If Ihave Windows7 ,8,or 10 on my computer ,
and my ISP includes Wi-Fi as part of the package,
and my Android phone has 'sync' with my computer ,
and I do banking on my cellphone ,
does this mean that Micro$oft is getting a list of websites I visit, as well as my banking information ?
With 10 probably. 8 and 7 I have no idea.
1) As far as what data residing on your computer is shared (”data at rest”), I don’t know what Windows 10 or Windows 8 shares. I think you’re OK with Windows 7. As for “data at rest” on your phone, that depends upon if you bought your phone from your cellphone provider and if your provider installed some kind of backdoor into the phone or not. Chances are, it’s OK.
2) As far as data being lifted as your computer and phone syncs (”data in motion”), I would think that would depend upon whether the data is encrypted or not (and, to a degree, what kind of encryption is used). That is mostly based upon your banking software that you use to sync your data. The same thing applies to any other kind of sync software that you have installed.
3) I’m not sure what you mean by Wi-Fi being included as part of your package from your ISP. Are you talking about free access to WiFi hotspots at restaurants, stores, airports, etc? If that is the case, you want to be very, very careful when using those hotspots, but the primary threat comes from other users on that hostspot. Make sure you have a good personal firewall installed on your Windows computer when using a hotspot.
not only your banking info, but your WIFI password as well, and will “share” the WIFI password with others....Not good. I suggest everybody go to a secure Linux Distro or an Apple OS. (And Apple may cave in the future, so that’s Iffy).
http://reviews.gizmodo.com/why-the-hell-is-windows-10-sharing-my-wi-fi-passwords-1719900675