubt that it will be some different OS without all of the telemetry turned on by default.
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