Posted on 11/26/2015 4:09:02 PM PST by markomalley
“Anonymity is like virginity. You don't get it back once you've lost it,” writes one Register reader on Microsoft’s latest raid on your privacy.
Microsoft pulled a major update for Windows after it blew away the user's privacy settings, allowing app developers and advertisers to glean the user’s identity.
But that’s only part of the story, which gets murkier by the day.
We already knew Windows 10 Threshold deleted third-party data monitoring tools and cleanup tools, including stalwarts like Spybot and CCleaner. It even disabled Cisco’s VPN software. Just a bug, said Microsoft.
Two bugs would be a puzzling coincidence – but something else makes it altogether more troubling.
This year Microsoft introduced background tracking services called DiagTrack, or the Diagnostics Tracking Service. It was added to Windows 8.1 installations as well as betas of Windows 10. It arrived without much fanfare in May 14, in the shape of a patch, KB3022345.
It was just one of several slurping enhancements added via the back door.
The data that DiagTrack collected was typical of a spyware programme. The only way you knew you were being monitored was by eyeballing the list of running processes in Task Manager. As Microsoft explained:
Examples of data we collect include your name, email address, preferences and interests; browsing, search and file history; phone call and SMS data; device configuration and sensor data; and application usage.
Users thought it had disappeared in recent Windows 10 builds – but it hadn’t. Microsoft had simply renamed it.
The sinister-sounding tracking app was now the beatific and caring “Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service”. Once again, it needs to be disabled manually (this time through the Services control panel).
“It is this kind of overriding desire for control and a disregard for user choices which is harming Windows 10,” says Forbes journo Gordon Kelly, and he’s right.
Microsoft spent millions portraying Google as a greedy and amoral data marauder. Redmond doesn't need to read your email, it told everyone. The Scroogled campaign positioned Microsoft itself as the ethical alternative; the occupier of the moral high ground.
For a while, it was. But Windows 10 is bad for your privacy, and it is damaging Microsoft’s reputation as a trusted consumer brand.
The face of Windows, Joe Belfiore, is now on a world cruise, taking a 12 month break. Who can blame him? Nobody seems to be in charge. ®
What is the best Quicken alternative on Linux (without running a Windows emulation) that lets you track expenses as well as investments AND connect to a bank?
But will I be able to play my MMORPGs on Linux? I’m seriously thinking of loading it onto my PC. I hate Microtheft with a seething, foaming passion.
I WOULD NEVER use software that owned my financial world.
You are prime for a hacker to clean you out.
I would suggest using a best of breed online tool with strong password and SSL
Putting all you eggs in one basket is not a good idea.
Also, get with it. It’s not 1990 now.
and forcing 10 on 7 and 8 users by downloadnig it onto their boxes when they didnt ask for it.
Have you looked at Gnucash?
Here is a list of banks / investment firms it works with.
so how does one turn it off
Linux would be in a great position to take over a huge segment of the market right now if only there was some central company behind it managing the marketing...
But its free, right? so who is going to make that effort
For a while, it was. But Windows 10 is bad for your privacy, and it is damaging Microsoft's reputation as a trusted consumer brand.
First of all, I want to thank the anonymous professionals who work so well for the benefit of the rest of us, who can't do what they do.
Second, thanks all the Windows users who give us clues as to the most useful versions of Linux to try to break free from the ever arrogant Microsoft criminal enterprise.
It is finally time for me to switch to something less unpredictable and honest.
Thanks to all.
I figured MSFT was due for a ‘good’ OS, after the debacle of Win-8, so I registered for the Win-10 auto update. Got on the ‘list’ and a week or so later got a notice that my upgrade was ready. It tried auto install 9 time; failed every time. I finally did a manual install, per the MSFT instructions.
Fired it up.
Looked good.
But, then...couldn’t open the Windows Store, couldn’t install new software, and my internet connection started giving me fits; dropping every couple of hours.
Screwed around with it for 10 days, working all the suggestions on several blogs and MSFT forums.
Had enough.
Restored back to my old Windows-7 Home Premium, two days ago.
No issues. Everything works as it did. And, no internet connectivity issues since.
They can keep that new (P)OS.
In comments at the link below, some users say that their CCleaner was removed, and some say it was not removed.
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/11/24/beware-latest-windows-10-update-may-remove-programs-automatically/
Now running on two of my laptops.
I’m running Win7 and found DigiTrack on the Services tab. I right-clicked on it and chose ‘Stop Service,’ but got “The operation could not be completed. Access is denied.” How does one shut it off or block it?
just watch it with 7, they will start sneaking sh1t in with updates to 7 and 8.
dont be surprised when 7 tells you they have 10 downloaded and ready to install.
free - also to artificially ramp up 10s installed platform numbers.
it is because these knobs now view software as a delivered service and not a tangible standalone product. their revenue model changed big time.
Yeah. You know, I never saw IBM do this for decades. I haven’t been on their latest, latest equipment though.
I’m disappointed every time I look at a device and see anything beyond Windows 7 on it. Fortunately, a few still offer it.
and now dell is doing freaky sneaky sh1t on their pcs now.
and as soon as chicoms bought lenovo they became of limits for obvious reasons, which were validated long ago.
The referenced update indicates it was released by 3080149 (Win 8.1)
Today for the *second* time I had to remove KB3035583, the Win7 update that gives you the annoying upgrade-to-WIN10. Damned thing just keeps coming back. From now on I’m going to have to look over every single WIN7 update before installing, and I should not have to do that.
BTW, that is my work computer; all my computers at home have been Linux for the last four years, and I could not be happier.
PCLinuxOS is another distro that makes the transition from Windoze easy.
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