4 ms·

> Most of the privacy settings that people are most worried about is tied into Cortana or more specifically what you allow Cortana to do on your behalf In all

> Most of the privacy settings that people are most worried about is tied into Cortana or more specifically what you allow Cortana to do on your behalf In all of these discussions on HN, the only ones bringing up "worries" about Cortana features have been people defending Windows 10 (and now Windows 8 and 7) data collection. It's easy to disable and, if you choose not to use it, it won't collect data anyways. The same can't be said of telemetry. > Which tells them when you launch a Windows 10 "app" and some basic computer information Actually it's not clear what else is being collected, because Microsoft won't disclose what's being collected. Is there evidence that only data about usage of Windows store apps is being collected? > But even without that setting/ability the apps themselves could conduct the same reporting Which would be needed to take into account when deciding on if that app should be used. Just to be clear, that means the application I choose to run might be collecting analytics, but my OS is also collecting analytics on the applications I'm choosing to run because it thinks it should. > Nobody can actually point to exactly what specific information Microsoft is even taking Yes, because Microsoft won't tell anyone what it's collecting! > and have even less data yet still to back up any claims As a baseline, you yourself talked about how we know they're collecting information about application usage. That right there is undesirable behavior for many that we have plenty of evidence for.

sqeaky 11y ago
Even if microsoft told, that doesn't mean we should automatically trust it. The could be wrong or lying. I would prefer source code, but someone will eventually do packet captures to figure at least some of it out.
- Someone1234 11y ago
  Go ahead and provide evidence that they're wrong or lying. People have been drum beating this privacy stuff for over six months now. But they seem to lack specific evidence, so now I invite you to present it.
  - DoubleMalt 11y ago
    It would be easy to dispel the accusations by open sourcing windows [/troll]
  - k33n 11y ago
    You're the only one who has used the term "conspiracy" here. Again (for the 5th time you've been told) Microsoft has used exceptionally broad terminology to describe what data they are collecting. Since you're the one drumming on about "evidence" for a "conspiracy theory", why don't you provide a definitive list of the exact data they are collecting?
- janpieterz 11y ago
  You have no way of trusting any other company that releases closed systems either. Like iOS, or manufacturers Androids. You have to trust some institution at some point.
  - sqeaky 11y ago
    This is true, but microsoft has a particular history of malice few other companies can match.
Someone1234 11y ago
> Actually it's not clear what else is being collected, because Microsoft won't disclose what's being collected. Is there evidence that only data about usage of Windows store apps is being collected? Microsoft has disclose what is being collected[0]. People just choose to ignore it and making conspiracy theories instead. So where is the evidence that Microsoft is lying? [0] https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt577208(v=vs.85).aspx#BKMK_MoreUTC https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt577208(v=vs.85... > Which would be needed to take into account when deciding on if that app should be used. How? Neither iOS, Android, or Windows restrict HTTP. Any app can conduct analytics and unless you're running them one by one and analysing the packet dumb you wouldn't be the wiser. At least Windows tells you. But that's what all this is about. Most other major operating systems conduct similar activities but there is no public outcry about that... Why the double standard? > Yes, because Microsoft won't tell anyone what it's collecting! Yes they do[0]. > That right there is undesirable behavior for many that we have plenty of evidence for. But not something you can readily avoid. I'd go as far as to say that the vast majority of apps or applications send basic telemetry back to the manufacturer, it is the norm now, and has been the norm since before 2007.
- magicalist 11y ago
  > Microsoft has disclose what is being collected[0]. let's quote them: > Security. Information that’s required to help keep Windows secure, including info about telemetry client settings, the Malicious Software Removal Tool, and Windows Defender. > Basic device info, including: quality-related info, app compat, and info from the Security level Notably vague, no "conspiracy theories" needed. And you're still missing the point that even the specifics that have been explicitly disclosed are still enough to be objectionable to some. edit: I missed the much more extensive list of what is being collected via "basic" telemetry: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt577208(v=vs.85).aspx#BKMK_UTC_BASIC https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt577208(v=vs.85... It's great they disclose more information than I thought they did, though this list is actually far worse than I had guessed. > Most other major operating systems conduct similar activities but there is no public outcry about that... Why the double standard? what other major operating system doesn't let you opt out of telemetry-like reporting? Incredibly, incredibly easy fix: just let people opt out of telemetry reporting.

sqeaky 11y ago

Even if microsoft told, that doesn't mean we should automatically trust it. The could be wrong or lying. I would prefer source code, but someone will eventually do packet captures to figure at least some of it out.

Someone1234 11y ago
Go ahead and provide evidence that they're wrong or lying. People have been drum beating this privacy stuff for over six months now. But they seem to lack specific evidence, so now I invite you to present it.
- DoubleMalt 11y ago
  It would be easy to dispel the accusations by open sourcing windows [/troll]
- k33n 11y ago
  You're the only one who has used the term "conspiracy" here. Again (for the 5th time you've been told) Microsoft has used exceptionally broad terminology to describe what data they are collecting. Since you're the one drumming on about "evidence" for a "conspiracy theory", why don't you provide a definitive list of the exact data they are collecting?
janpieterz 11y ago
You have no way of trusting any other company that releases closed systems either. Like iOS, or manufacturers Androids. You have to trust some institution at some point.
- sqeaky 11y ago
  This is true, but microsoft has a particular history of malice few other companies can match.

Someone1234 11y ago

> Actually it's not clear what else is being collected, because Microsoft won't disclose what's being collected. Is there evidence that only data about usage of Windows store apps is being collected? Microsoft has disclose what is being collected[0]. People just choose to ignore it and making conspiracy theories instead. So where is the evidence that Microsoft is lying? [0] https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt577208(v=vs.85).aspx#BKMK_MoreUTC https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt577208(v=vs.85... > Which would be needed to take into account when deciding on if that app should be used. How? Neither iOS, Android, or Windows restrict HTTP. Any app can conduct analytics and unless you're running them one by one and analysing the packet dumb you wouldn't be the wiser. At least Windows tells you. But that's what all this is about. Most other major operating systems conduct similar activities but there is no public outcry about that... Why the double standard? > Yes, because Microsoft won't tell anyone what it's collecting! Yes they do[0]. > That right there is undesirable behavior for many that we have plenty of evidence for. But not something you can readily avoid. I'd go as far as to say that the vast majority of apps or applications send basic telemetry back to the manufacturer, it is the norm now, and has been the norm since before 2007.

magicalist 11y ago
> Microsoft has disclose what is being collected[0]. let's quote them: > Security. Information that’s required to help keep Windows secure, including info about telemetry client settings, the Malicious Software Removal Tool, and Windows Defender. > Basic device info, including: quality-related info, app compat, and info from the Security level Notably vague, no "conspiracy theories" needed. And you're still missing the point that even the specifics that have been explicitly disclosed are still enough to be objectionable to some. edit: I missed the much more extensive list of what is being collected via "basic" telemetry: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt577208(v=vs.85).aspx#BKMK_UTC_BASIC https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt577208(v=vs.85... It's great they disclose more information than I thought they did, though this list is actually far worse than I had guessed. > Most other major operating systems conduct similar activities but there is no public outcry about that... Why the double standard? what other major operating system doesn't let you opt out of telemetry-like reporting? Incredibly, incredibly easy fix: just let people opt out of telemetry reporting.