Spyware schmyware! Are you not aware that you can set up Windows with a local account, and provide no personal information?
This doesn't change much.
Windows is still transferring tons of data to the microsoft server about its users.
Even if you disable everything you can disable, there is still more than enough information being sent to the microsoft servers.
It is not about setting up a local account, by far not.
Unencrypted data you transfer through the internet is more likely to divulge personal details than anything I'm likely to save on OneDrive, and a warrant isn't required.
Well, people who communicate unencrypted via the internet are lost anyway.
IMO it is quite hard currently to
not communicate encrypted. Especially since there are tons of privacy-preserving messengers available and since every somewhat decent website is using TLS.
Hacking a Windows box, or writing malware to attack Windows isn't any easier than it would be for other systems. In fact, with all the closed-source anti-malware features built into Windows these days, I would reckon it's harder.
It depends.
It is almost always easier to compromise a windows machine from within the network. Especially due to the fact that most machines are configured wrong.
Missing patches and crucial vulnerabilities are just making it easier.
Anti viruses should never be trusted. They are quite easy to circumvent if you don't use widely known malware or behave too obvious.
Using mac/unix definitely does not guarantee security and privacy.
But using windows almost guarantees no privacy at all.