Bitcoin Forum

It’s estimated that more than 14 million devices are running Windows 10 after Microsoft rolled out its new operating system last week.
But an updated privacy statement released shortly afterwards says Microsoft can collect users’ information from private emails, address books and other files.
The move has angered watchdogs which say it is ‘bad news for privacy,’ but Microsoft says it does not collect data without users’ consent.


Within 45 pages of terms and conditions, the privacy information suggests Microsoft begins watching from when an account is created, saving customer’s basic information, passwords and credit card details, Newsweek reported.
The tech giant is also said to save Bing search queries and conversations with Cortana, as well as lists of which websites and apps users visit and the contents of private emails and files, as well as their handwriting


The privacy statement says: ‘your typed and handwritten words are collected.’
The policy adds that Microsoft collects information about a user’s speech and handwriting to ‘help improve and personalise our ability to correctly recognise your input,’ while information from their contacts book is used, such as names and calendar events ‘to better recognise people and events when you dictate messages or documents’.
Cortana, for example, makes use of information about who a user calls on their phone, plus data from their emails and texts, calendar and contacts, as well as their web history and location.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3184827/Is-Microsoft-reading-emails-Windows-10-threaten-privacy-watchdogs-warn.html

From the Terms of Service:

"Finally, we will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to: 1.comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies; 2.protect our customers, for example to prevent spam or attempts to defraud users of the services, or to help prevent the loss of life or serious injury of anyone;"

In other words, the police don't need a warrant anymore, they just have to ask.

Can I get a link to the said terms?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement/default.aspx

http://bgr.com/2015/07/29/windows-10-privacy-issues/

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/windows-10-how-get-around-microsofts-privacy-policy-1513874

There is an entire section in settings called privacy where you can tweak what you are willing to share.

Granted, most people won't bother to change the default settings and will indeed share a bunch of info. I would prefer it if software was privacy minded from the start and you had to make changes in order to reduce privacy. Most people don't give a rats ass for privacy and happily share everything through facebook anyway, so I guess it's tailored for the average consumer.

Cheers

By default (with the express settings) W10 seems to be quite inquisitive and talkative. I've found a quick howto on Reddit about strengthening privacy on Windows 10: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3f38ed/guide_how_to_disable_data_logging_in_w10/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3f38ed/guide_how_to_disable_data_logging_in_w10/)

As the best way to not get pregnant is to not have sex, the best way to keep your privacy is to not install Windows 10.

That's maybe a too high price for avoiding pregnancy :). Do you think your Android or IOS stuff is any better? Clearly not. So using Windows 10 not going to harm your (hypothetical) privacy if you do some research and reconfigure it for your privacy needs.

And that's why there are so many abortions. Feel free to use it, I've already warned my family not to though.

One thing I mentioned earlier was the fact that they give away your wifi passwords, which can be given from your friends to their friends and so on. Yes, you have to say yes or else it won't, but how many people out there are going to just hit "yes" without reading the message or what it means? People have been trained to just hit "yes".

Yep I'll be staying with Windows 7 for the foreseeable future ;)

Looks like they're trying to encourage storing biometric info, can't say I'd be too keen on using my ugly mug to unlock my pc.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/17/windows-hello/

Yep, it does.


Good one, thanks!

Here's another article on what you should do to opt out (and hope that it helps):

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/windows-10-spying-almost-everything-opt-130502898.html

I have free upgrades for my Win7 machines lined up, but now I wonder if I should just stay on 7. And why were they giving free upgrades right left and centre like that anyway?

I believe they're also available for those with pirated versions.... it does make you wonder why, right? ;)

Okay...... I don't like where this is going...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/05/12/free-windows-10-has-high-cost/



http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/05/08/microsoft-windows-10-last-windows/

Nobody does business to lose money, Microsoft has to capitalize on something from Windows 10, which in my opinion is your private information.

I just have to laugh. I actually was talking to one person, whom I had told to not upgrade. He said he doesn't like the idea that this is what it will be with Windows in the future. I said we can stay with Windows 7 or Vista, and if we get a new computer, use our Windows 7/Vista disks to put on the new computer.

I personally have one Ubuntu, which I would recommend. I can see this being a problem in about 10 years, when most have lost their disks or newer programs just won't work with it. But I see this as a time for people to make the switch to Ubuntu, personally.

If enough people make the switch and start using Ubuntu programs (equivalent to MS programs), maybe MS will change their mind when people leave... maybe it's a long shot for the general public, but I know I'd pick Ubuntu over Windows 10 everytime.


And maybe when enough people get caught by the police without a warrant, they'll switch too...

One aspect of Win10:


Siri, is that you, or are you Binder in disguise?  :D

Let your information flow from you....

I used Linux a lot at one point. Anyone heard of Slackware 2.1?  ;D Might be time to give Linux a shot again.

