Windows 10? - Page 19

**Rick Danger** · August 4th, 2015, 09:19 PM

It's one thing for a broken down old wino like myself to question Microsoft's EULA and privacy strategy. But when a respected industry trade like TechRepublic.com raises a red flag, you have to listen.

Windows 10 violates your privacy by default, here's how you can protect yourself

Upon installation, Windows 10 defaults to some pretty serious privacy invasions. Here are some steps you can take to keep your personal data private.

By Conner Forrest August 4, 2015, 5:10 AM PST

Since the July 29 release of Windows 10, the tech world has been talking about the latest OS update from Microsoft. A mere 24 hours after its release, more than 14 million users had downloaded Windows 10.

The quick ramp up was due, in part, to Microsoft releasing the update as a free download for existing Windows users. Windows 10 also came with a new service model as Windows will be releasing service packs every few months to users.

The model itself got some backlash, especially from organizations that don't want to upgrade their system that frequently. More recently, though, some criticism has arisen over privacy concerns brought on by the new OS.

The first issue is that Windows 10 automatically assigns an advertising ID to each user on a device tied to the email address that's on file. Using that ID, the company can tailor ads for web-browsing and using certain applications.

The next concern is that much of users' personal data is synced with Microsoft's servers. Some of this information, like your Wi-Fi password, can then be encrypted and shared with your contacts, using a feature called Wi-Fi sense. Although, some have argued that this isn't a security risk, because the user must choose to share the network.

Additionally, Microsoft's personal assistant, Cortana, must collect data as well to provide the kind of service it does, but it is likely not better or worse than its Apple and Google contemporaries.

One of the biggest worries, though, is Microsoft's policy on disclosing or sharing your personal information. The following is an excerpt from the privacy policy:

"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."

The problem is that many users want personalized services, but it's difficult to draw the line at what data should be collected. Forrester's Tyler Shields said that instead of making these features default, Microsoft could have allowed users to opt-in later if they wanted to enable them.

"This is more of a privacy-friendly stance that may have been palatable to the general public," Shields said. "However, Microsoft would have had less adoption to its value added services had it made them opt-in, thus lessening the potential success of the Windows 10 launch."

So, how do you protect yourself from these issues? Here are some steps you can take to opt-on or disable some of the problematic features.

The first thing to note is that, if you haven't yet installed Windows 10 but you plan on doing so, make sure you that you do a custom install so you'll be able to pick and choose what is enabled at the onset. But, if you installed Windows 10 using Express settings, you can still disable some of the default privacy settings.

From the start button, click "Settings" and then click "Privacy" and click the "General" tab on the left sidebar. Under that tab you'll see a few sliders where you can toggle certain features on or off.

The top toggle button is the most important as it disables the advertising ID for each user. But, if you want to cover your bases, you should go ahead disable the rest of the options as well.

After turning off the options under the general tab, you can jump down to the next tab down, "Location," and turn off location data for all apps or specific ones. That's not necessarily new to WIndows 10, but it's something that many security-conscious folks like to do.

Next, you'll want to head down to the tab labeled "Speech, inking, and typing." Here you can disable Cortana from gathering information about you by clicking the "Stop getting to know me" button towards the middle of the screen.

Keep in mind, clicking this will also disable Cortana and dictation.

Moving on, click the "Other devices" tab at the bottom of the list. Under this tab you'll be able to turn off the "Sync with devices" feature. In the example given by Microsoft, this could be used for connecting with beacons, which are typically used for advertising purposes.

If you want to kill this feature, slide the first button to the off position. If you want, you can also turn off syncing for trusted devices as well.

Now, back out to the general settings and click "Network and internet." In that window click "Manage Wi-Fi settings" toward the middle of the screen.

Here you'll be able to customize your setting for the Wi-Fi Sense feature. If you want to keep everything private, click all the sliders until the read "off" and uncheck the boxes on the page. If not, you can select which features to turn off individually.

One of the final security checks you can do is to opt out of the personalized ads while browsing in Microsoft Edge. Click the following link or paste it into your browser: https://choice.microsoft.com/en-gb/opt-out

Click the Xs next to the options to turn off "Personalised ads in this browser" and "Personalised ads wherever I use my Microsoft account."

This isn't a comprehensive security checklist, but hopefully it helps you take care of some of the potential privacy issues in Windows 10.

