Microsoft Admits Windows 10 Spying Cannot Be Disabled

[T3X4S]

Well obviously Microsoft is looking at personal files, that's how they know people are storing 'movie collections' on onedrive (RIP) so it goes to reason that if they're spying on your cloud then it wouldn't be paranoia to not trust them with telemetry.

That isnt necessarily true - not saying they aren't, but there are other ways without looking @ contents of actual OneDrive folders.

[xrobwx71]

Huh ?  What is supposed to happen on Christmas Eve ?

 

Who cares about Christmas Eve? All I care about is December 18th!!!!  SW Episode VII

[+John Teacake MVC]

You can go some way to disabling it. I wrote about it here.

http://tgtechnotes.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/love-is-snowmobile-racing-across-tundra.html

 

 

[7Dash8]

Frankly I'm amazed at what I've been reading in this thread. Some of you should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves. Microsoft is generously offering us a free operating system, and all they ask in return is to collect some harmless telemetry. Microsoft says it's just telemetry, and why would a major corporation lie? It's a sad state of affairs when people question the motives of a company that's struggling to find any means of raising revenue and remaining relevant in a marketplace that's rapidly leaving them behind.

Some of you seem to be forgetting the first rule of Neowin: When Microsoft says or does something, don't question, don't think, just accept.

 

 

[neufuse Veteran]

Frankly I'm amazed at what I've been reading in this thread. Some of you should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves. Microsoft is generously offering us a free operating system, and all they ask in return is to collect some harmless telemetry. Microsoft says it's just telemetry, and why would a major corporation lie? It's a sad state of affairs when people question the motives of a company that's struggling to find any means of raising revenue and remaining relevant in a marketplace that's rapidly leaving them behind.

Some of you seem to be forgetting the first rule of Neowin: When Microsoft says or does something, don't question, don't think, just accept.

 

 

are you still going to be saying that when in a few months it will no longer be free? The whole free argument doesn't work since it will be a paid OS in the coming year

[pack34]

I thought they always sent back telemetry data.

User activates x feature y often. Then there's how connected everything is now. You sign in with an account and your settings and files automatically sync. Then there's Cortana that learns about you to provide relevant information.

I'm sure Microsoft isn't sifting through your files. Way too many people use it to make it worth it and what benefit would it bring them?

However, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if there was some independent organization to go in and verify nothing malicious is happening just to put the collective paranoia at ease. Considering how connected everything is getting.

[Salgoth]

I took the "Better Safe Than Sorry" route and just blocked the telemetry reporting sites in/out at my router.  Gives me a little peace of mind at least.

[7Dash8]

are you still going to be saying that when in a few months it will no longer be free? The whole free argument doesn't work since it will be a paid OS in the coming year

It's not "a few months", Windows 10 is free until July 29, 2016, which is over 8 months away. Why do you think MS is scrambling to get everyone onto 10, especially given that starting in early 2016 it'll basically auto-install as a recommended update on millions of unsuspecting users' systems. MS knows that when Windows 10 becomes a paid OS, adoption rates will tank hard.

MS has already revealed itself to be an unscrupulous company with its forced non-descriptive updates and accidentally-on-purpose Windows 10 upgrades on systems that had previously indicated they did not want the upgrade. So when their latest operating system sends encrypted data back to base, and all we have is Microsoft's word that it's harmless, you will excuse the justifiably skeptical among us for quite rationally questioning the validity of their statements.

With no independent evidence proving things one way or another, only a fool, or a zealot, would accept Microsoft's word at face value. They have much to gain by stockpiling user data, and whether through malice, or the abundance of incompetence they've demonstrated to date, there's a very real risk that this data will be sold, leaked, or hacked.

[Active.]

Frankly I'm amazed at what I've been reading in this thread. Some of you should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves. Microsoft is generously offering us a free operating system, and all they ask in return is to collect some harmless telemetry.

[xrobwx71]

 

It's not "a few months", Windows 10 is free until July 29, 2016, which is over 8 months away. Why do you think MS is scrambling to get everyone onto 10, especially given that starting in early 2016 it'll basically auto-install as a recommended update on millions of unsuspecting users' systems. MS knows that when Windows 10 becomes a paid OS, adoption rates will tank hard.

