Privacy issues

Now I have had a look and cannot find anything near what I want to know.
My beef with Windows 10 is and always will be the issue with privacy because I don't believe anyone has the right to access my personal data and email content which always has the probability of containing very intimate and private details about myself or my family.
If emails for example can be accessed then what about my banking details? because it seems to me not a day goes by where I do not read an article that details how and what Microsoft can use this operating system to invade what I consider my absolute right to say, type and do what I want to without such data being basically in the public domain.
In my mind it is tantamount to me broadcasting everything about me across the net so that anyone can know just about everything about me.
There are also other items such as what I have to download ie updates without any choice over what they may contain, and they have taken away as far as I can tell programs that I would have to source elsewhere ie WMP.

Now as for emails if I use a non Microsoft based email service ie Thunderbird is Microsoft going to be able to access data from that too??

I am asking because I can see the day coming when 10 will be the only Microsoft OS available and in that case if the conditions are not changed then I would have to look elsewhere for an OS that I can use for my personal data.

As you may see I am extremely disappointed and in part outraged that they (Microsoft) are allowed to do this to private citizens, especially when so much fuss is made whenever mention is made of the police, or security agencies even hint at accessing data in order to investigate individuals.

Moreover one has to pay for the privilege of such intrusion.

you are worried that someone is looking to do you harm.

Quite frankly Lee I did not say anything about anyone doing me harm what I DID say was I object most strongly to people like Microsoft making a product that could, can and will delve into and divulge my own personal details which could be of very intimate and personal nature including for example medical histories which I am sure that you yourself would be most upset if it were accessed and open to any operator who could use that information for any use they thought fit.
You seem very blaise' about what is accessed using Windows 10 and it indicates to me that you are quite apathetic as to the feelings of others such as myself wanting to maintain some level of anonymity when it comes down to personal info. The fact is that suing Windows over the years has required me to give out personal info to Microsoft and I think that quite fair enough for purposes of doing business.

Now I am quite aware to and not so naive as to think that my info can be accessed by anyone hacking my system, and to me that would be my decision to take that risk. For a company who I pay good money to and have done so over the years to deliberately take over what I use my computers for and pay for the privilege is to me at least quite wrong, and boarders on the unethical.

FWIW, In the US we have HIPAA laws that would prevent that from occurring and if it did MS would be ripped apart in any court in this country. HIPAA laws require that release of any medical information must be signed off by the patient before the Dr can send the information to anyone. Health Information Privacy

Overall MS is the least of my concerns.. hackers are the ones to watch out for.,
My 2c on this subject..

What does not stop amazing me is how selective some users read the news and the information available. "This article / blog post supports my opinion, therefore it must be valid and true" versus "This article / blog post seems to contradict what I've heard and believe, therefore it must be false, disinformation".

Microsoft really do not collect and share your banking data and credentials, nor do they collect and share your medical records. Microsoft does not call your sister-in-law and tell her that you called her a bitch in your phone conversation or email or Skype chat, Microsoft will not inform your neighbors about you checking in to an adult website. Microsoft will not collect and share your credit card information apart of storing your chosen payment details for Microsoft and Windows Stores, exactly as any other online merchant like Amazon and others do.

Paul Thurrott, one of the most widely known Windows experts says this:

Paul Thurrott said:

For the past two months, I’ve been on a lonely crusade, proving again and again that the so-called privacy issues in Windows 10 are nothing more than over-wrought complaints from ill-wishers and the tin-hat crowd. Today, Microsoft finally took up its own defense. And as you might expect, it says that Windows 10 does not violate your.

“From the very beginning, we designed Windows 10 with two straightforward privacy principles in mind,” Microsoft’s Terry Myerson writes in a post to Blogging Windows. “Windows 10 collects information so the product will work better for you. And you are in control with the ability to determine what information is collected.”

That should have been obvious to anyone except those who have an ax to grind—my theory is that Windows 10 is so good, making up and exaggerating privacy issues was their only recourse. But Microsoft has also posted two separate sites,one for consumers and one for businesses, that go into greater detail.

