Microsofts Ever Increasing Data Collection

CountMike · 30 Jun 2018

If there ever were "rabid Windows fanboys" it's "W7 rabid Windows fanboys" along with bunch of "use Linux instead" that are even worse because of very limited knowledge of Linux and so many distros and shades of Linux.

swarfega · 30 Jun 2018

Note that some Linux distros now collect some data as well (although at least you can opt out of that).

flybynite · 30 Jun 2018

davefaz said:

It's not a good idea to get me started on the subject of data collection. I absolutely do not care what Microsoft thinks it needs or wants. I paid for my operating system and I do not expect it to spy on me, for whatever reason, unless I give them permission, and the fact that they don't ask for permission makes me very angry indeed. The problem is that you really don't have any choice in the matter other than not installing windows, which for most people is not a choice at all.

First you paid for a license to use Microsoft's Operating System. Second it does not spy on you. Check the definition if you do not believe me. Third you gave them permission or else you could not have installed the operating system that you bought a license to use.

It sounds to me as if you have problems with your browser.

EdTittel · 30 Jun 2018

To me one of the most interesting and useful "information flows" I heard across the board from multiple MS development groups while attending the MVP conference in Redmond earlier this year was about the value and impact of the telemetry data that the company collects. Every discussion of that data emphasized two things:
1. MS is disinterested in individual data and information. It is interested in the heft of specific observations (by which I mean how frequently they occur on a statistical basis) and in the aggregate across all observations. It uses that notion of heft to prioritize fixes, updates, and responses of all kinds.
2. MS makes constant use of telemetry to understand what's going on with the OS, applications, security phenomena and incidents/exploits. It uses that data to add/remove features, to tune the UI, and to attempt to serve and services users better, faster and more effectively.
I don't subscribe to the notion that MS is spying on anybody. As an Insider I always provide the full spectrum of telemetry data back to the company, and file reports/observations to the Feedback Hub whenever I can. This is an open enough environment so that users can elect not to participate and either use OS-provided options or third-party tools like the excellent O&O ShutUp10 to turn off every bit of Win10 telemetry, if they wish to do so. Just because I think telemetry is a good thing and that it's OK for MS to collect it from my 9 PCs and half-dozen VMs, doesn't mean everybody else has to do likewise. But answer me this, those who wish to stem the flow of feedback and telemetry back to MS: how can the company improve its offerings and deal with a scary threat landscape on the security side, in the absence of telemetry? It can't.

HTH,
--Ed--

flybynite · 30 Jun 2018

Telemetry is a good thing. Nearly every modern application uses it, and nearly every modern OS uses it. This enables the developers to easily be aware of issues with their software, and to offer fixes in a timely manner. Get used to it. Telemetry is here to stay.

flybynite · 30 Jun 2018

Spying implies that someone or something is investigating another person without his knowledge for malicious intent. Get your facts straight. Every piece of data in Windows is collected anonymously, and is not shared with anyone, and is also used for the purposes of improving the Operating System. Get over this anonymous data collection. It is not going away.

CountMike · 30 Jun 2018

Lets not forget antivirus/antimalware programs, the thrive on sample submission without which they would not be able to function efficiently and react fast.

dencal · 30 Jun 2018

Tin foil hat brigade expressing their displeasure versus those who like myself couldn't give a dam.

Realise that it is impossible in this day and age to avoid detection regarding personal details.....IE- Banking, Inland Revenue, Internet, Doctor, Employer, Insurance, etc etc etc.....are just a few.

roy111 · 30 Jun 2018

EdTittel said:

This is an open enough environment so that users can elect not to participate and .. use OS-provided options to turn off every bit of Win10 telemetry, if they wish to do so.

HTH,
--Ed--

Good evening Mr Ed.
Given that I think it's quite evident that anybody is not interested in anyone habits/computer usage, I think you are really missing the real issue here: it would be fair to give the user a choice (opt in or opt out of telemetry).
I do not think it is true, for windows 10 releases I can have access to, what you wrote, I have yet to find that option thet turn off "every bit of telemetry" this is what I have in my privacy settings:

Microsofts Ever Increasing Data Collection-bs.png

I can not se the option you talk about, but I'd like to learn about the feature that "turn off every bit of Win10 telemetry", I cannot find it...
I would like to digress on the excellence of Shutup10 (do you use it?).

I wonder why the Educational (?) edition have the option to opt out of telemetry, would it not be better to be shure that also the studends benefit of all the improvement we gain from telemetry? (Seriuos question)

Thanks in advance for your insight.

roy111 · 30 Jun 2018

EdTittel said:

But answer me this, those who wish to stem the flow of feedback and telemetry back to MS: how can the company improve its offerings and deal with a scary threat landscape on the security side, in the absence of telemetry? It can't.

HTH,
--Ed--

To be fair I forgot to answer your question, I would not say that I wish to steam the flow of feedback, moreover I'm honestly disinterested in individual company's need to improve its offerings and how they deal with scary things.

HTH.