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According To 8chan's /tech/, Windows 10 Could Be Fairly Malicious

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Just so you know, this post has been updated numerous times since its creation and will likely have many more updates to come, so if you're interested in this topic and decide to follow it, it might be a good idea to just quickly run over this post before continuing on through the comments every time you come back here.

 

 

Now I don't know all the details, nor do I completely understand the ones I know, so I'm going to have to copy and paste all of it, I'm afraid. Sorry!

 

Microsoft owns Pando Networks, famous for the malware/botnet Pando Media Booster.
Windows Update in Windows 10 utilizes P2P by default, most likely the same P2P technology used by Pando Media Booster.
Essentially it turns your PC into a zombie host server, wasting your bandwidth serving updates to other computers.
This also means Windows Update might be utilized later to spread malware through the P2P system via 0days.
https://archive.is/Tqv7s
https://archive.is/s3BjC
https://archive.is/Yy9JB
 
You cannot turn off "Telemetry" unless you own Windows 10 Enterprise Edition.
This means your computer will continuously leak unspecified information to Microsoft and there's no way of turning this off.
https://archive.is/3yo92
 
You cannot turn off "Real-time Protection", aka Windows Defender. Even if you do it will turn itself on again after a while.
This means you cannot prevent your PC from sending random files and information to Microsoft for "analysis".
https://archive.is/Dln44
 
Cortana has zero local storage functionality and does not function unless you have a Microsoft Account connected.
It will even inform you about this if you try using it on a local account, and then shut itself down.
https://archive.is/2Vw55
 
Windows 10 start menu will have "Content suggestions" which are on by default, which means you'll be seeing ads.
https://archive.is/0ltgw
 
Windows 10 "Wifi Sense" will be begging for your Facebook account details so it can get to know you better.
It will also be sharing your Wifi password with all your Facebook/Skype/Outlook friends, their friends, as well as Microsoft.
https://archive.is/9HETF
https://archive.is/mO3aH

 
Looks to me like there had to be a catch with it being free (for 8 and 8.1 users). There's no way they'd give up revenue for nothing.
 
I know this isn't exactly your usual news post, and some of it could be pretty tinfoil-y, but I'm still interested to see what you guys think. I tried to look for an actual article on this but I couldn't find anything. (Astralify has contributed one, see below)
 
Source
 

https://i.imgur.com/6JlyNnf.png


Okay I have been going through the claims in order to see if they are true or not. Here are my findings (using all the default settings when installing Windows 10).
I didn't blindly believe in 8chan so I went and checked it out for myself. If you don't believe in me and 8chan then I highly recommend you check it out for yourself too. I will gladly give instructions on how to validate the claims for yourself for anyone who needs them.

 

Microsoft owns Pando Networks, famous for the malware/botnet Pando Media Booster.
Windows Update in Windows 10 utilizes P2P by default, most likely the same P2P technology used by Pando Media Booster.
Essentially it turns your PC into a zombie host server, wasting your bandwidth serving updates to other computers.
This also means Windows Update might be utilized later to spread malware through the P2P system via 0days.
https://archive.is/Tqv7s
https://archive.is/s3BjC
https://archive.is/Yy9JB


This is correct although the threat is probably pretty small. It depends on how Microsoft designed the system.
There is always a risk of malware being spread when you fetch files from another persons' computer, but there are ways to prevent malicious things from being fetched and executed.
So anon on 8chan isn't lying, but the threat level is somewhere between almost non-existing and very small. It can also be turned off.
It is kind of worrying that the P2P part is enabled by default. A lot of people will probably not know about it and they will have their PCs stealing upload bandwidth in the background.


You cannot turn off "Telemetry" unless you own Windows 10 Enterprise Edition.
This means your computer will continuously leak unspecified information to Microsoft and there's no way of turning this off.
https://archive.is/3yo92


This is also true. I just looked in both the privacy settings as well as the group policy settings. It is set to full by default and it is impossible to set it any lower than basic unless you are using the Enterprise version.
I haven't sniffed the packets yet to determine what kind of data Microsoft collects but according to the privacy FAQ they link in the privacy settings they will use personal information for targeted ad purposes, and they will share your information with third parties.
 

