Sick of Windows spying on you? Go Linux

ZDNet ^ | 8/15/15 | Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

[markomalley]

You can try to turn Windows 10's data-sharing ways off, but, bad news: Windows 10 will keep sharing some of your data with Microsoft anyway.

There is an alternative: Desktop Linux.

You can do a lot to keep Windows 10 from blabbing, but you can't always stop it from talking. Cortana, Windows 10's voice activated assistant, for example, will share some data with Microsoft, even when it's disabled. That data includes a persistent computer ID to identify your PC to Microsoft.

If you do use Cortana, you'll be sharing your keystrokes and voice with Microsoft. That's to make Cortana and other Microsoft applications work better; but if privacy is your first concern, just forget about using Cortana.

And, that's leads to another problem. You see, Windows 10 is Not a desktop operating system in the way every earlier version of Windows is. Windows 10 is a hybrid cloud/desktop operating system.

For Windows 10 to really show off its stuff it must share your data with the cloud. For example, not only is Cortana useful as an assistant -- in the way Apple's Siri and OK Google are -- but it also supplies the data for Microsoft's software-as-a-service (SaaS), business intelligence (BI) program the Cortana Analytics Suite.

So if your company plans on using Cortana to its best advantage, not only will all your keystroke, voice, and Edge and Bing data be collected, everyone else's data will be collected. That's great for big-data BI, but it may not suit you.

So, what can you do? Well, you can't go to Android, Chromebooks, iOS, or Mac OS X. All of them, to one degree or another, also share your data with their parent companies.

It's worth noting that Android and ChromeOS are both based on Linux, while Mac OS X traces its roots to BSD Unix. In all these cases, just like Windows 10, their vendors have decided that the cloud is where the future lies.

You know all that stuff you've heard about how all of IT was going to the cloud? Guess what: That's already happened for most major data center and server operations and now it's come for the desktop.

So, if that gives you a privacy panic attack, you can either stick with your old operating system, which is likely Windows 7, or move to Linux. Eventually, when Windows 7 is no longer supported, if you want privacy you'll have no other viable choice but Linux.

There are other, more obscure desktop operating systems that are also desktop-based and private. These include the BSD Unix family such as FreeBSD, PCBSD, and NetBSD and eComStation, OS/2 for the 21st century. Your best choice, though, is a desktop-based Linux with a low learning curve.

For Windows users, I think Linux Mint 17.2 with the Cinnamon interface is your best choice.

[Svartalfiar]

Since Pale Moon and Chromium won’t do a lot of stuff any more (Facebook, Twitter, email, videos) Firefox is all I have.

What issues are you having? I'm on Pale Moon and I've never had any issues with my email, videos, or Facebook. (Don't use Twitter.) I've only had two problems with Pale Moon, that alternate browsers didn't:

- Kingdom of Loathing has some page issues with rare images not showing properly. IE/Firefox worked.

- Any DoD login requiring CAC access (AKO, mil email, DTS), doesn't properly utilize security certificates within Pale Moon, so I have to use IE. (Firefox is iffy on working or not, usually not)

[1FreeAmerican]

You can use the “restore” feature to go back to W7. I had to do it twice before W7 came back correctly. And you have to do it before the first 30 days from your W10 update. Out side of this it’s an F disk.
While running W10 my laptop was running so hot! the processer was constantly burning data for something. Back to W7 and its cool running.

[CodeToad]

Yes, go Linux, and have every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Mary writing unvetted software that might do far worse.

[Tucker39]

Thanks a million.

[ShadowAce]

[ShadowAce]

Linux is good for someone who just wants to browse and check email. But not a workstation in the engineering world.

I beg to differ. I use multiple Linux workstations in the engineering world. I support ~1,000 Linux servers across multiple data centers, all doing heavy duty research and database crunching.

Linux works much better for me than any Windows would.

[Bikkuri]

Agree on all.. but suggestion;
I was also using Clementine, was the best I could find for a long while.. but it started skipping every once in awhile and I couldn’t track the source.. I found a simple Linux clone of Winamp called Qmmp, and it was sweet... can even use the Winamp skins =;-)

Not as pretty, but very straight forward and almost no resource usage.

[Labyrinthos]

Linux for the masses? Yeah right. You are talking about a population that elected Obama twice and can barely turn on a TV or a coffee pot, let alone deal with an open source OS with limited mainstream, out of the box apps.

[cva66snipe]

The day I get high speed service so I can be free of dial up will be the day I begin learning Linux and start saying a good bye to MS. I'm on dial up due to location and no cable or DSL. XP worked great for me. I loved it. The W8 transition was a nightmare. It took me days to figure out how to stop W8 from being in constant communication with MS. On Dial up I got to use the computer 2 out of 10 hours while MS got the rest of my online time doing it's phone home routine.

There is absolutely no way I will go to W/10 if I can't shut off the outgoing data to MS. Oh and I'm not too fond of the W8 updates either. But at least I have a choice as to when and can view them first. MS is now even hurting ones with high speed access but on metered service with their nonsense.

[markomalley]

Yes, go Linux, and have every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Mary writing unvetted software that might do far worse.

You're kidding, right?

I ask because it appears you assume that this isn't already happening with Windows. Far, far worse.

[markomalley]

I found a simple Linux clone of Winamp called Qmmp, and it was sweet... can even use the Winamp skins =;-)

Just downloaded it. I'll give it a shot! Thanks.

[eyeamok]

Been running Ubuntu for YEARS, way better,faster,and everything WORKS ALWAYS! If I could get Quickbooks to work in Linux I would have no machines with WinBlows on it. I know it works in Virtual Box but that is still running windows, even if it is inside Linux

[Still Thinking]

There is an alternative: Desktop Linux

Or, since almost everyone is accessing the interwebs from behind a router, just block those IP's in your router.

[Still Thinking]

So, if that gives you a privacy panic attack, you can either stick with your old operating system, which is likely Windows 7, or move to Linux.

Well, not just a privacy issue, but perhaps more importantly, a control issue. How can you say you control your data if it's not in your sole physical possession?

[Montana_Sam]

Have used Fedora since dropping RedHat over 12 years ago. I recall my surprise when working a contract at Microsoft back in '97-'98 and seeing several of the top devs on our team who had scavenged old desktop boxes and config'd them with Linux for their personal file servers.

Have several computers - half and half Linux/Windows. Informed the wife her next computer WILL be Linux (Windows 10 is unacceptable). She is getting used to the idea.

[dayglored]

Looks like a candidate for a Windows list ping, though it will surely draw some flak... :-)

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Thank you for your straight forward reply. I will wait until I see somebody running it on a surface pro.

[dayglored]

One answer to the Windows 10 privacy concerns ... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

Thanks to ShadowAce for the ping!!

This ought to be good for a food fight...! :-)

[dayglored]

> "Baby, baby, baby, baby, ow..!"

That's gonna leave a mark...

I just pinged the Windows List, now going out for popcorn...

[Henry Hnyellar]

And then you’ll be tracked by Google. Guess you didn’t read the article headline.