(Quote from Microsoft Finally Confirms That Windows 10 Does Not Violate Your Privacy - Thurrott.com)

He also gives simple instructions to increase your privacy if the defaults are not what you want to: Windows 10 Tip: Understand and Configure Privacy Settings - Thurrott.com

This really is no rocket science: Microsoft has never nor will they ever force anyone to use Windows 10. It's up to you to decide if you want to be part of the future of Windows operating systems. If not, get a Mac or if it's too expensive, wipe the HDD on your PC and install any of the free Linux distros.

Kari

If my reply did not go through Bunny what you posted made a little more sense instead of saying that I should stay off the net.
At least you have made an effort to ease some of my concerns because I posted what I did because I value my individuality as much as the rest of the 7 billion others around me.
I would use Windows 10 if I knew I could be totally safe ie medical info and intimate and personal details.

Thank you :)

Thanks to you too Kari I am glad that some do appreciate my concerns re 10. I have to add tough that there are features I would have to spend a lot of time getting used to especially the app look of the desktop and the update no choice of course.

Whoever said Windows 10 is the future of operating systems ?

Whatever happened to this being a help forum and not an argument forum, back to Windows Seven forums.

Just defending a friend :)

Lee, why is every post you make ludicrous ? You make the US look bad man

John is a nice respectful member, don`t dis him like that, next time, don`t post

And maybe Santa will finally give/make/create you a real avatar

AddRAM said:

Whoever said Windows 10 is the future of operating systems ?

I don't know who has said that.

The selective reading and understanding seems to continue. You are clearly referring to my post, in which I stated this:

Kari said:

This really is no rocket science: Microsoft has never nor will they ever force anyone to use Windows 10. It's up to you to decide if you want to be part of the future of Windows operating systems. If not, get a Mac or if it's too expensive, wipe the HDD on your PC and install any of the free Linux distros.

It requires quite a verbal somersault talent to read "... if you want to be part of the future of Windows..." and purposely interpret it as "Windows 10 is the future of operating systems" to get it argumentative.

AddRAM said:

Whatever happened to this being a help forum and not an argument forum, back to Windows Seven forums.

John is a nice respectful member, don`t dis him like that, next time, don`t post

Please allow me to check that I understand you correctly so that I can change my posting behavior to something you could accept: You mean that however groundless invalid statements are presented about MS spying or any other topic, we should always take such posts in their face value and leave misunderstandings, wrong beliefs based on ill-intended rumors, invalid information and such in peace, not correct them? Especially if they are posted by a nice respectful member? Wrong information should stay for the sake of not arguing with its presenter?

My post was not impolite, rude or insulting in any way. I presented an opinion and some facts. For your information, John seemed to understand it better than you, judging by his response:

ICIT2LOL said:

Thanks to you too Kari I am glad that some do appreciate my concerns re 10. I have to add tough that there are features I would have to spend a lot of time getting used to especially the app look of the desktop and the update no choice of course.

A bit confused,
Kari

Look I am rather sorry I asked in the first place because I have not got any answers really that provide me with what I wanted to know ie an email service that is not directly controlled by Windows.

Mike (AddRam) quite rightly picked up Lee for being (what I thought best not to answer) rather blaise' and disrespectful in reply to what is a major concern of mine - not to mention probably a whole host of other users of Microsoft's products.

I accept that in all probability that my data and personal details would not be accessed - it is the principal of it all and I think that most individuals would agree that personal means just that and not open to anyone accessing one's data - however trivial it may be without the explicit permission of the owner of the information call it what you will.

I would like to know just what information is going to be gathered and I think that emails in particular are sacrosanct between myself and whoever I communicate with. If Microsoft are so adamant about collecting information then they should get explicit permission from each and every individual user to do so, and be explicit on what form of information is going to be and why they need to know before one could make an informed decision, and not be a s I said just one of the lemmings that follow the rest to oblivion. It simply doesn't make sense to me that an intelligent person would blithely give away their right like this. It to me is like me agreeing to a telephone company to listen in on my calls and make of them what they will.