Windows 10 privacy debate

Foxhound5366

Foxhound5366

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Wellll ... that didn't last long. Two days in I finally got a chance to delve into Windows 10 settings, and promptly deactivated:
Personalised adverts (something you have to do on a linked Microsoft website no less)
The 'get to know me' feature ([-]hidden[/-] filed under 'Speech, inking and typing' for reasons of transparency I'm sure)
Cortana (this was a shame but she relies on the feature above)
Full diagnostic reports (took that down to 'Basic' - 'Full' will basically send screenshots of whatever you were looking at to Microsoft techies to analyse during a software glitch, lol)
Deactivated most apps' automatic access to my camera and microphone
App synching with remote devices without explicit pairing
... and I'm still going.

I'm not a fan of the 'fully-connected' world, especially when the degree of helpfulness to you is limited. I have no problems tracking my flights or packages, so I don't see allowing Microsoft full access to everything I type or search so that they can better sell me to advertisers is a worthwhile trade-off.

Anything else worrying you spotted in Windows 10? Or any particular reason you think we should just sign everything over to Microsoft?

PS: Just read this (enabled by default) and consider the ramifications!
Example.PNG
 
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Oh, here's another good one to deactivate (activated by default), not strictly privacy-related though.

Turns out that Microsoft has created its own little private torrenting networking using all Windows 10 PCs.

This is also pretty hidden (Update -> Advanced Options -> Choose how updates are delivered)

I mean this is concerning if for no other reason than your precious bandwidth is being used without your explicit permission, right?

View attachment 240058

Also, how secure is this if you're taking software from third-party sources?
 
snugglez64 said:
He's another gem - http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/07/windows-10-shares-your-wi-fi-with-contacts/
Click to expand...

Will check that out, thanks. Something else that worried me which I'll look into is Microsoft's new 'People' app on Win 10.

Here you can collate your contact details for all the people you know, just giving the app log-in information for your accounts that have (e.g. Google and Facebook).

That's all good and well, except when I was authorizing Google to connect with the People app, the app had also requested permission to read all my emails!

0.o There was no opt-out on that, and bear in mind my only intention with this was to collate the address books!

Yes it worked as intended, but I think I'm going to revoke access there too.

EDIT: Ok, so removed Google from People AND revoked access through Google. Also disabled WiFi Sense network sharing and added '_optout' to my Wifi SSID (that should have the neighbours wondering). For a guide on how to do that: http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2015/07/28/why-windows-10-shares-your-wi-fi-password-and-how-to-stop-it/
 
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Nirv said:
I found some useful links relevant to this thread, especially the guide in the Reddit thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3f38ed/guide_how_to_disable_data_logging_in_w10/
http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-disable-telemetry-and-data-collection-in-windows-10/
http://www.howtogeek.com/219700/what-is-wi-fi-sense-and-why-does-it-want-your-facebook-account/
Click to expand...

That first story is way too hardcore lol. I'm still million times safer just using the built-in settings, rather than editing the registry.

I actually quite like Edge, and am giving that a decent spin. Frankly Google is every bit as invasive with ita data mining (which I've also tweaked through the online privacy settings), so it probably doesn't hurt not using Chrome.

So far Edge is very responsive, and the built-in Reading mode works a treat (seriously try it on a few news websites!).
 
Looking for single script disabling all these 'innovations'.
 
Shaun108 said:
Windows 10 leaks too much of info. I'll stick with Debian thank you very much.
Click to expand...

of course you are also not using google, your internet is vpn only with secure dns service and leak hardened :whistle:
 
Necuno said:
of course you are also not using google, your internet is vpn only with secure dns service and leak hardened :whistle:
Click to expand...

Yes, how did you know? Duckduckgo is much better than Gurgle.
 
Well this explains alot.

I opened Cortana - and it asked me what I wanted know.

I asked about my sore shoulder .....

It responded, your wife is out of town, you have been torrenting some sick stuff, your heart rate is fluctuating and your left hand is attached to the shoulder you are having a problem with, then suggested a dating site :D

Damn privacy issues ..... :D
 
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