Worried that Windows 10 is 'spying' on you?

Berkey · 16 Feb 2016

Have to play devil's advocate here;

Again, I don't think MS is collecting private data however, as I stated before, until someone like this author can prove with 100% certainty that they are not, he needs to be careful using the term "hogwash". It may very well be hogwash, as people cannot prove that MS is actually collecting such tin foil data however, he, along with every other person who claims that MS is not collection private data, also cannot prove their statements. It's just not possible until MS themselves come out and clears the air (and their "we collect to make the OS better" is not enough to ease tensions, even for me, who again, does not believe they are collecting.). Until that time, every article and post about telemetry is going to be an ongoing debate of opinions and beliefs with no true evidence to support each side of the argument other than hearsay and conjecture.

Golden · 16 Feb 2016

Good reply Berkey.

It's interesting in the absence of evidence for, or against, in this context, that most people subscribe to risk aversion or loss aversion bias.

What is loss aversion?
Loss aversion is a human characteristic that describes how people are intrinsically afraid of losses. When compared against each other people dislike losing more than they like winning.

indianacarnie · 16 Feb 2016

Actually I'm getting a little tired of this "debate". I mean the Windows 10 one as a whole, especially HERE at Sevenforums. Since we can't (with very good reason) debate politics here we seem to HAVE to have an issue to get all riled up about. I tend to agree with Golden on this part of the topic. As I mentioned before on yet another thread of how terrible/horrible/machiavellian Microsoft is, if you think you have any "privacy" online then you're whistling past the graveyard. What are cookies? Don't answer that because you know the answer as well as I do. Do you use Google? Or have a Apple device? A Facebook account? If you answered "yes" to any of those then you have NO privacy online. This, my sanctuary online, collects information on us. I'm sure that if he so desired z3r101 could tell each and every one of us what machine we're using, our url's, how long we've been here etc. Privacy is a thing of the past as far as being online is concerned.
Is MS being a little too devious and pushy with 10? Yes I do agree with that. But as far as the privacy concerns go its not even a matter of degree to me. Once you log on you're exposed, simple as that.

lehnerus2000 · 16 Feb 2016

There seemed to be quite a few entries on the "O&O Shut Up 10" screenshot (given the length of the scrollbar handle).

Painter · 16 Feb 2016

So what actually is 'spying'?

It is gathering info on what a user does on their system. What search engine, browser, office application, email, other applications and programs, utilities and functions are installed and used. What is the purpose of knowing this - did the product work properly, were there failures. How did the user manage their documents and files - were there problems. How did the user address the problems? This is what MS says (and others say) they use to improve and maintain their products and services. Very few users would quibble with this.

Now the question of personal data. MS states in their EULA that they do access your personal data. Terry Myerson executive vice president of the Windows and Devices Group ( WDG)) has stated that MS does not collect any data that would personally identify you. That is the subtle difference.

On W10, Cortana looks at he content of your emails to send you personalized notifications/reminders - but according to Myerson, it is not stored information. Also, MS has stated that they are using data collected on a user's 'interests' to create personalized ads (probably from search arguments). Google does this, but what concerns OS licensees more is how these ads get personalized and by whom. Is the personal info sold to 3rd parties'?

Securing personal data, even if it does not identify the user as the source is still a concern with many users. As it is securely stored on servers in the cloud, who manages it - 3rd parties or MS? How long is the data kept - is it ever deleted?

These are valid questions. They require answers.

Lee · 17 Feb 2016

indianacarnie said:

Actually I'm getting a little tired of this "debate". I mean the Windows 10 one as a whole, especially HERE at Sevenforums. Since we can't (with very good reason) debate politics here we seem to HAVE to have an issue to get all riled up about. I tend to agree with Golden on this part of the topic. As I mentioned before on yet another thread of how terrible/horrible/machiavellian Microsoft is, if you think you have any "privacy" online then you're whistling past the graveyard. What are cookies? Don't answer that because you know the answer as well as I do. Do you use Google? Or have a Apple device? A Facebook account? If you answered "yes" to any of those then you have NO privacy online. This, my sanctuary online, collects information on us. I'm sure that if he so desired z3r101 could tell each and every one of us what machine we're using, our url's, how long we've been here etc. Privacy is a thing of the past as far as being online is concerned.
Is MS being a little too devious and pushy with 10? Yes I do agree with that. But as far as the privacy concerns go its not even a matter of degree to me. Once you log on you're exposed, simple as that.

Very Well Stated. . .

jonnyhillow · 17 Feb 2016

I would highly recommend people who want to know the facts about MS and spying to search out Microsoft's telemetry threads on "Wilders Security forums" because what MS is really doing is displayed there by people within MS who really know and it is mind boggling to say the least.

It is so far beyond even the worst case scenario for people that have actually seen it , even the "Wilders" staff were blown away and had a hard time comprehending what MS is doing .