Dont spy on me! How to opt out of Windows 10s intrusive defaults

Published time: 2 Aug, 2015 13:54



http://www.rt.com/usa/311383-windows-opt-out-privacy/


Windows 10s pre-installed settings are privacy-intrusive by default, so changing those setting is just a matter of self-respect - and also a message to Microsoft.

Following the release of Microsofts new Windows 10 operating system, experts pointed out that it has little care for privacy, collecting on factory presets all available information about you, be it your location history, text messages and any information your share via them, personal contacts and calendar notes about your plans for exact dates, among other things.

READ MORE: Incredibly intrusive: Windows 10 spies on you by default
http://www.rt.com/usa/311304-new-windows-privacy-issues/

Microsoft collects information about you, your devices, applications and networks, and your use of those devices, applications and networks, says the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions nearly all of us accept without reading. 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.

What is this all about? The first thing coming to mind is targeted ads bombardment as well as selling undesired services.

We will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to, the document says.

Windows 10 installed on 67 million devices in 2 days

However, all is not lost. There are a number of steps you take to protect your privacy.

Immediately after installing the new system on your computer, you can deactivate most of the shameless default settings you would never turn on yourself if anybody bothered to ask your opinion.

Here is exactly what you could do first if you dont want to feed your personal data to Microsoft corporate databases voluntarily

- Read Terms and Conditions. For real.

- Turn off some of the default presets in the newly installed system (Settings - Privacy), as tech news outlet BGR suggests.

- Disable sharing your internet connection over Wi-Fi, its a bit too generous an invitation for everybody out there (Path: Start Menu / Change Wi-Fi settings / Manage Wi-Fi settings / turn off all the boxes you want to keep for yourself).

- Windows 10 syncs your machine with Microsoft servers by default, so things like web browser history, Wi-Fi network names with passwords, mobile hotspot, apps you install and favorites you choose are potentially being stored on their servers forever. This data sharing should be deactivated - in Settings.

Windows 10 Shares Wi-Fi Passwords With Your Contacts - Here's How to Disable It

http://t.co/xEeM0AXpqPpic.twitter.com/nH5R0Lzxy6

Other Windows 10 features to be aware of:

- Windows 10 also generates a unique Microsoft ID for each and every user on a particular device. This ID can be used for targeted advertising and it could end up with third parties, be it apps or ads developers, and they will all come to your laptop to sell what they think you need.

- By default, Windows encrypts the drive it is installed on automatically, generating a BitLocker recovery key that is backed up in the Microsoft OneDrive online account. This is also done automatically, so beware of this feature when your device encryption is on.

- All updates from Microsoft require collection of basic information about apps installed and networks youre connected to.

- If you choose to use the Cortana Search Assistant, you should know that this feature will use any personal information it can get to tailor your online experience.

If you open a file, we may collect information about the file, the application used to open the file, and how long it takes any use [of] it for purposes such as improving performance, or [if you] enter text, we may collect typed characters, we may collect typed characters and use them for purposes such as improving autocomplete and spell check features," the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions users accept says.

Windows 10 does contain a great deal of extremely handy and helpful features that can really make your web surfing and data management easier than it is now. However, this comes at a price of certain loss of privacy, which could be involuntary.

But if you have the slightest suspicion that youd better keep your life a private undertaking you should go to the Windows 10 Start Menu and disable anything that looks inappropriate for public sharing.

The problem is that even if you ask Windows 10 to stop collecting your data, will it really listen to your plea?

Thanks...though previous versions had that privacy chit...
anything on routers & switches or coding

Let's share your passwords your files your programs and your pink polka dot banana hammock with everyone!

worken on it : )

they are still trying to find out if the work arounds even work

my problem is , they could all ways turn it back on with an update , or just sending a command to it

yea, i turned all that crap off on mine... if anything, just slows it down to much...

I installed windows 10, had it one day and switched back to my original windows as nothing worked right. Had nothing but problems and I repair computers and this one really pissed me off.

i haven't had any problems what so ever... wonder what the difference is?

Don't know but I'm not going to reinstall it and I will not recommend it to anyone.

duly noted... i think it hundreds of times better than that stupid 8.1, and 7 was great, but no room for the apps with 7...

I use 7 and most of my customers use it to and have had no problem with it.

yea, it was great

It is and I plan on staying with 7.

no problems here what so ever. Eventually everyone will have to update, just a matter of time. So I dove in, read some reviews and what to do for adjustments. I really don't have a problem with it.

As a techie I can relate with some of the issues with 8 and 10 over the years some of the nightmares was the reboot crash loop that usually forced a reinstall of windows because at the time I had no boot disc. now I have had to put the safe boot loader commands in so that I have that choice to boot into safe mode every time the computer starts as a sort of failsafe. I still think its better to clone the entire drive to a usb drive.

Since installing it I have noticed a huge performance boost over my 7 experience and a lot of my apps work with no issue to help with some driver related issues I use Driver Booster Free, and it seems to find most of the drivers I need for my pc without much drama.

Sorry that's not true. You do not have to update if you choose not to.

I heard that at the end of the one year period that they will charge a one time fee of $200 to keep or install windows 10. We put windows 10 on our computers and nothing worked right. I also will not pay to use it whether it works or not.

true, but if you want updates and security fixes, you'll have to... everything below win 7 is done, no updates...

enjoy!!!!!!!

http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/us/windows-new-terms-of-use-for-data-collection-remove-all-pretense-of-personal-information

Windows New Terms of Use for Data Collection Remove All Pretense of Personal Information

I admit it. I'm guilty of skimming the Microsoft Windows 10's 45-page terms and conditions. And I had a feeling I'd be damned for doing it, but the word free just kept popping out at me when you offered an advanced download of the new software.

In the world of personal devices and automation, I couldn't resist something for free.

I saw how the average-sized print that went on for days informed me that it would access my location, contacts, and calendar. That's OK, I'm accustomed to seeing that every time I download an app. How am I supposed to make a dinner reservation nearby if my Open Table app doesn't know where I am?


And, I get it, I use Google AdWords. You give me an advertising identity so that marketers can target me based on places I've visited or articles I've shared. I'm no dummy, I understand how it works.

I was even leaning toward Chris Christie's side Thursday night when he argued with Rand Paul about monitoring information without a court order. I too think it's easy to act concerned when you're sitting in a subcommittee blowing hot air. Hell, I've sat anonymously behind some lawmakers while they were in their subcommittees huffing and puffing.

But I clearly wasn't paying attention when it got to the part about trusting you not to share my most personal communications with anyone you say you want to share it with.

We will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications, or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to protect our customers or enforce the terms governing the use of the services.


Good faith? What the hell is that? What a fool I am to trust you again, Microsoft.

I have it on good faith that I have visited sites and written emails that I don't want you to know about, much less hand over to whomever you please. I've been really careful not to use words that unleash government's fury of sensors. And now what? You're going to share my communications because you think you are going to protect me? Or because you just want to do what you will with my conversations?

Who's going to protect me from you, lord corporate data collector? Must I go incognito from now on?

I suppose I could just relax in the womb of ignorance, unknowing whether you have sold my data to the highest bidder, or are hanging onto it until you need to implicate me to get government off your own back. Of course, we know what the government thinks about wombs. Nowhere is safe.

Data must include our personal picture and video files, not only text. This is disturbing. They have us all by the ballz.

Files in private folders = all data format such as photos, videos, text. This is an outrage, the loss of not only our privacy but our dignity!!! We need to file a class action lawsuit against these scumbags or they will take our firstborn next time.