When it comes to Windows 10 privacy, don't trust amateur analysts

[z3r010]

Another day, another sensational report from Forbes. Oh my goodness, is Windows 10 really "phoning home" thousands of times a day? Nope. in fact, anyone who has even a basic understanding of how networks work should cringe at this shoddy report.

Gordon F. Kelly of Forbes is at it again, whipping up a frenzy over Windows 10. This time he claims to have found SHOCKING EVIDENCE that Microsoft's telemetry is collecting STAGGERING amounts of data from Windows 10 users.

Read more:- When it comes to Windows 10 privacy, don't trust amateur analysts | ZDNet

 

[Golden]

Now that is a well written and factual article, which is a welcome change from all the horse shite that has been posted about W10 lately.

 

[z3r010]

Tbh after reading that article by Gordon F. Kelly of Forbes yesterday, it was that bad I wondered if Gordon F. Kelly was the new pen name for Randall C. Kennedy.

 

[Golden]

I'm looking forward to CheesusCrusts supporters posting here soon.....and if only he spells his name correctly, I'll ask for him to be touched by His Noodley Appendage.

 

[ThrashZone]

Personally I don't care for either site
10 is what it is no more or less.

 

[Clairvaux]

And of course, those connections are not all about telemetry. The most important one is the Software Licensing Service, which checks the state of Windows activation periodically. By dropping those connections, Mr. Crust is not allowing those activation and validation checks to complete. Windows gets very cranky when that happens, which could explain why there were more than 1,700 connection attempts to a handful of addresses in a single range of IP addresses managed by Microsoft.

And this is supposed to be reassuring ? Microsoft checks 1 700 times in 30 hours (or 8) if your copy of Windows is legit, and we are supposed to think this is all fine and dandy ?

It's all right for Ed Bott to find holes in Crust's experiment and expose them, but what about attempting to replicate this experiment without the alleged (and quite possible) flaws ?

Ed Bott is a nice chap and he does tremendously helpful work, but he does have a history of towing Microsoft's line. I remember when he insisted, in an exchange with 7 Forums contributor Kari and others, that moving Users folder on D: drive was unsupported and foolish and dangerous because Microsoft Said So. It's been a long time now, an untold number of people have done just that with no trouble at all (me included), and even the "Microsoft said so" part is quite debatable.

 

[Painter]

It is just a matter of two people who write tech articles for a living who have a particular bias. Neither produced their OWN test results. One supported a 3rd party contributor and the other was skeptical. When these writers can produce info from a reputable source or provide their own test scenarios, I think it is best to just regard their position as merely an opinion.

 

[indianacarnie]

Now that is a well written and factual article, which is a welcome change from all the horse shite that has been posted about W10 lately.

Agreed!

 

[Layback Bear]

I'm a silly simple person.

I read such things and that is about it. Because I really don't know what is sent back to Microsoft and why.
I'm think that Microsoft monitors many things that the normal user either doesn't know how to or doesn't want to know how to monitor.

Just a guess on my part but I think most user just want everything Automatic. Just let Microsoft check things and update them if need be.
To me that is today's mass market. That mass market is what Microsoft is reaching out to. It works for Apple.

I'm guessing again but I believe that the members that so far have posted in this thread like to know what is going on with their computer and choose what and when something happens. Me and those post above are not the masses. Their will be billions of people using W-10 if things go like Microsoft want them to. Another guess; most of them don't care or even want to know what Microsoft or other companies are doing in their systems.
I try to keep in clear in my head, all 3 brain cells, why would Microsoft want to monitor a billion plus systems.

1. To keep things updated properly. Sure could be.
2. To check for security problems. Yes that could also be.
3. To monitor where a user goes on the internet. Possibly.
4. To use this information for marketing reasons. Possible. Many apps do such things if allowed.
5. To steal important data. I don't think so. In fact I very much doubt Microsoft at this date would do such a thing.

The facts as I see them are simple also. Most users don't know and don't care what Microsoft does or doesn't do as long as their computer work.
If they don't have to work to keep their system working is fine with the masses.
Microsoft is marketing to billions of user that don't care and not to people like me who do care what happens and when to their computers.

I have taken my steel pot off my head and put it in my lap. So kick me if you have to.

 

[Clairvaux]

This is not only about Windows 10 or even Microsoft. It's a worrying general trend. Consider "intelligent" meters mandated by electricity providers. They allow the utility company (which in many places is state-owned) to monitor what you're doing at home. Add to this the parallel trend of using your electricity bill as a tax vehicule. You get the drift... possibilities are endless. Be sure that many people are looking into them right now.

 

[FerchogtX]

...

I'm guessing again but I believe that the members that so far have posted in this thread like to know what is going on with their computer and choose what and when something happens. Me and those post above are not the masses. Their will be billions of people using W-10 if things go like Microsoft want them to. Another guess; most of them don't care or even want to know what Microsoft or other companies are doing in their systems.
I try to keep in clear in my head, all 3 brain cells, why would Microsoft want to monitor a billion plus systems.

...

THIS!

I can agree is M$ wants the masses to be as free of problems as they can... the masses are... well, how can I tell that... masses...

