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 ...
It gives everybody access to them.
Of course if you want an app to have access to them, like an app for communication, you can grant access to just that app.
Confession: I DON’T KNOW JUST WHAT AN “APP” IS. I assume it’s a hipper word for program.
“Can restore Windows 7 at any point”
only for 30 days, and then the restore directory is automatically deleted forever.
They will track your financial activities [ not just bank records ] plus ** your contacts and relationships if you use a Microsoft service to manage contacts, or to communicate or interact with other people or organizations.
When Microsoft says, “Your privacy is important to us,” it means the company wants to take your privacy from you and use your personal information for its own purposes **
“In the interest of fairness, the writer of this article has been a Linux user for several years and does not use any Microsoft products or services.”
Doncha love it?
bttt
Thanks for the link to the arstechnica article.
With all of those disclosed URLs, I can go to STAGE 2, disable them from the hardware router.
Thanks for the tip, then I better watch my 30 days in case I decide to go back
I agree. Use a local account--that's important. Go to the "Settings" page (available right in the start page) and decide what can use your camera and mike, and what else you'll allow or decline, like friendly hotspot sharing without log-on.
I tried to restore back to 7 last night, after 11 days, but it wouldn't let me do it.
It didn't give a reason, just said that you can no longer go back to Windows 7. I guess I am stuck with 10.
So is Google, and increasingly anything people are producing nowadays.
You can even turn them off any time after.
10 seconds of a search would give anyone this information.
And of course, they will never get turned back on whenever Microsoft feels the urge.
No one is ever "stuck" with any OS--if they don't want to be.
See tagline.
Funny.
I use the pc (currently win8) for iTunes and the Amazing Slow downer (slows music down but keeps the pitch for figuring the chords to songs).
iPad for all else.
I am not interested in Linux, but thanks anyway.
Doncha love it?
Yes, he obviously has a financial angle to warning people about Microsoft products. He must make a lot of money off of Linux or something.
No skin off my nose. Everyone makes choices. You choose to support MS and their support of Planned Parenthood.
It didn't give a reason, just said that you can no longer go back to Windows 7. I guess I am stuck with 10.
You are now part of the Borg Collective. Resistance is Futile.
The writer is being deceitful. The license agreement looks to me to be about 6 pages:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Useterms/Retail/Windows/10/UseTerms_Retail_Windows_10_English.htm
It’s the privacy policy users should look at, one that spans a plethora of online services:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/windows-10-how-get-around-microsofts-privacy-policy-1513874
And obviously this would be the case for other providers. I’m sure Apple and Google both have their little “tidbits” for privacy of online services, too.
In the interest of fairness, the writer of this article has been a Linux user for several years and does not use any Microsoft products or services.
“Doncha love it?”
Actually, I do!
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