Posted on 08/13/2015 11:29:47 AM PDT by george76
If you are currently a Microsoft user running either Windows 7 or 8, you are eligible for a free upgrade to the "new and improved" Windows 10. But before you upgrade, be aware that it's free as in price, not as in liberty. Many of the new features and settings of Windows 10 have been deemed spyware by computer security experts. It's one thing to have programs and applications spying on you. It's another thing altogether to have your operating system designed to do it.
When Microsoft announced the "free" upgrade, many were left wondering why the Redmond giant would give away licenses to use the new operating system. Now it appears that the reason is simple: greater data-mining opportunities. Windows operating systems have long included security weaknesses that leave users vulnerable to spying and data-mining from others. What is different with the newest iteration of Windows is that Microsoft is directly involved in that spying and data-mining and has built the entire operating system in such a way as to allow it.
To install the Windows 10 upgrade, users must agree to the Microsoft Services Agreement and its accompanying documents. Few will ever read the terms of these documents since they span some 40,000 words and would run 110 pages if printed. As is to be expected, most of the terms are written in legalese and are not overly easy to understand. There are some parts of the terms that users need to be aware of, though, because agreeing to them grants Microsoft the right to .. share anything stored on or accessed using .. any computer using Microsoft products or services.
...
That data includes the user's name, e-mail address, postal address, phone number, passwords, password hints, age, and gender, as well as other personal information
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewamerican.com ...
These type of “agreements” need to be made illegal.
Most of the issues stem from using Microsoft’s services (e.g. Cloud). You don’t have to get an account (I have not). Most of the other things can be turned off.
That said, if you don’t like the direction its going, you can try to work towards a migration to MacOS, Linux or Unix. I still with Windows OS for now because of a heavy investment in good software (Adobe Creative Suite 4, FileMaker Pro, WordPerfect, Fujitsu Scan software, etc.).
Good Lord!
*sigh*
Turn off the data sharing options when you install.
You can even turn them off any time after.
10 seconds of a search would give anyone this information.
ping
And some people thought ME, Vista and 8.0 were disasters...
Disabling some of these services will make features such as Cortana not work properly or give you less than desirable results in Web Searches as just two examples.
As always, YMMV so if you do disable all the services on this list, please keep the list handy so you'll know what you've disabled should you need to re-enable a service for an application to perform acceptably.
And now, the list:
Disable Telemetry Disable Biometrics Disable Handwriting Data Sharing Disable Handwriting Error Reporting Disable Application Telemetry Disable Inventory Collector Disable Steps Recorder Disable enabling Lock Screen Camera Disable and Reset Cortana Disable Location Disable Sensors Disable Web Search Disable Windows Media DRM Internet Access Defer Windows Upgrades Disable App Notifications Disable Password Reveal Button Disable and Reset Advertising ID Disable SmartScreen Filter for URLs Disable Sending Writing Info Disable Access to Language List Disable App Access to Location Info Disable App Access to Camera Disable App Access to Microphone Disable Getting to know me Disable App Access to Account Info Disable App Access to Calendar Disable App Access to Messages Disable App Access to Radios Disable Sync With Devices Disable Windows Feedback Requestes Disable Windows Update Sharing Disable Windows Update for other Products Disable WiFi Sense Disable Windows Defender Disable Automatic Windows Updates Disable OneDrive Disable Automatic Driver Update
Note: I do *NOT* provide support for enabling/disabling the services above. If you're not familiar with enabling/disabling services or troubleshooting applications that misbehave you're on your own.
I accepted the download couple days ago, few issues, my files are a bit tricky to find, they seem to be there but just not easy to find, a little slower starting up
as for the spying, I guess I will just keep an eye/ear open.
Can restore Windows 7 at any point, just figured I would get it in case at some point it`s not free. whatever
Anyone “spying” on my browsing history would need to be put on suicide watch. Boring would be an understatement.
BUMP
Thank you so much for this posting.
I have NO intention of downloading the “FREE Windows10” even though I am constantly bothered by Microsoft’s pop-up on my computer, at least 5 times per day.
Downloading it now. I want to stay on the good side of the NSA...
I run it for only two things. Schoolwork and gaming. Anything else I use my iPad.
I am working on Win 10 right now and I can see someone staring at me this very minute....oh, never mind just my reflection.
They are likely sharing / stealing our information on everything.
This seems like it will make their efforts easier.
Plus the unknown : unknowns.
I notice in the list of things to disable:
Disable App Access to Camera
Disable App Access to Microphone
So just to be clear, it looks to me that someone accepting Windows 10 without disabling these two items gives Microsoft remote access to their computer camera and microphone so they can view you and hear you without your knowledge. Is that correct?
I’m a troglodyte still on XP and Linux for my web/database server. I wouldn’t see any productivity gains from upgrading to 10. and all the specialty software I use is now available Open Source.
I’m going all Linux next upgrade cycle, another couple of months from now. Maybe sooner if my $2,500 Obamacare money shows up.
And yet, no, W10 STILL transmits data after “everything is turned off”.
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