What do you think?

**Rick Danger** · August 4th, 2015, 11:22 PM

Windows 10: Privacy and data sharing specifics you need to know
Windows 10 users, learn what information is shared with Microsoft by default, and how to configure your installation.

By James Sanders August 4, 2015, 3:07 PM PST

The release of Windows 10 is an important transition for Microsoft, as the service model of Windows is changing from a finished product to a rapidly evolving software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. These changes include tighter integration with previously separate Microsoft services, and the inclusion of the Cortana virtual assistant. This integration also brings monetization opportunities for Microsoft, including monthly subscriptions for additional storage on OneDrive, advertising delivered with Bing searches from the desktop, a 30% cut from app sales on the Windows Store, and advertisements inserted in preinstalled apps, such as the MSN and Xbox content apps, and in the Solitare app.

Many of these features depend on transmitting personal information to Microsoft. Windows 10 does not presently have a unified "do not share" switch - many of the options are scattered around various menus. Additionally, the sharing of some information about your computer, and previously configurable options regarding some system behaviors are now compulsory.

Important considerations and comparing ecosystems

A substantial number of the features added to Windows 10 are intended to compete with the available analogues from the Apple and Google ecosystems. OneDrive, like Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive, offers additional storage for a fee. Cortana is Microsoft's answer to Siri and Google Now. Apple and Google also take a cut from app sales; that, in itself, is not controversial - the difference is implementation.

The user could uninstall these features (rather, these features' predecessors, Windows Live SkyDrive and the Bing Bar) in previous Windows versions; now, Microsoft embeds the features into the OS.

It is also important to note that a substantive amount of the data sharing can be configured during the installation, as long as the user does not select Express Install.

Cortana and Bing integration

Cortana requires a great deal of data to be useful, and in the privacy statement, Microsoft indicates that it "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." While this isn't substantively different from the way in which competing services operate, this monitoring was previously limited to mobile devices.

When asked about this data collection, a Microsoft spokesperson stated, "Microsoft honors the controls and the customer's choice - if you turn off Cortana, information will no longer flow for Cortana. However, some of the same or similar information may still flow if needed for other functionality that a customer has opted into (e.g. if a customer uses Bing Maps, we may still collect their location)."

The Bing integration is now added to the taskbar, much to the frustration of people attempting to remove the Bing Desktop software delivered via Windows Update. Unlike Firefox and Internet Explorer, there is no way to change the default search provider, but Bing can be disabled. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, "If users do not want to receive Bing search results from the Windows search box, go to Settings, and turn off 'Online Search.' This prevents Bing from receiving your search queries and/or returning web results."

Of note, Microsoft has just announced its purchase of the analytics startup Interana for the express purpose of mining Bing search data. According to a press agent for Interana, "Microsoft Bing recently purchased behavioral analytics solution Interana for the massive volumes of clickstream data generated daily."

Concerns with OneDrive security and the Microsoft account

Compared to the services from other cloud storage vendors, OneDrive does not offer at-rest encryption for home users. OneDrive support can't be uninstalled from Windows, though it can be disabled using the Group Policy editor.

Microsoft does not permit users to store any images that contain nudity, and violation of this policy is grounds for potentially having your Microsoft account revoked, which Microsoft has allegedly done in the past, even when the data was not publicly shared. According to Microsoft's services agreement, they "do not monitor the Services and make no attempt to do so." However, the contents of OneDrive accounts are subject to scanning via PhotoDNA.

The revocation of the Microsoft account would result in the inability of users to access their stored OneDrive data, Outlook mail, and subscriptions to or updates of software purchased in the Windows store, such as Office 365.

When asked about losing access to updates and prior purchases of content in the event of the closure of a Microsoft account, a Microsoft spokesperson stated, "You don't have to have a Microsoft account connected to use Windows 10. The closure of a Microsoft account would not prevent a customer from receiving updates to Windows 10. Updates come through the Windows Update that is unconnected to the Microsoft account."

Security updates and bandwidth sharing

For Windows 10, Microsoft has removed the ability for users to disable Windows Update, a decision covered in greater depth at ZDNet. Issues with Windows Update breaking display drivers have been reported in the RTM version, and Microsoft has used the utility in the past to push browser toolbars and other commonly unwanted add-ons. Microsoft does not allow users to permanently disable Windows Defender - it notes on the Settings page that "if it's off for a while, we'll turn it back on automatically." These decisions remove control of the computer from the user, though for the vast majority of home users, it's not a particularly big loss.

