What is going on with Windows 10 and privacy????

Marko1401 · 06 May 2018

Hi guys,

I've just installed the new 1803 update.
While I understand that Microsoft is working on getting Bing up to speed and there is competition from Google in a way, with their chromebook lineup and Google integration...…

WHAT IN THE NINE DEPTHS OF DEVELOPER HELL
is up with microsoft and their user tracking?

Are you aware that they tie everything up with your microsoft account then see how you use your device and all the privacy along with it? So they will show you how to integrate all the nice stuff over multipe devices but who would allow a company to see where and how I use my device for business, which websites I load, how I load them and similar.

What are your thoughts on this? This is personally, for me, completely unacceptable. To have an OS track everything I do. WTF?
For this reason I am seriously considering ditching win10 for some linux distro

Want to hear your thoughs on this

Masterchiefxx17 · 06 May 2018

Welcome to the new age of computers. Every company you use will track you along the way and identify how you do something. There are even websites that track your behavior on the internet.

In the new Windows 10 1803 build, you can see what Microsoft is tracking on your OS and you can adjust your Windows 10 privacy settings to be basic information only.

Kari · 06 May 2018

Not again!

Where do these tinfoil hat brigade users come? "I know that Microsoft has a team employed just to follow and spy me!".

Microsoft has not the faintest interest in your person. If a grown up man likes My Little Ponies and regularly visits their website, or visit adult sites, or tells in chat how he hates mommy but must accept her rules because he still lives with her, that has absolutely no interest to Microsoft in any other sense than to be able to enhance your Windows experience.

The telemetry data is used to make your searches more accurate, to make your browsing easier, to do some "under the hood" pimping of Windows so that your user experience would be better. As I mentioned, they have no interest in your person other than that.

They do not post your most stupid comments, most absurd websites you visit on internal memos to all Microsoft staff. They do not pin your most idiotic photos on walls of Microsoft campus café to give MS staff a good laugh. Telemetry data collected will be used to make your user experience better.

In all honesty, only meaning this to be taken as a friendly and polite advice: please consult a professional to get help. That "I know they are following me" paranoia can get really serious if not treated properly!

Kari

Edwin · 06 May 2018

If your a business user, use Windows 10 Enterprise where all that stuff can be turned off;

if you're a regular user, (not Insider Builds!), you can still turn most that stuff off.

Just don't turn around and complain that "Cortana doesn't work!" for example.

werby · 06 May 2018

Edwin said:

...if you're a regular user, (not Insider Builds!), you can still turn most that stuff off...

Actually, you can absolutely turn all of them off (getting manually updates) but you have to do it all by yourself, spending much time, at least for the first time.

Edwin · 06 May 2018

On a personal note:

I'm a nobody from a nowhere town with nuthin to hide; I don't really give a rat's a$$ if MS even knows the color of my underwear!

Kari · 06 May 2018

Edwin said:

On a personal note:

I'm a nobody from a nowhere town with nuthin to hide; I don't really give a rat's a$$ if MS even knows the color of my underwear!

Well said!

BRKKAB · 06 May 2018

Since 2012 or maybe even earlier their'd been no privacy in anything to do with pc's.
The worst part is yet to come as far as Microsoft's o.s.'s are concerned.
The next thing is gonna be where all our pesonal files are online, instead of on our devices.

SoDiMm · 06 May 2018

Not jumping in on this, but the whole “If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear” attitude is dangerous. It only emboldens companies to push the boundaries further and further.

Remember that scene in Minority Report where he got off public transit and automated scanners scanned his eyes and started serving him ads? That’s coming folks!

Just because you don’t care now, doesn’t mean you won’t later.

Edwin · 06 May 2018

vram said:

......Remember that scene in Minority Report where he got off public transit and automated scanners scanned his eyes and started serving him ads? That’s coming folks!

Bring it on! I'm ready!