Privacy issues with Windows 10: benefits and drawbacks.
Privacy issues with Windows 10: benefits and drawbacks.
I found this piece and wanted to discuss some privacy issues. These kinds of pieces have been circulated several times, but here’s another take. https://www.petri.com/windows-10-privacy...on-matters Many people say Windows settings—like browser history, bookmarks, and passwords—are now automatically sent to Microsoft’s servers. This feature started in Windows 8 and requires a Microsoft account. Its purpose is to streamline the experience for users. Rather than having to adjust settings each time you log in on a different machine, preferences and other details follow you across devices. Cortana gathers additional information for Microsoft. She does so only if you choose to allow it. When you first use Cortana’s search, you can turn off all these functions. You have the option to disable Cortana at any time by turning it off. By default, Cortana operates within your local PC and internet searches. You also decide what information she should know about you in your notebook. Don’t stress if Cortana appears in your task manager after you switch it off—it just indicates that a search is active. Cortana only collects location data, calendar details, app usage, emails, texts, and call logs when you permit her. If you already use Google Now or Siri on your phone, this isn’t surprising. For more details on Cortana’s privacy settings, see the link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windo...rivacy-faq
Windows 10 aims to reduce internet bandwidth through peer-to-peer networking. By default, in Settings>Update and Security>Windows Update>Advanced Options>Select “PCs on my local network, and PCs on the internet” enabled. The “PCs on the internet” option sends Windows 10 and app update information from your device to another computer outside your network. This isn’t a security risk but a bandwidth concern. Your internet speed will be used without you realizing it. We don’t know the exact amount or how it affects your connection. Click “PCs on my local network” to limit data sharing between PCs on your local area only, which helps save bandwidth. To disable this, move the slider to “OFF.” If you’re on a metered plan, it’s already off by default.
Microsoft assigns a unique advertising ID, and Bing collects data that is then sold to third parties for more personalized search results. This is true. The feature launched in Windows 8. It’s anonymous. You can turn it off via Settings>Privacy>General and adjust the first slider to “OFF.” Wi-Fi Sense actually lets friends connect to your network without sharing passwords. You must opt in and choose which networks they can join. They don’t receive any passwords—they just connect. Your password remains secure with you. In my home, we use a guest network with a simple password. I enabled Wi-Fi Sense so guests can join only the guest network. They don’t need to enter a password; they just connect as long as they’re on Windows 10 or Windows Phone 8.1 and Wi-Fi Sense is active. Most of this happens automatically, but you can turn it off using the available options.
I'll save this link for adjusting configurations once I upgrade to Windows 10. Great job, Microsoft!
Most options work well and you can generally review nearly all concerns in the Privacy settings menu. Stay calm—just avoid unwanted features such as peer-to-peer sharing with external users. These should remain disabled unless needed locally, but they often aren’t.
Really? Why avoid letting Cortana gather all that data while you use her? That’s odd, but there are two choices: 1) Use Cortana and share everything... 2) Refuse to share because you don’t want Cortana. It seems there’s a middle ground—yes, both Google and Apple collected huge amounts of info, but now they’re limited in what they can gather. And since restricting data collection isn’t an issue for services like Google Now or Siri, it makes sense.
LOL who stopped Google or Apple from gathering data? Google gathers more info than Microsoft does. They haven’t stopped. What exactly are you discussing? Also, Cortana can disable just a few features—most are grouped into one setting. Personally, I’ve let Cortana know all this stuff. I’m fine with Microsoft servers storing my info. I trust them. They’re very secure. Plus, we always allow them access to our location via maps apps. Google, Microsoft, and other mapping services track your location too. I don’t fully trust certain apps or companies with my location, but I do trust Microsoft. My calendar, emails, and other things are managed by Microsoft as well. So why would it matter if another app from Microsoft had the same data they already possess?