Windows 10 forces diagnostic and usage data to be transmitted to Microsoft, a behavior that cannot be prevented except for Enterprise and Server SKUs. This data "may unintentionally include parts of a document you were working on when a problem occurred," though Microsoft states that "we won't use that information to identify, contact, or target advertising to you."

By default, Windows 10 is configured to use Windows Update Delivery Optimization, which can transmit update data to any other computer on the internet. (For Enterprise and Education, this is limited to only PCs on the local LAN.) This setting can be disabled, and if you indicate to Windows that you are using a metered connection, this will automatically be disabled.

What's your view?

Do you have concerns about the information sharing behavior in Windows 10? Have these changes prompted you to stick with Windows 7, or move to an alternative? Let us know in the comments.

About James Sanders
James Sanders is a Java programmer specializing in software as a service and thin client design, and virtualizing legacy programs for modern hardware. James is currently a student at Wichita State University in Kansas.

**Misrule** · August 5th, 2015, 09:38 AM

At this stage, I'm sticking with Win7. These kind of changes and removal of control are, to my mind, fatal. As it is, my desktop and laptop are locked down tight and I exercise every option to deny sharing of information (Ghostery, Privacy Badger, Ad Blocker, etc.). Clearly, Win10 is not intended for me.
So I have 5 years to learn Linux

**cicciobuki** · August 5th, 2015, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misrule

At this stage, I'm sticking with Win7. These kind of changes and removal of control are, to my mind, fatal. As it is, my desktop and laptop are locked down tight and I exercise every option to deny sharing of information (Ghostery, Privacy Badger, Ad Blocker, etc.). Clearly, Win10 is not intended for me.
So I have 5 years to learn Linux

Same here. 7 works well, no need to fix what is not broken!

Also "removal of control" is not something i'd like to welcome...

**rlg118** · August 6th, 2015, 02:45 AM

Plus, 7 has Aero!

Sure, it uses resources, but I like it. And you can turn it off if you need the extra horsepower.

**Rick Danger** · August 6th, 2015, 03:09 AM

For those of you brave souls like jjjj1956 and Masturbater who took the bull by the horns and updated to Windows 10, PLEASE keep us updated on how you are making out - good, bad, or neutral.

**dog23** · August 6th, 2015, 03:11 AM

I am sticking with Win7 and Linux. I might buy a Mac but they have control issues as well.

masturbater · August 6th, 2015, 03:35 PM

Wow...my gratitude and thanks to Rick Danger and a435843 for your detailed and helpful posts. Now (after the fact) I understand the concern and paranoia about Windows 10!

I just went through the link provided by a435843 and turned everything off. I wasn't aware that there were more privacy settings that I had to check off. Win 10 is quite invasive!

Lucky for me I'm one of those (dying breed) low tech users:

I never used OneDrive for storage, don't use Bing, IE or Edge for browsing, no Xbox and am certainly not going to use the Calendar, Phone settings or People App (whatever that is).
In fact, right after the update, Cortana tried to get me to start filling in the calendar so it could remind me when I have an upcoming event. Hell, why do I need that when I have a perfectly good stone age wall calendar behind my PC desk!

I set my default browser to FireFox and disabled the ability for Microsoft to use my browser to send me advertising pop ups.

I have a separate account for emails, a "dumb" cell phone and use DuckDuckGo for searches.

Despite all this, I'm sure that they will still be able to collect data on me but not as much thanks to the well informed posters to this thread!

Again, thanks for the enlightening and scary info!