Looks like Windows 10 is going to charge $15 for the privilege of using their DVD player:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/windows-10-microsoft-charges-15-to-watch-dvds-on-new-operating-system-10442460.html

Seems a bit expensive when you can just install a free superior DVD player at no extra cost. One more nail in the coffin for Mr Gates.

Mr Gates has already cashed out.  ;)

And solitaire too, lol. Might as well find your deck of cards and just play in real life.

Windows 10: users asked to pay subscription fee for Microsoft Solitaire (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/windows-10-users-asked-to-pay-subscription-fee-for-microsoft-solitaire-10426799.html)

LOL :D

We are all shot down in this.

Imagine that you have a Linux machine. Imagine that you are well into protecting yourself in ways that no hacker can break through to get to you. Ain't good enough. Here's why.

People are upgrading to Windows 10 by the droves. The sheeple out there don't have a clue that anybody would want to intercept aspects of what they might consider their private info. Those that do either say something like, "I have nothing to hide," or, "That's life." And they upgrade.

So, what do the sheeple have to do with you? If you never do anything personal over the Internet with them, maybe nothing. But if you use email, or do banking, or purchase products with one of these Windows 10 users, kiss any info you shared with any of them good-bye. Microsoft has it.

:)

I upgraded. I had 8.1 before as it came loaded when I bought my laptop. I absolutely hated 8 and 8.1 and think they were the worst Microsoft OS since ME. Windows 10 is a slight improvement in performance and user friendliness.
As far as the security thing, well, it goes without saying that Microsoft is one of the biggest offenders of privacy. And so is Google. And so is Apple. And so is Facebook. And so is Yahoo. And on and on and on.

Ok. Call it whatever you want. Just stating the obvious that Microsoft is not the only company that you need to look at if you are worried about your privacy on the internet.

So this is what future will bring us? Total control of the corporations and governments. They are limiting our laws and under cover of protection want to spy on us, know everyting about us.
Windows 10 is a major leap towards total infiltration of our personal space. Stay away from it if you value your privacy.

I would go so far as to say stay away from it even if you don't value your own privacy, but value the privacy of your family members and friends, and understand that people should have a right to have privacy. By getting Windows 10 you are pretty much condoning it, and this is not something that should be condoned, or they'll never learn and it will get worse.

I already installed Linux Mint...

I tried Ubuntu a few years ago but I just couldn't get used to the switch. I've used Windows for everything since Windows 3.1... I learned Windows, and nothing else. I'm not computer illiterate, I use the command line in Windows for plenty of crap they try to hide or prevent, but with Linux it's totally different, it's frustrating to relearn something that I have a lifetime of experience with. It feels like I've moved to a different country where some happen to speak English somewhat, but as a second language, and I'm trying to learn how to communicate from square one with only a basic understanding.

Windows 10 drove me over the line, and I won't go back now. Ever... The other companies which routinely spy on us are bad, but they aren't so heavily invested in our personal space. They're just peeking through the windows, we can close the blinds on them when we choose... Windows 10 on the other hand, is sitting inside the living room breathing on your neck...

For those feeling safe by not upgrading, some are speculating Microsoft will also patch older versions with pretty much the same spying components:  http://www.hakspek.com/security/updates-make-windows-7-and-8-spy-on-you-like-windows-10/

As far as Linux, wasn't there some controversy surrounding a distro in the past, mainly Ubuntu versions if I recall correctly, that also phoned home searches? Further, I believe some versions had Zeitgeist (the software not the movie) installed that did pretty much the same thing Windows 10 is doing, saving searches, keystrokes, etc.

Microsoft no longer lets you opt-out of a Windows 10 upgrade (http://www.technobuffalo.com/2015/10/15/microsoft-no-longer-lets-you-opt-out-of-a-windows-10-upgrade/)

Windows users report Windows 10 upgrades are enforced on their systems (http://www.ghacks.net/2015/10/15/windows-users-report-windows-10-upgrades-are-enforced-on-their-systems/)

Windows 10 upgrade installing automatically on some Windows 7, 8 systems (http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/10/windows-10-upgrade-installing-automatically-on-some-windows-7-8-systems/)

Windows 10 upgrades reportedly appearing as mandatory for some users (http://www.pcworld.com/article/2993381/windows/windows-10-upgrades-reportedly-appearing-as-mandatory-for-some-users.html)

Bullshit.  Just grab your old CD and load XT or 7 and load it.

You have to PAY FOR AN UPGRADE to 10.

There may be an exception for new computers out in the distribution chain after the release of 10, but which had 8 on them.  So then..."It's only fair..."

Duh...

Apple, Microsoft, Google and others have already been caught selling data to other entities. I only use free linux distributions at the momentand even now I do not have 100% privacy.

I am no longer surprised or shocked at these types of revelations. Of course they access our information. Sometimes for security reasons and sometimes to better target advertisements our way. It's been going on for years, way before Snowden exposed the issue.