Cortana: The spy in Windows 10

It can be turned off but not easily/obviously. I did not have a particular issue with Cortanta pre SP1 but removing the obvious off switch is not conducive to privacy/transparency. A lot of people are probably unintentionally giving away their information, which I have a fundamental issue with.

By all means counter the points made by the author in the article. However to try to belittle and mock people who care about their privacy and take an interest in exactly what data is being collected and what happens to data collected is of no use to anyone.

It's a recurring theme on this forum.

Culbrelai said:

It can be turned off but not easily/obviously. I did not have a particular issue with Cortanta pre SP1 but removing the obvious off switch is not conducive to privacy/transparency. A lot of people are probably unintentionally giving away their information, which I have a fundamental issue with.

By all means counter the points made by the author in the article. However to try to belittle and mock people who care about their privacy and take an interest in exactly what data is being collected and what happens to data collected is of no use to anyone.

It's a recurring theme on this forum.

I think part of the problem is that over the last year or so, there have been articles published containing inaccuracies regarding Windows 10, which has lead to people getting fed up with them. I'm also included in those who sometimes get fed up with them, as it too winds me up when I see articles containing inaccurate information or poorly researched material, especially when they're written in a certain fashion in order to deliberately stir up an anti-Microsoft rhetoric.

I'm all for criticizing articles, pointing out inaccuracies, countering an article's content and motivations, etc., but what I've also observed is a growing trend across the internet where whenever anyone tries to discuss privacy issues or questions what data is being collected, what it's being used for and how to disable it, they get jumped on, mocked and belittled for doing so. Usually something along the lines of the tin foil hat variety, blah blah.

The reality is, quite often the people discussing privacy issues aren't trying to imply that there are some hidden processes secretly collecting data and covertly sending it back to the mothership without you knowing, but rather discuss what's done right in plain sight in front of everyone and documented in black and white in lengthy privacy policies.

I'm not entirely sure people realise quite how predictable human behaviour is and how frighteningly accurate profiling people can be. Combine that with mission creep and the use of data brokers to link all that data together and it really is something that needs addressing seriously. There have been lots of articles and books written regarding this, but perhaps one of the most well known ones is a New York Times article from a few years ago giving an insight on how retailers operate behind the scenes and how a father inadvertently found out his daughter was pregnant when Target starting to send her coupons for baby clothes and cribs. He went into the store to complain about the coupons because in his view they could encourage her to get pregnant. Little did he know she was already pregnant and Targets computers knew before him due to their pregnancy-prediction model created by statistician Andrew Pole.

All this data collection needs to be reigned in and control firmly in the end users control without deliberately designing interfaces in a way that makes it more difficult for users to disable certain 'features'.

The issue isn't data collection. The issue is turning all data collection on by default and making it hard for an experienced user to turn off, due to the multiple options and locations you have to crawl through to do it. It also makes it pretty much impossible for Joe average user, the majority, who just want to press one button.
It isn't the Microsoft is going to setup some odd profile of every user accessing pornhub, probably 90% of which is their staff. However, any data stored in the cloud is open to hacking. Look at the thousands of cases over the last 10 years, many of the sites most of us would think would be resonably safe. What happens when your personal information is leaked out? Additionally, your online data is a reflection of you. By turning on Cortana by default, and making it much harder to completely remove, Microsoft is essentially a virtual peeping Tom. Maybe there is nothing to see, but do they really need to be looking in your Windows? (Pun intended.)
Finally, I agree all of us give up some privacy being on the internet. However, that's our choice. While FaceBook and even Gmail or not mandatory to survive in this world, unfortunately Windows is because they have a lock on the market. If you want a job today that pays above minimum wage, you better know how to use Windows.
So given Microsoft's control, if they want to have Cortana that's fine. However, there should be a simple on-off button for all of Cortana's "features" and it should ask you when you first install windows/start if for the first time if you want Cortana on or off and give you a link showing what it accesses. Then if you decide you don't mind the intrustion fine. However, if you do, turn it off, that should be fine too.

ARC1020 said:

I think part of the problem is that over the last year or so, there have been articles published containing inaccuracies regarding Windows 10, which has lead to people getting fed up with them. I'm also included in those who sometimes get fed up with them, as it too winds me up when I see articles containing inaccurate information or poorly researched material, especially when they're written in a certain fashion in order to deliberately stir up an anti-Microsoft rhetoric.

I'm all for criticizing articles, pointing out inaccuracies, countering an article's content and motivations, etc., but what I've also observed is a growing trend across the internet where whenever anyone tries to discuss privacy issues or questions what data is being collected, what it's being used for and how to disable it, they get jumped on, mocked and belittled for doing so. Usually something along the lines of the tin foil hat variety, blah blah.

The reality is, quite often the people discussing privacy issues aren't trying to imply that there are some hidden processes secretly collecting data and covertly sending it back to the mothership without you knowing, but rather discuss what's done right in plain sight in front of everyone and documented in black and white in lengthy privacy policies.

I'm not entirely sure people realise quite how predictable human behaviour is and how frighteningly accurate profiling people can be. Combine that with mission creep and the use of data brokers to link all that data together and it really is something that needs addressing seriously. There have been lots of articles and books written regarding this, but perhaps one of the most well known ones is a New York Times article from a few years ago giving an insight on how retailers operate behind the scenes and how a father inadvertently found out his daughter was pregnant when Target starting to send her coupons for baby clothes and cribs. He went into the store to complain about the coupons because in his view they could encourage her to get pregnant. Little did he know she was already pregnant and Targets computers knew before him due to their pregnancy-prediction model created by statistician Andrew Pole.

All this data collection needs to be reigned in and control firmly in the end users control without deliberately designing interfaces in a way that makes it more difficult for users to disable certain 'features'.

Many Thanks

It (they) should not equate privacy to wanting to live in a cave and just becoase they can track you one way or another does not make it right to do so.

I honestly don't care if they track every keystrokes that I do. I have backup emails that has all of the important info with it, I didn't use that when I linked my email to Windows 10.

I don't like this "We'll force you to trust us" stuff, It's pissing me off. They should know better that people are not giving away the trust so easily today.