**rlg118** · August 6th, 2015, 04:13 PM

Some more stuff from Windows Secrets:

http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/...t-good-enough/

http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/...ed-experience/

**DTravel** · August 6th, 2015, 07:46 PM

An article from Forbes about Win10 charging for everything.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonke...s-10-charging/

August 4th, 2015, 09:19 PM	#181
Rick Danger Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: In the Chill lounge..... Posts: 1,725 Thanks: 6,794 Thanked 30,933 Times in 1,714 Posts	TechRepublic bites down hard on Windows 10 privacy intrusions It's one thing for a broken down old wino like myself to question Microsoft's EULA and privacy strategy. But when a respected industry trade like TechRepublic.com raises a red flag, you have to listen. Windows 10 violates your privacy by default, here's how you can protect yourself Upon installation, Windows 10 defaults to some pretty serious privacy invasions. Here are some steps you can take to keep your personal data private. By Conner Forrest August 4, 2015, 5:10 AM PST Since the July 29 release of Windows 10, the tech world has been talking about the latest OS update from Microsoft. A mere 24 hours after its release, more than 14 million users had downloaded Windows 10. The quick ramp up was due, in part, to Microsoft releasing the update as a free download for existing Windows users. Windows 10 also came with a new service model as Windows will be releasing service packs every few months to users. The model itself got some backlash, especially from organizations that don't want to upgrade their system that frequently. More recently, though, some criticism has arisen over privacy concerns brought on by the new OS. The first issue is that Windows 10 automatically assigns an advertising ID to each user on a device tied to the email address that's on file. Using that ID, the company can tailor ads for web-browsing and using certain applications. The next concern is that much of users' personal data is synced with Microsoft's servers. Some of this information, like your Wi-Fi password, can then be encrypted and shared with your contacts, using a feature called Wi-Fi sense. Although, some have argued that this isn't a security risk, because the user must choose to share the network. Additionally, Microsoft's personal assistant, Cortana, must collect data as well to provide the kind of service it does, but it is likely not better or worse than its Apple and Google contemporaries. One of the biggest worries, though, is Microsoft's policy on disclosing or sharing your personal information. The following is an excerpt from the privacy policy: "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." The problem is that many users want personalized services, but it's difficult to draw the line at what data should be collected. Forrester's Tyler Shields said that instead of making these features default, Microsoft could have allowed users to opt-in later if they wanted to enable them. "This is more of a privacy-friendly stance that may have been palatable to the general public," Shields said. "However, Microsoft would have had less adoption to its value added services had it made them opt-in, thus lessening the potential success of the Windows 10 launch." So, how do you protect yourself from these issues? Here are some steps you can take to opt-on or disable some of the problematic features. The first thing to note is that, if you haven't yet installed Windows 10 but you plan on doing so, make sure you that you do a custom install so you'll be able to pick and choose what is enabled at the onset. But, if you installed Windows 10 using Express settings, you can still disable some of the default privacy settings. From the start button, click "Settings" and then click "Privacy" and click the "General" tab on the left sidebar. Under that tab you'll see a few sliders where you can toggle certain features on or off. The top toggle button is the most important as it disables the advertising ID for each user. But, if you want to cover your bases, you should go ahead disable the rest of the options as well. After turning off the options under the general tab, you can jump down to the next tab down, "Location," and turn off location data for all apps or specific ones. That's not necessarily new to WIndows 10, but it's something that many security-conscious folks like to do. Next, you'll want to head down to the tab labeled "Speech, inking, and typing." Here you can disable Cortana from gathering information about you by clicking the "Stop getting to know me" button towards the middle of the screen. Keep in mind, clicking this will also disable Cortana and dictation. Moving on, click the "Other devices" tab at the bottom of the list. Under this tab you'll be able to turn off the "Sync with devices" feature. In the example given by Microsoft, this could be used for connecting with beacons, which are typically used for advertising purposes. If you want to kill this feature, slide the first button to the off position. If you want, you can also turn off syncing for trusted devices as well. Now, back out to the general settings and click "Network and internet." In that window click "Manage Wi-Fi settings" toward the middle of the screen. Here you'll be able to customize your setting for the Wi-Fi Sense feature. If you want to keep everything private, click all the sliders until the read "off" and uncheck the boxes on the page. If not, you can select which features to turn off individually. One of the final security checks you can do is to opt out of the personalized ads while browsing in Microsoft Edge. Click the following link or paste it into your browser: https://choice.microsoft.com/en-gb/opt-out Click the Xs next to the options to turn off "Personalised ads in this browser" and "Personalised ads wherever I use my Microsoft account." This isn't a comprehensive security checklist, but hopefully it helps you take care of some of the potential privacy issues in Windows 10. What do you think?