MS has already revealed itself to be an unscrupulous company with its forced non-descriptive updates and accidentally-on-purpose Windows 10 upgrades on systems that had previously indicated they did not want the upgrade. So when their latest operating system sends encrypted data back to base, and all we have is Microsoft's word that it's harmless, you will excuse the justifiably skeptical among us for quite rationally questioning the validity of their statements.

With no independent evidence proving things one way or another, only a fool, or a zealot, would accept Microsoft's word at face value. They have much to gain by stockpiling user data, and whether through malice, or the abundance of incompetence they've demonstrated to date, there's a very real risk that this data will be sold, leaked, or hacked.

You need to quit using electronics completely. MS is not the only entity that collects data. Now,(not all) refrigerators, ovens, (major appliances), The Nest Thermostat,etc collect data. My advice to you is to quit using electronics. Check here, they seem to be safe from data collection.

 

[pallentx]

lol @ the Microsoft apologists in this thread. You're really defending the mass surveillance of users? Next you'll be telling us the NSA's heart is in the right place. Sheesh!

Please show where MS is doing mass surveillance. Do you consider a crash report "surveillance"?

[exotoxic]

Seriously, Microsoft does not care one bit what you do on your PC.

There are people that can FORCE Microsoft to collect any data they want, data that will be worth millions.

[tompkin]

We have a small medical office (three people), as a customer, that needs to be HIPPA compliant. I plan to upgrade Windows 7 Pro on their machines to Windows 10 Pro and turn on Bitlocker to meet the security requirements. I trust that Microsoft isn't scanning any files, just collecting telemetry, which I will disable as much as possible, along with turning off peer-to-peer Windows Update file sharing and the other odd things included in Windows 10 that aren't useful on a desktop PC. Anyone have facts that prove otherwise? If not, Windows 10 is safe for everyone. 

If it were me, if I was mandated to be HIPPA compliant, I wouldn't assume that it is safe unless proven otherwise. I would make sure it is compliant.

I'd contact someone at Microsoft and get them to send you a statement that it is HIPPA compliant.

Not telling you what to do, but it's never a bad thing to CYA.

[Neu B]

Neither do you, so don't pretend you know what they're transmitting when you don't.

I don't see why it's bad to want control over what my computer does and doesn't send to a third party.

Are you a paranoid schizophrenic?

[Zinomian]

Are you a paranoid schizophrenic?

Are you?  I mean, really? Message to all, just because someone wants to control their computers and be able to send or not to send "telemetry" data, does that make them paranoid all of a sudden?! and even if they were, is it really that bad for the user to have that control or fully understand what is happening with THEIR own pc?

I understand that some people are going crazy and assuming WAY too much as far as what data is being sent to MS (doubt its your browser habits or your porn collection!), but their point is valid, they want to be able to either stop their pc from sending data OR know WHAT data is being sent 100%.

Why do people need to be soooooo extreme on either side is beyond me!

[pallentx]

Frankly I'm amazed at what I've been reading in this thread. Some of you should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves. Microsoft is generously offering us a free operating system, and all they ask in return is to collect some harmless telemetry. Microsoft says it's just telemetry, and why would a major corporation lie? It's a sad state of affairs when people question the motives of a company that's struggling to find any means of raising revenue and remaining relevant in a marketplace that's rapidly leaving them behind.

Some of you seem to be forgetting the first rule of Neowin: When Microsoft says or does something, don't question, don't think, just accept.

 

 

Its not a free OS in exchange for "telemetry". Telemetry has always been there - this is not new, its just less optional now.
Some qualifying upgrades are free because they are trying to lure developers to the universal app store by getting more users.

I'm all for questioning what they do, but why would they lie about what they are collecting? Do you think they could lie, collect data and sell it and actually get away with that for very long? That would be completely devastating to get busted doing something like that. This is like anything else in business, MS puts out a product and says what data they will collect and what they do with it and what they don't do with it. You agree to that or not on face value. If they are found in breach of that, they will be sued into oblivion. It doesn't make any sense that MS would risk that. If they wanted to make the OS free and get revenue from your data, they could just sell it that way like Google does with Android. What is their reason to take the very risky step of lying about what they are actually doing?

Again, I'm all for questioning, but the critics have failed to establish a motive of show any evidence that they are doing anything contrary to what they say.

I'm also curious how many people up in arms about telemetry data are using an Android phone and logged into the Play Store.

[pallentx]

 

Why do you think MS is scrambling to get everyone onto 10, especially given that starting in early 2016 it'll basically auto-install as a recommended update on millions of unsuspecting users' systems. MS knows that when Windows 10 becomes a paid OS, adoption rates will tank hard.

