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My statement was that the telemetry wasn't baked into the OS itself-- and it isn't. It's in the programs you _run_ on the OS, so the user has agency. How many u

My statement was that the telemetry wasn't baked into the OS itself-- and it isn't. It's in the programs you _run_ on the OS, so the user has agency. How many users opt for the extreme inconvenience of turning off Google Play Services and all the Google apps isn't really the point-- they _could_. Windows telemetry is baked in the OS. I believe that is a fundamental difference. Also, I don't think it's disingenuous to say that users have different expectations of mobile and desktop operating systems. Apple's iOS has always sent basic telemetry; until recently Windows didn't. Apple doesn't have a history of compromising users' privacy then lying about it, unlike Microsoft with Skype. And finally, while Apple is sending some telemetry, they are actually serious about their users' privacy and are collecting data with a technical solution that truly does guarantee anonymity. https://www.wired.com/2016/06/apples-differential-privacy-collecting-data/ https://www.wired.com/2016/06/apples-differential-privacy-co...

cptskippy 10y ago
What constitutes being baked in? Various components of Windows gather telemetry data, the basic stuff is pulled by the Diagnostics Tracking Service which can simple be disabled. Other things such as Office and Contana gather in their own ways. That's no more baked in than Google Play Services is baked into Android. The fundamental difference is that Windows isn't Open Source so you can't go to a repo and pull down a clean version of it. Windows has been sending telemetry data since XP. Until recently Apple hasn't had much market share or scrutiny. We're starting to see that change happening with new malware targeting MacOS showing up and plenty of buggy software.
- hendersoon 10y ago
  You can simply uninstall Google Play Services. You can't uninstall the telemetry and tracking stuff. You need to disable services, make changes to the registry, remove task scheduler entries, and block access in your firewall to truly secure Win10. Telemetry, previously called "Windows Customer Experience" or something similar, in versions of windows earlier than 10 could easily be turned off. Recently MS added the full-on Win10 style telemetry to Win7 and 8 too, but that is a very recent development.

cptskippy 10y ago

What constitutes being baked in? Various components of Windows gather telemetry data, the basic stuff is pulled by the Diagnostics Tracking Service which can simple be disabled. Other things such as Office and Contana gather in their own ways. That's no more baked in than Google Play Services is baked into Android. The fundamental difference is that Windows isn't Open Source so you can't go to a repo and pull down a clean version of it. Windows has been sending telemetry data since XP. Until recently Apple hasn't had much market share or scrutiny. We're starting to see that change happening with new malware targeting MacOS showing up and plenty of buggy software.

hendersoon 10y ago
You can simply uninstall Google Play Services. You can't uninstall the telemetry and tracking stuff. You need to disable services, make changes to the registry, remove task scheduler entries, and block access in your firewall to truly secure Win10. Telemetry, previously called "Windows Customer Experience" or something similar, in versions of windows earlier than 10 could easily be turned off. Recently MS added the full-on Win10 style telemetry to Win7 and 8 too, but that is a very recent development.