August 4th, 2015, 11:22 PM	#182
Rick Danger Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: In the Chill lounge..... Posts: 1,725 Thanks: 6,794 Thanked 30,933 Times in 1,714 Posts	TechRepublic continues on Microsoft privacy scheme Windows 10: Privacy and data sharing specifics you need to know Windows 10 users, learn what information is shared with Microsoft by default, and how to configure your installation. By James Sanders August 4, 2015, 3:07 PM PST The release of Windows 10 is an important transition for Microsoft, as the service model of Windows is changing from a finished product to a rapidly evolving software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. These changes include tighter integration with previously separate Microsoft services, and the inclusion of the Cortana virtual assistant. This integration also brings monetization opportunities for Microsoft, including monthly subscriptions for additional storage on OneDrive, advertising delivered with Bing searches from the desktop, a 30% cut from app sales on the Windows Store, and advertisements inserted in preinstalled apps, such as the MSN and Xbox content apps, and in the Solitare app. Many of these features depend on transmitting personal information to Microsoft. Windows 10 does not presently have a unified "do not share" switch - many of the options are scattered around various menus. Additionally, the sharing of some information about your computer, and previously configurable options regarding some system behaviors are now compulsory. Important considerations and comparing ecosystems A substantial number of the features added to Windows 10 are intended to compete with the available analogues from the Apple and Google ecosystems. OneDrive, like Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive, offers additional storage for a fee. Cortana is Microsoft's answer to Siri and Google Now. Apple and Google also take a cut from app sales; that, in itself, is not controversial - the difference is implementation. The user could uninstall these features (rather, these features' predecessors, Windows Live SkyDrive and the Bing Bar) in previous Windows versions; now, Microsoft embeds the features into the OS. It is also important to note that a substantive amount of the data sharing can be configured during the installation, as long as the user does not select Express Install. Cortana and Bing integration Cortana requires a great deal of data to be useful, and in the privacy statement, Microsoft indicates that it "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." While this isn't substantively different from the way in which competing services operate, this monitoring was previously limited to mobile devices. When asked about this data collection, a Microsoft spokesperson stated, "Microsoft honors the controls and the customer's choice - if you turn off Cortana, information will no longer flow for Cortana. However, some of the same or similar information may still flow if needed for other functionality that a customer has opted into (e.g. if a customer uses Bing Maps, we may still collect their location)." The Bing integration is now added to the taskbar, much to the frustration of people attempting to remove the Bing Desktop software delivered via Windows Update. Unlike Firefox and Internet Explorer, there is no way to change the default search provider, but Bing can be disabled. According to a Microsoft spokesperson, "If users do not want to receive Bing search results from the Windows search box, go to Settings, and turn off 'Online Search.' This prevents Bing from receiving your search queries and/or returning web results." Of note, Microsoft has just announced its purchase of the analytics startup Interana for the express purpose of mining Bing search data. According to a press agent for Interana, "Microsoft Bing recently purchased behavioral analytics solution Interana for the massive volumes of clickstream data generated daily." Concerns with OneDrive security and the Microsoft account Compared to the services from other cloud storage vendors, OneDrive does not offer at-rest encryption for home users. OneDrive support can't be uninstalled from Windows, though it can be disabled using the Group Policy editor. Microsoft does not permit users to store any images that contain nudity, and violation of this policy is grounds for potentially having your Microsoft account revoked, which Microsoft has allegedly done in the past, even when the data was not publicly shared. According to Microsoft's services agreement, they "do not monitor the Services and make no attempt to do so." However, the contents of OneDrive accounts are subject to scanning via PhotoDNA. The revocation of the Microsoft account would result in the inability of users to access their stored OneDrive data, Outlook mail, and subscriptions to or updates of software purchased in the Windows store, such as Office 365. When asked about losing access to updates and prior purchases of content in the event of the closure of a Microsoft account, a Microsoft spokesperson stated, "You don't have to have a Microsoft account connected to use Windows 10. The closure of a Microsoft account would not prevent a customer from receiving updates to Windows 10. Updates come through the Windows Update that is unconnected to the Microsoft account." Security updates and bandwidth sharing For Windows 10, Microsoft has removed the ability for users to disable Windows Update, a decision covered in greater depth at ZDNet. Issues with Windows Update breaking display drivers have been reported in the RTM version, and Microsoft has used the utility in the past to push browser toolbars and other commonly unwanted add-ons. Microsoft does not allow users to permanently disable Windows Defender - it notes on the Settings page that "if it's off for a while, we'll turn it back on automatically." These decisions remove control of the computer from the user, though for the vast majority of home users, it's not a particularly big loss. Windows 10 forces diagnostic and usage data to be transmitted to Microsoft, a behavior that cannot be prevented except for Enterprise and Server SKUs. This data "may unintentionally include parts of a document you were working on when a problem occurred," though Microsoft states that "we won't use that information to identify, contact, or target advertising to you." By default, Windows 10 is configured to use Windows Update Delivery Optimization, which can transmit update data to any other computer on the internet. (For Enterprise and Education, this is limited to only PCs on the local LAN.) This setting can be disabled, and if you indicate to Windows that you are using a metered connection, this will automatically be disabled. What's your view? Do you have concerns about the information sharing behavior in Windows 10? Have these changes prompted you to stick with Windows 7, or move to an alternative? Let us know in the comments. About James Sanders James Sanders is a Java programmer specializing in software as a service and thin client design, and virtualizing legacy programs for modern hardware. James is currently a student at Wichita State University in Kansas.