How We Use Personal Data
Microsoft uses the data we collect to provide you the services we offer, which includes using data to improve and personalize your experiences. We also may use the data to communicate with you, for example, informing you about your account, security updates and product information. And we use data to help make the ads we show you more relevant to you. However, we do not use what you say in email, chat, video calls or voice mail, or your documents, photos or other personal files to target ads to you.

Reasons We Share Personal Data
We share your personal data with your consent or as necessary to complete any transaction or provide any service you have requested or authorized. We also share data with Microsoft-controlled affiliates and subsidiaries; with vendors working on our behalf; when required by law or to respond to legal process; to protect our customers; to protect lives; to maintain the security of our services; and to protect the rights or property of Microsoft.

Source: https://www.microsof...nt/default.aspx



You cannot turn off "Real-time Protection", aka Windows Defender. Even if you do it will turn itself on again after a while.
This means you cannot prevent your PC from sending random files and information to Microsoft for "analysis".
https://archive.is/Dln44


Yep, this is true as well. In the settings for Windows Defender it says:
"This helps find and stop malware from installing or running on your PC. You can turn this off temporarily, but if it's off for a while we'll turn it back on automatically."
The image has not been photoshopped to say that. I haven't checked how long "for a while" is but I'll try and find it out tomorrow.


Cortana has zero local storage functionality and does not function unless you have a Microsoft Account connected.
It will even inform you about this if you try using it on a local account, and then shut itself down.
https://archive.is/2Vw55


I can't validate the "zero local storage functionality" but the rest is true. You have to sign in to Windows with your Microsoft account to use Cortana. No idea why.


Windows 10 start menu will have "Content suggestions" which are on by default, which means you'll be seeing ads.
https://archive.is/0ltgw


This seems to be true as well, and it will also show ads on the lock screen. BUT you can turn it off if you want. It will be on by default though.
 
Edit!: I am not sure about this one anymore. It used to be in the TP but they might have removed it. It's hard to tell because right now I don't have any ads in the start menu, but the option to disable it is gone. The option used to be in the start menu settings but it is no longer there. The setting is still in Windows because if you search for "Occasionally show suggestions in Start" without the "" it will appear as a result, but pressing it brings you to Start settings and the button is no longer there.
This means one of two things.
1) They removed the ads in the start menu.
2) They removed the option to not show ads in the start menu.
 
Hopefully it is scenario 1, but for now we don't know. If anyone sees a suggested app appear in the start menu then please take a screenshot and post it.
 

Windows 10 "Wifi Sense" will be begging for your Facebook account details so it can get to know you better.
It will also be sharing your Wifi password with all your Facebook/Skype/Outlook friends, their friends, as well as Microsoft.
https://archive.is/9HETF
https://archive.is/mO3aH


WiFi Sense is enabled by default, but sharing the network information for a network you sign in to is off by default. The button for sharing the network info is worrying close to the Next button, but I think accidents will be very rare.
 
If you are worried about this then you can add "_optout" without the "" at the end of your SSID and it won't be shared. So for example the SSID "ASUS" would be shared, but "ASUS_optout" will not.


Summary: Nothing in the post from 8chan is a lie. 3 of them can be disabled/opt-outed from and while Cortana don't have a setting for local users, it can be disabled (*puts on tinfoil hat* but we don't know if it's really disabled!!1!1! *takes off tinfoil hat*). The other 2 points are genuinely scary to me since you can't do anything about them, and they are 100% correct.
 
I will check out other things on other lists a bit later.

 


 

Summary: Nothing in the post from 8chan is a lie. 3 of them can be disabled/opt-outed from and while Cortana don't have a setting for local users, it can be disabled (*puts on tinfoil hat* but we don't know if it's really disabled!!1!1! *takes off tinfoil hat*). The other 2 points are genuinely scary to me since you can't do anything about them, and they are 100% correct.

 

 

Now a heap of people have been banging on about how it's 8chan, so here are some actual articles that touch on some of this stuff to satisfy the masses.

