The Surveillance State Goes Mainstream: Windows 10 Is Watching (& Logging) Everything

From the moment an account is created, Microsoft begins watching. The company saves customers' basic information - name, contact details, passwords, demographic data and credit card specifics - but it also digs a bit deeper... and finding answers is not easy, as one privacy expert exclaimed, "there is no world in which 45 pages of policy documents and opt-out settings split across 13 different Settings screens and an external website constitutes 'real transparency'."

First, you’ll want to open Settings and click ...types of data each app on your system can access.

See, I don't care what Google is trying to sell me nor that Microft wants to know if I am having problems. I am more concerned that our government is collecting all our medical and financial information.

The fact is that if you connect your computer to the internet, all expectations of privacy disappear. And all attempts to control that information are futile; you may THINK you are protected but no, teams of people that work in the tech arena will always defeat you. Like humping with a leaky rubber, you may think you are protected but you will be called Daddy before long, ha ha.

So you have no privacy, but it doesn't matter unless you are targeted by our government and then you have more pressing problems than worrying that Amazon knows you like chamber music. Besides, the good news is that all of us know this is a problem, steps are already being taken to correct it, and eventually the privacy issue will solved via both political and technology. But right now, you have to assume that if you are connected, you are not alone. Don't waste time worrying about what you can't control.

Please read your quote of me, where I stated: “Based on what I just read - - - “

What I meant by that comment is I literally just read in the source page of this thread what I paraphrased in the same sentence.

This means I am not spreading disinformation, I am merely commenting on what was clearly written in the source we are all commenting on.

Are you suggesting it is wrong to paraphrase what is actually stated and make comments regarding news items? Everyone does it here all the time.

If the news article is incorrect or not to your liking, I suggest you take it up with the one that started this thread or go to the source and file a complaint. Please don’t take it out on posters.

I’m glad you like your Windows 10. However, if the article is correct, I have no desire to let Microsoft install spyware on my computer, so I’ll pass.

It’s all a big bunch of crap spewed out by people who have a vested interest in promoting this paranoia.

Full disclosure: I work for Microsoft. What I am about to say represents my opinion, and not necessarily the policy or opinion of Microsoft Corporation.

Windows 10 has a feature called “Cortana”. This is a similar technology to Apple’s Siri (although much more powerful for reasons I won’t go into here). If Cortana is enabled, and you have a suitable microphone input to your computer, you can ask “her” to do things or to answer questions. For example, I just said “Hey Cortana. When is Ted Cruz birthday?”, and my computer came back, in Ted Cruz voice, to tell me that it is December 22, 1970.

Now for Cortana to give the best answers, it helps if it can learn things about you. Like what is your home and work address, what are your interests, etc. Collection of all of this info can be disabled, and it’s clearly spelled out where to do so. The other major flow of information is, of course, cloud data storage. Microsoft has included “OneDrive” in Windows 10, which you may or may not choose to enable. It is exactly the same thing as other services, including those available on multiple or alternate platforms like DropBox and iCloud - not a lick of difference.

But the anti-Microsoft douche-bags love to pile on and score some points for their security consulting business by calling this a huge threat to your privacy. In truth, it’s not any different to what any number of companies are doing, most of them with considerably less safeguards in place.

Microsoft spends a large fortune on securing its data centers. Every employee has to go through annual training on privacy and handling of data. Those with access to potentially private data have to go through an additional level of background checks. The training we take makes it very clear that if you break the rules, you are likely to get fired, and possibly even prosecuted and jailed.

The same ‘tards that are getting their panties in a bunch about this, will happily install any amount of 3rd-party software on their Apple, Linux, or Windows machine, without giving a second thought to what data those apps are collecting, and storing heaven only knows where, possibly on very unsecure servers. They have no issues entering every intimate detail into their dating profile on retardsonly.com, but oh boy, let them read an article about MICROSOFT and they get all fired up and start posting pictures of Linux desktops.

The truth is, that Windows 10 is a great operating system. It’s a fantastic product that represents the hard work of thousands of people, and a new direction for Microsoft. And even better, it’s free! I sincerely hope that the self-declared “experts” that write these articles won’t discourage you or others from giving it a try.

Windows 10 Is Watching (& Logging) Everything

Wow!

Imagine that, eventually, over 1 billion people will 'agree' to download and install and use Windows 10.

Then imagine that, another 1.5 billion will agree to install and use, Android and iOS and OSX, which will do the same exact spying as Windows 10 might do.

Thats over 2.5 billion people, and perhaps closer to 3 billion, who will 'agree' to be spied on, WILLINGLY. It's too late, and complaining about it won't stop people from using their desktops and laptops and tablets and smartphones. People are already hooked, and there is no going back.

Heck, even the most anti-MS complainers here and elsewhere, will also be using Windows, even as they deride and attack Windows and Microsoft. It's an exercise which comes and goes with each new release or upgrade of a product from Microsoft (or Google or Apple). Charges of spying and collecting and using personal data, are as old as the computer age. Yet, people keep coming back for more.

But, there are those that have their preferences and will attack what they perceive as their opposition, so, we end up with the Apple faithful attacking Microsoft every chance they get, and likewise, we have the Microsoft faithful attack anything from Apple, and the same is true with the Google faithful who will attack all things Apple or Microsoft. It's a highly stupid exercise of 'who can bash the best' that occurs every chance people get the opportunity. Windows 10 is a huge development, and thus, there will be millions of detractors who will make all kinds of charges against the OS, whether the charges are merited or not.

I take all of these articles and comments, with huge grains of salt, every time.

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