August 6th, 2015, 02:45 AM	#185
rlg118 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land o' Lake-Effect Posts: 5,348 Thanks: 5,911 Thanked 113,460 Times in 5,360 Posts	Plus, 7 has Aero! Sure, it uses resources, but I like it. And you can turn it off if you need the extra horsepower. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

August 6th, 2015, 04:13 PM	#189
rlg118 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land o' Lake-Effect Posts: 5,348 Thanks: 5,911 Thanked 113,460 Times in 5,360 Posts	Some more stuff from Windows Secrets: http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/...t-good-enough/ http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/...ed-experience/ __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

August 6th, 2015, 07:46 PM	#190
DTravel Lean Mean Screencap Machine Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Better you don't know. Posts: 23,788 Thanks: 10,480 Thanked 207,205 Times in 23,697 Posts	An article from Forbes about Win10 charging for everything. http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonke...s-10-charging/ __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I rage and weep for my country. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I can reup screencaps, other material might have been lost.

August 5th, 2015, 09:38 AM	#183
Misrule Vintage Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 542 Thanks: 29,377 Thanked 16,340 Times in 862 Posts	At this stage, I'm sticking with Win7. These kind of changes and removal of control are, to my mind, fatal. As it is, my desktop and laptop are locked down tight and I exercise every option to deny sharing of information (Ghostery, Privacy Badger, Ad Blocker, etc.). Clearly, Win10 is not intended for me. So I have 5 years to learn Linux

August 6th, 2015, 03:09 AM	#186
Rick Danger Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: In the Chill lounge..... Posts: 1,725 Thanks: 6,794 Thanked 30,933 Times in 1,714 Posts	For those of you brave souls like jjjj1956 and Masturbater who took the bull by the horns and updated to Windows 10, PLEASE keep us updated on how you are making out - good, bad, or neutral.

August 6th, 2015, 03:11 AM	#187
dog23 Vintage Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Near The Windy City Posts: 2,693 Thanks: 41,192 Thanked 76,406 Times in 2,778 Posts	I am sticking with Win7 and Linux. I might buy a Mac but they have control issues as well.

August 6th, 2015, 03:35 PM	#188
masturbater Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Northeast Posts: 19 Thanks: 175 Thanked 265 Times in 18 Posts	Wow...my gratitude and thanks to Rick Danger and a435843 for your detailed and helpful posts. Now (after the fact) I understand the concern and paranoia about Windows 10! I just went through the link provided by a435843 and turned everything off. I wasn't aware that there were more privacy settings that I had to check off. Win 10 is quite invasive! Lucky for me I'm one of those (dying breed) low tech users: I never used OneDrive for storage, don't use Bing, IE or Edge for browsing, no Xbox and am certainly not going to use the Calendar, Phone settings or People App (whatever that is). In fact, right after the update, Cortana tried to get me to start filling in the calendar so it could remind me when I have an upcoming event. Hell, why do I need that when I have a perfectly good stone age wall calendar behind my PC desk! I set my default browser to FireFox and disabled the ability for Microsoft to use my browser to send me advertising pop ups. I have a separate account for emails, a "dumb" cell phone and use DuckDuckGo for searches. Despite all this, I'm sure that they will still be able to collect data on me but not as much thanks to the well informed posters to this thread! Again, thanks for the enlightening and scary info!

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