4 ms·

A lot of this can be disabled. For example, using a local account and not a Microsoft account. I'm guessing that's where the author got his notion of "contact

by zatkin 11y ago

A lot of this can be disabled. For example, using a local account and not a Microsoft account. I'm guessing that's where the author got his notion of "contact details, passwords, demographic data and credit card specifics". Also, if you go to the Privacy settings, you can disable things like Cortana and other services.

static_noise 11y ago
a) Can you be sure they really stop collecting that data when you flip some switch? b) Judging from past experience I fear that some features will randomly "auto-enable" themselves when some future updates are installed.
Dylan16807 11y ago
But it's too vague on what is still allowed when you disable what you can, and even opt-out there are certain things that should not be tolerated.
tdicola 11y ago
If you disable all those features (Cortana, not logging in with MS account disables the Windows Store, etc.) then why even run Windows 10?
- rational-future 11y ago
  DirectX 10, HTTP/2, kernel improvements, etc.
  - PythonicAlpha 11y ago
    I thought, HTTP/2 is something that the browser must support. Did you recognize, that there are some different browsers out there?
    - rational-future 11y ago
      Do you recognize that someone needs to develop the sites that you consume? The web server that comes with Windows 10 - IIS 10 is the first version of IIS to support HTTP/2.
      - PythonicAlpha 11y ago
        Yes, I do. But most people just do not use the IIS. Also there are some other WebServers out there in existence.
pdkl95 11y ago
Have you tried this with a non-"enterprise" edition? Reports are suggesting it requires quite a bit more than the "Privacy settings" to disable this crap, and is only possible in the "enterprise" variant. Not that it matters - remember that you are using an OS that MS can unilaterally update at any time.
- agumonkey 11y ago
  Maybe we could IP block microsoft DNS and server in order to be sure nothing leaks out even when set off through user space configuration ?
morganvachon 11y ago
Exactly. I challenge anyone who complains about the "new"[1] data logging in Windows 10 to take a hard look at Google's policies as well. They record just as much, sometimes more, when you use their services. Their email service in particular is 100% invasive: They literally read every word of your email and any email you receive, whether the person who sent it to you consents or not. But it's Google, so of course they get a pass in the media. [1] If you turn off all the privacy invading options when setting up Windows 10 (choose "Customize" instead of "Express"), there is no more logging than Windows 7 does by default. Somehow that is never mentioned in these articles though.
- pdkl95 11y ago
  "Other people are data-thieves too!" and "We've been stealing data from for a long time" are not justifications for MS's current bad behavior. This isn't about Google, even though they are worse in many ways. A big part of the problem is the creeping-normalization of these practices, where bad behavior is excused simply because it is common. This is how "big lie" propaganda works, and the apparatchik can always be relied upon to find some excuse for why we should just ignore any problems.
  - jasonlotito 11y ago
    > "Other people are data-thieves too!" and "We've been stealing data from for a long time" are not justifications for MS's current bad behavior. This isn't about Google, even though they are worse in many ways. I think the issue is really this: how many people complaining about these issues are using an Android or iOS device? How many are using OSX or search using Google? How many use Gmail? So you say it's not justification? Actions speak louder than words. I've seen people posting about this on Facebook. This doesn't excuse the behavior, but the reality is, the people complaining don't really care to change. They just want to pretend to be upset. Take the article this is linked to. The website on which it sits. The amount of tracking that occurs. The uproar is huge, no doubt. But I wonder how much of the uproar is sincere. And how much is just aiming for cheap internet points and likes.
    - 11y ago
PythonicAlpha 11y ago
Even when you disable it, you never can be sure, because it is in the Privacy Terms you have accepted. So you can never be sure, that your data is collected even with different settings, even because of error or because somehow the switch was reverted e.g. by an update.

by zatkin 11y ago

static_noise 11y ago

a) Can you be sure they really stop collecting that data when you flip some switch? b) Judging from past experience I fear that some features will randomly "auto-enable" themselves when some future updates are installed.

Dylan16807 11y ago

But it's too vague on what is still allowed when you disable what you can, and even opt-out there are certain things that should not be tolerated.

tdicola 11y ago

If you disable all those features (Cortana, not logging in with MS account disables the Windows Store, etc.) then why even run Windows 10?

rational-future 11y ago
DirectX 10, HTTP/2, kernel improvements, etc.
- PythonicAlpha 11y ago
  I thought, HTTP/2 is something that the browser must support. Did you recognize, that there are some different browsers out there?
  - rational-future 11y ago
    Do you recognize that someone needs to develop the sites that you consume? The web server that comes with Windows 10 - IIS 10 is the first version of IIS to support HTTP/2.
    - PythonicAlpha 11y ago
      Yes, I do. But most people just do not use the IIS. Also there are some other WebServers out there in existence.

pdkl95 11y ago

Have you tried this with a non-"enterprise" edition? Reports are suggesting it requires quite a bit more than the "Privacy settings" to disable this crap, and is only possible in the "enterprise" variant. Not that it matters - remember that you are using an OS that MS can unilaterally update at any time.

agumonkey 11y ago
Maybe we could IP block microsoft DNS and server in order to be sure nothing leaks out even when set off through user space configuration ?

morganvachon 11y ago

Exactly. I challenge anyone who complains about the "new"[1] data logging in Windows 10 to take a hard look at Google's policies as well. They record just as much, sometimes more, when you use their services. Their email service in particular is 100% invasive: They literally read every word of your email and any email you receive, whether the person who sent it to you consents or not. But it's Google, so of course they get a pass in the media. [1] If you turn off all the privacy invading options when setting up Windows 10 (choose "Customize" instead of "Express"), there is no more logging than Windows 7 does by default. Somehow that is never mentioned in these articles though.

pdkl95 11y ago
"Other people are data-thieves too!" and "We've been stealing data from for a long time" are not justifications for MS's current bad behavior. This isn't about Google, even though they are worse in many ways. A big part of the problem is the creeping-normalization of these practices, where bad behavior is excused simply because it is common. This is how "big lie" propaganda works, and the apparatchik can always be relied upon to find some excuse for why we should just ignore any problems.
- jasonlotito 11y ago
  > "Other people are data-thieves too!" and "We've been stealing data from for a long time" are not justifications for MS's current bad behavior. This isn't about Google, even though they are worse in many ways. I think the issue is really this: how many people complaining about these issues are using an Android or iOS device? How many are using OSX or search using Google? How many use Gmail? So you say it's not justification? Actions speak louder than words. I've seen people posting about this on Facebook. This doesn't excuse the behavior, but the reality is, the people complaining don't really care to change. They just want to pretend to be upset. Take the article this is linked to. The website on which it sits. The amount of tracking that occurs. The uproar is huge, no doubt. But I wonder how much of the uproar is sincere. And how much is just aiming for cheap internet points and likes.
  - 11y ago

PythonicAlpha 11y ago

Even when you disable it, you never can be sure, because it is in the Privacy Terms you have accepted. So you can never be sure, that your data is collected even with different settings, even because of error or because somehow the switch was reverted e.g. by an update.