What I don't like is being treated like a lamb, I know what the hell I do, I dont need M$ taking care of me like a nanny. Is that hard for M$ to get that? WHY can't I can get my usual options back for controlling updates and HOW to install them? WHY in hell do I need to blindy trust a company that has a black history of flawled updates that brick or BSODs systems? Why, do I need to completely shutdown the update service, because they DON'T respect my desitions, and treat me like a baby? (This had become an issue since 2012 with W7 too, since some updates reenable and change your settings if they are not set to defaults)

M$ is not entitled to force stuff into my hardware, WHICH I PAYED FOR, not just the OS. That's what I consider nasty. Besides that and tthe telemetry crap, I enjoyed using W10 (well, untill they came with that App RAM usage trimmer over the OS, that takes more CPU power for nothing), it's good... visually could be better (W7 is the very top of the eye candy, is just beautiful and useful), but at least they solved annoying things W8 had, brougt back *some* missing options and is kinda nice.

But, M$ had to do it, they had to mess up again with telemetry and babysitting advaced users...

This new CEOs are a bunch of juniors that haven't even done a single IT work in their lives, how are they supposed to understand how to make an OS easy for masses, powerful and customizable for power users?

But... sadly, this is a trend, a trend that wnats to control people and what they buy... I really hope this doesn't go any further...

 

[UsernameIssues]

...a company that has a black history of flawled updates that brick or BSODs systems?..

There would be fewer (if any) BSOD caused by patches if MS restricted hardware and software like Apple does... then it would be so much easier to issue patches 12 to 18 months after security flaws are in the wild.

 

[groze]

Hmm, I don't know what to think on this recent update. I am really confused because I know some stuff about networking which makes Ed Bott looks more correctly but then this article comes along, said Microsoft will make a tool to disable the tracking later this year which makes Ed Bott look wrong. This is just my confused opinion.


Microsoft makes windows 10 u turn

 

[UsernameIssues]

And then, Mr. Crust reports, he "configured the DD-WRT router to drop and log all connection attempts via iptables through the DD-WRT router by Windows 10 Enterprise."

I mentioned this in my post to that other thread...
...but the thread seems to be gone now :-(

 

[Borg 386]

Spying or not, MS has made quite the effort to push their new OS on everyone. Why not a simple window that asks "Do you want to upgrade to Windows Ten, Yes or No?" & after that no more shady tactics of trying to sneak nagware onto the system? If you clicked "No", then let that be the end of it. The extreme push to get people to put 10 on PC's is what's making everyone suspicious in the first place. Who wouldn't be, when a company continuously bombards you about upgrading to something you have said no to, or have no interest in? Behavior like that is leaving them open to suspicion.

I know I've been wondering since the big push started, why? Why do you want me to have that new OS so badly that you're willing to try and sneak things in to nag me about it? I'm aware there are ways you can turn it off (for now at least) but how many people out there initially said no, but ended up with 10 anyway, simply because they clicked the wrong thing, or gave up & would do anything to stop the annoying nag screens?

I think this article title summed it up well. Enough already!

Enough already: Microsoft pushes Windows nagware patch KB 3035583 for sixth time | InfoWorld

 

[ThrashZone]

Yep M$ likes keeping people on their toes
Quite a few places too not just in upgrading to 10
Integrating win-7 to be able to run win-10 designed apps
And net framework 4.6.1 which is what win-10 uses

 

[Layback Bear]

Borg 386

You have pushed my (Keep it Simple Button)
From your post #15

Why not a simple window that asks "Do you want to upgrade to Windows Ten, Yes or No?"

I like that very simple idea you have but Microsoft doesn't.
Microsoft has two other button in mind.
I accept and I agree buttons. Pick one please.

Microsoft will continue to slap us about the head and ears until we listen and comply.

They do not want W-10 to fail. Hell I don't want W-10 to fail.
I want W-10 to be the best thing sense sliced bread.
When that happens people will line up to buy W-10.

I remember the day I had XP Pro only and thought I would never give it up. Then I starting reading about Windows 7 and then read a little more. Then one day I decided; why not buy Windows 7 and give it a try. No body forced me to do this. It was my decision as it was for a billion or so others.
Windows 7 market share grew in leaps and bounds because it was a product people wanted.
Microsoft didn't push, shove and do tricks to get people to Windows 7. They did it the old fashion way.

**Make a product the consumer likes and wants and they will buy.**
I also did it the old fashion way. I pick the yes button with my pocket book.
Damn I love it when a old fashion plan comes together and just works.

 

[ThrashZone]

I used to laugh at the win-7 was my idea commercials darned if they weren't true

 

[Brds7t7]

Hmm, I don't know what to think on this recent update. I am really confused because I know some stuff about networking which makes Ed Bott looks more correctly but then this article comes along, said Microsoft will make a tool to disable the tracking later this year which makes Ed Bott look wrong. This is just my confused opinion.


Microsoft makes windows 10 u turn

Another Forbes article. If it's written by a certain someone, take it with a pinch of salt!

Reports on upcoming changes to Windows 10 data collection policies are inaccurate ? WinBeta

 

[groze]

Hmm, I don't know what to think on this recent update. I am really confused because I know some stuff about networking which makes Ed Bott looks more correctly but then this article comes along, said Microsoft will make a tool to disable the tracking later this year which makes Ed Bott look wrong. This is just my confused opinion.


Microsoft makes windows 10 u turn

Another Forbes article. If it's written by a certain someone, take it with a pinch of salt!

Reports on upcoming changes to Windows 10 data collection policies are inaccurate ? WinBeta

I am going to play advocate here, Of course Microsoft hasn't made the announcement, they just told Forbes or Gordon.