 

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/211208-windows-10s-default-privacy-settings-and-controls-leave-much-to-be-desired

https://edri.org/microsofts-new-small-print-how-your-personal-data-abused/

https://www.rt.com/usa/311304-new-windows-privacy-issues/

 

Thanks to Astralify for finding these articles.

 

 

From what I can see, it looks like this wouldn't be that bad for people who work with computers all the time and can sort this stuff out, but for non-techies, this would be bad.

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SNIP

 

No evidence or proof given though

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P2P is used by almost every software that updates huge files (for example World of tanks) and its not wrong.

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"Windows 10 uses P2P for updates! Ah, Microsoft is Satan!!!!!"

 

And yes, you can turn off Windows Defender. Mine is turned off. It was turned off by default, since I had BitDefender installed.

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Cortana has zero local storage functionality and does not function unless you have a Microsoft Account connected.

It will even inform you about this if you try using it on a local account, and then shut itself down.

 

Same for Siri and Google Now

 

 

You cannot turn off "Real-time Protection", aka Windows Defender. Even if you do it will turn itself on again after a while.

This means you cannot prevent your PC from sending random files and information to Microsoft for "analysis".

 

Probably a glitch, same thing with Win8, never used to remember your settings for certain things.

 

 

Windows 10 start menu will have "Content suggestions" which are on by default, which means you'll be seeing ads.

 

As long as they're not obtrusive that's not a big problem for me personally.

 

 

You cannot turn off "Real-time Protection", aka Windows Defender. Even if you do it will turn itself on again after a while.

This means you cannot prevent your PC from sending random files and information to Microsoft for "analysis".

 

Login as system -> Terminate malware executable -> Delete.

 

 

Windows Update in Windows 10 utilizes P2P by default, most likely the same P2P technology used by Pando Media Booster.

Essentially it turns your PC into a zombie host server

 

Can easily block that traffic with my router.

 

happy.png Still looking forward to Windows 10.

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It's completely blown out of proportion. Also if you're the least bit worried about data gathering then you should go live in a cave a 1000Km from the nearest establishment simply because every device and every entity gathers information these days. In the current era privacy is just fallacy and nothing more.

 

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"Windows 10 uses P2P for updates! Ah, Microsoft is Satan!!!!!"

 

And yes, you can turn off Windows Defender. Mine is turned off. It was turned off by default, since I had BitDefender installed.

Mine's been off since it has noticed malwarebytes.

 

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I didn't like MS sscount integration ever since W8, now MS went seriously overboard with the privacy infringement

the very sad part, there's no way around it for a PC gamer that wants to stay current with advancements in tech

I'm just hoping someday, someone will slap MS silly - but that won't be US Gov

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this is why you wait to upgrade your operating system make sure that its all working good and there are no BS systems in place if any of this is true the internet will know within the month 

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@Trik'Stari I summon thee and thy shiny tinfoil hat

 

 

 

The paranoia is starting to get annoying. This happens every single time a new OS or service pack pops up -.-

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P2P is used by almost every software that updates huge files (for example World of tanks) and its not wrong.

But for something like Windows, after buying it for $100 and expecting to use it as an operating system, you would think your own computer wouldn't NATIVELY be wasting your bandwidth and NATIVELY be bugging you with ads and personal info. This can be bad especially for people with high speed internet but with low bandwidth caps as well as people who have low internet speed with no cap (like DSL) since what little bandwidth they have to begin with will get used against their will.

There are a LOT of internet plans that only come with 1 mbps upload like most DSL and Time Warner/Charter mid-range plans. That 1 upload is super limited, and wasting it sucks since it's hardly (actually it's not) enough for you to use normally anyway.

I have no way of seeing if this is true or just a rumor - but it's already confirmed solitaire will have ads so this seems possible.. I'll be sticking to my Windows 7 Professional for a little while. I don't trust them enough to upgrade immidiately with no way back.

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I foresee a lot of router filters being set up in the near future.

In case the moderators do not ban me as requested, this is a notice that I have left and am not coming back.