 

The reason is completely obvious - they want as many users as possible on the universal app platform. Why do you think they are scrambling to get everyone onto 10?

[pallentx]

 

There are people that can FORCE Microsoft to collect any data they want, data that will be worth millions.

Really? Who? What kind of data, and please explain how its worth millions.
Yes, a judge can force them to turn over your data. If you think any of your data could be linked to a crime and you want it hidden, I would definitely not put it in your One Drive, or any other cloud service. They all have to turn over data to the government when served by a judge.

If you're talking about consumer info mined for advertising purposes, MS has made it very clear where this is and isn't collected - the specifically state that your person files, email chat, photos, etc are not used, that comes from you use of Edge, Bing and ad-supported free software. Good luck surfing the web without someone collecting that info.

[Neu B]

Are you?  I mean, really? Message to all, just because someone wants to control their computers and be able to send or not to send "telemetry" data, does that make them paranoid all of a sudden?! and even if they were, is it really that bad for the user to have that control or fully understand what is happening with THEIR own pc?

I understand that some people are going crazy and assuming WAY too much as far as what data is being sent to MS (doubt its your browser habits or your porn collection!), but their point is valid, they want to be able to either stop their pc from sending data OR know WHAT data is being sent 100%.

Why do people need to be soooooo extreme on either side is beyond me!

No sir, I am not. The people that are the loudest and most defensive about their privacy are the ones that always have something to hide.

[Ulkesh]

I didn't say it was stupid to want to know what's being transmitted, but Microsoft already has said what's being transmitted.  What is stupid is asserting that any telemetry data their receiving from PCs is some sort of privacy invasion.  And just because some companies have lied in the past doesn't mean that now they all do, and everything they're doing is in violation of your privacy rights.  Why on earth would Microsoft do that?  What do they have to gain?  Being paranoid because it makes people feel that their not being gullible and no other reason is ignorant and misguided.  And, they're not taking files off your system!  At least not your personal files.  And I guess if it's stupid not to distrust all companies everywhere, then I'm not as smart as I think I am.

Again, without full transparency of the data, you cant assume that they ARE or ARE NOT violating privacy.  Where I stand is that I dont know what they're collecting, so I've shut down the telemetry services and used various tools to bolster it's privacy/security.  If there was no way to do this, I'd still use Win10.  Cause steam, battle.net, etc etc all do it to some degree as well. 

[7Dash8]

You need to quit using electronics completely. MS is not the only entity that collects data. Now,(not all) refrigerators, ovens, (major appliances), The Nest Thermostat,etc collect data. My advice to you is to quit using electronics. Check here, they seem to be safe from data collection.

 

Ah yes, the ol' "But everyone else does it too!" argument, clumsily applied in this case.

You see, an operating system which contains an unknown level of spying is completely different to a refrigerator or oven that collects data. I don't do my banking, write emails, write sensitive documents, or edit images on my fridge or oven.

[pack34]

 

Ah yes, the ol' "But everyone else does it too!" argument, clumsily applied in this case.

You see, an operating system which contains an unknown level of spying is completely different to a refrigerator or oven that collects data. I don't do my banking, write emails, write sensitive documents, or edit images on my fridge or oven.

You really think Microsoft is going to steal your credit card info?

[7Dash8]

You really think Microsoft is going to steal your credit card info?

You really don't think it's possible that Microsoft could deliberately or inadvertently obtain sensitive info from my activities on Windows 10, possibly through Cortana/Search, store it, and have it leaked or hacked at some point?

[MikeChipshop Member]

 

You really don't think it's possible that Microsoft could deliberately or inadvertently obtain sensitive info from my activities on Windows 10, possibly through Cortana/Search, store it, and have it leaked or hacked at some point?

were not talking about Cortana, this thread is about telemetry data that can't be turned off. You choose to use Cortana and it can be easily turned off.

[pallentx]

 

You really don't think it's possible that Microsoft could deliberately or inadvertently obtain sensitive info from my activities on Windows 10, possibly through Cortana/Search, store it, and have it leaked or hacked at some point?

Of course they could. But is it likely. Google and Amazon have been doing this stuff for years. Its always possible with any service, however. That's why you don't do a search on your credit card number, or put that info into cloud services. Windows 10 doesn't do anything new in that regard you couldn't do in Chrome or IE on any OS.