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Windows 10’s Privacy Problems (Cortana & Damaging Defaults)
Developers have come under a barrage of criticism after some serious concerns were raised over the software’s privacy.
The general praise heading the way of Windows 10 has been somewhat tarnished however, by revelations surrounding how Microsoft will deal with the personal data of those using the operating system.
As is often the case however, the compromise will be a little more serious than just your hard earned cash. Microsoft have craftily inserted a few vague clauses into their privacy policy small print (and who reads privacy policies?), essentially allowing them to snoop in on your PC and have rummage through your laundry.
The most central concern is Microsoft’s devious plan to increase their access to your data. Amongst the privacy policy for Windows 10, Microsoft have cunningly entered the following paragraph:
“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.â€
Essentially then, Microsoft have given themselves the right to access the content of your emails, folders and many other communication methods on your system. Attempts are made to throw you off the scent, claiming that any data would be accessed in the name of fraud protection or government requests.
List of potential privacy infringements goes on. Cortana is a wonderful addition in Windows 10
“To enable Cortana to provide personalised experiences and relevant suggestions, Microsoft collects and uses various types of data, such as your device location, data from your calendar, the apps you use, data from your emails and text messages, who you call, your contacts and how often you interact with them on your device.â€
In order for Cortana to operate, the system listens to your voice and sends that data off into their servers. To improve the service, Cortana scans through your emails, locations, apps and data, intent on finding out more about you. Similarly, Cortana collects data on your voice in order to improve the quality of its speech recognition. Compounding fears over Cortana’s stalkerish nature, this will transfer over to the upcoming release of Windows 10 on mobile, when Cortana is likely to peek over your shoulder at text messages and alike.
Damaging Defaults
Many of the questionable features in Windows 10 are switched on as a default
Every time you log onto Windows 10 using a Microsoft account, it will automatically sync various settings such as web browser history, favourites and Wi-Fi networks and passwords, to a Windows server.
There are a couple of other similarly dubious settings you might want to consider switching off. “Advertising ID†is a feature that allows app developers and advertising agencies to carve up your data, create a profile and target you for ads. The image below highlights where that can be switched off.
Will it make you think twice before using these features, or are you happy to trade-in a bit of privacy to keep the software free?
Source:http://www.ebuyer.com/blog/2015/08/windows-10s-privacy-problems/
Edited by droidbox, 10 March 2016 - 10:22 PM.
Developers have come under a barrage of criticism after some serious concerns were raised over the software’s privacy.
The general praise heading the way of Windows 10 has been somewhat tarnished however, by revelations surrounding how Microsoft will deal with the personal data of those using the operating system.
As is often the case however, the compromise will be a little more serious than just your hard earned cash. Microsoft have craftily inserted a few vague clauses into their privacy policy small print (and who reads privacy policies?), essentially allowing them to snoop in on your PC and have rummage through your laundry.
The most central concern is Microsoft’s devious plan to increase their access to your data. Amongst the privacy policy for Windows 10, Microsoft have cunningly entered the following paragraph:
“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.â€
Essentially then, Microsoft have given themselves the right to access the content of your emails, folders and many other communication methods on your system. Attempts are made to throw you off the scent, claiming that any data would be accessed in the name of fraud protection or government requests.
List of potential privacy infringements goes on. Cortana is a wonderful addition in Windows 10
“To enable Cortana to provide personalised experiences and relevant suggestions, Microsoft collects and uses various types of data, such as your device location, data from your calendar, the apps you use, data from your emails and text messages, who you call, your contacts and how often you interact with them on your device.â€
In order for Cortana to operate, the system listens to your voice and sends that data off into their servers. To improve the service, Cortana scans through your emails, locations, apps and data, intent on finding out more about you. Similarly, Cortana collects data on your voice in order to improve the quality of its speech recognition. Compounding fears over Cortana’s stalkerish nature, this will transfer over to the upcoming release of Windows 10 on mobile, when Cortana is likely to peek over your shoulder at text messages and alike.
Damaging Defaults
Many of the questionable features in Windows 10 are switched on as a default
Every time you log onto Windows 10 using a Microsoft account, it will automatically sync various settings such as web browser history, favourites and Wi-Fi networks and passwords, to a Windows server.
There are a couple of other similarly dubious settings you might want to consider switching off. “Advertising ID†is a feature that allows app developers and advertising agencies to carve up your data, create a profile and target you for ads. The image below highlights where that can be switched off.
Will it make you think twice before using these features, or are you happy to trade-in a bit of privacy to keep the software free?
Source:http://www.ebuyer.com/blog/2015/08/windows-10s-privacy-problems/
Edited by droidbox, 10 March 2016 - 10:22 PM.