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I foresee a lot of router filters being set up in the near future.

Yeah pretty much.
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Not sure how much you can trust information found on something like 8 Chan best to take it with a grain of salt and there will always be a way to block or turn off things Microsoft doesn't want you to.

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are we seriously going to take serious data coming from an anonymous forum board?

 

also this info was know know since the preview days, these jackasses are just twisting it to make it look like its the end of the world

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The paranoia is starting to get annoying. This happens every single time a new OS or service pack pops up -.-

 

There's nothing wrong with being vigilant with anything made by big companies like Microsoft. When they're handling software that you use for 50% of your life, you'd want it all to be fair and above-board.

 

 

While Windows 10 will probably be very slightly malicious, let's not forget that 8chan and 4chan are mentally handicapped children waddling around and eating their own fecal matter.

 

Edit: I'm having some trouble with gifs over here... Basically I was going to argue but then I remembered the massive amount of scat-lovers on there. Lol.

waffle waffle waffle on and on and on

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fuckin hope WSUS isnt affected by that P2P crap.

 

didn't care about windows 10 before

really don't care about windows 10 now.

 

No evidence or proof given though

Not sure how much you can trust information found on something like 8 Chan best to take it with a grain of salt and there will always be a way to block or turn off things Microsoft doesn't want you to.

it is literally in pictures. clear as day. right in front of you. click the links.

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I'm just hoping someday, someone will slap MS silly - but that won't be US Gov

lol, of course it wont be the US gov, not so long as MS keeps letting them take free hits of that sweet sweet data.

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well, acording to 4chan's /g/ at this given time linux is more userfriendly, so i think i should just bump ubunutu or redhead onto my grandmothers laptop instead of w10.

 

/s

 

honestly, boards like 4chan/8chan/reddit* shouldnt be taken serious when it comes down to stuff like this, I mean who takes people serious that call windows a botnet because of the feedback microsoft asks for in the background.

 

*there are special cases on reddit

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I read it and it seems like a bunch of assumptions. If microsoft set up their systems with the least possible effort and money then yes, it would be problematic. I don't think they did that though.

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didn't care about windows 10 before

really don't care about windows 10 now.

 

Enjoy your gaming computer when DirectX 11 goes end-of-life then.

 

Since Windows 10 will be the "last Windows" and all, and the only way to get DX12.

 

Not that I'm in a rush myself. It's just that if I have to hassle to block out a bunch of data mining built into Windows 10 I have no other choice if I want to play games in the future.

 

Unless Linux picks up A LOT of fucking pace for gaming and productivity in the coming 12 months.

In case the moderators do not ban me as requested, this is a notice that I have left and am not coming back.

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It's kind of funny how even with picture evidence people just flat out deny it for the sole reason of "it's from 8chan". Why not look into it for yourselves instead of just assuming things are wrong because the post is from a website you don't like? I will be looking into it for sure. Will report back later with what I find.

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While Windows 10 will probably be very slightly malicious, let's not forget that 8chan and 4chan are mentally handicapped children waddling around and eating their own fecal matter.

@Johners is a perfect example! :P

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Enjoy your gaming computer when DirectX 11 goes end-of-life then.

 

Since Windows 10 will be the "last Windows" and all, and the only way to get DX12.

 

Not that I'm in a rush myself. It's just that if I have to hassle to block out a bunch of data mining built into Windows 10 I have no other choice if I want to play games in the future.

 

Unless Linux picks up A LOT of fucking pace for gaming and productivity in the coming 12 months.

You realise backwards compatibility is a thing? DX9 Hardware can run DX 11 Software, without certain features.

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@Trik'Stari I summon thee and thy shiny tinfoil hat

 

 

 

The paranoia is starting to get annoying. This happens every single time a new OS or service pack pops up -.-

I called it from the very beginning when we learned that W10 would have automatic updating that you can't turn off.

 

Yeah, there might be a tool now to turn that off, but I'm willing to bet that it ends up "not really turning it off". I, personally, am going to wait until at least January before switching over. I really wish they weren't being assholes about Dx12 being on windows 10 only.

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