Windows 10 spying: How to opt out of Microsoft's intrusive new terms of use

[Trik'Stari]

I think the I have nothing to hide then it's okay to spy on me argument is just a POS.

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And this isn't spying cause you know it's happening and they tell you.

It's not an argument at all. It's a self delusion, or a statement made in historical ignorance of what happens when governments and corporations start spying on the general public.

 

Most users won't know that..in fact I don't think they even read the privacy settings when installing Windows..they just "Use express settings".

And what's bad is that if you told them their privacy is "compromised", they'd start bit**ing left and right that Microsoft should be sued for collecting data..etc...not realizing that he alone was responsible for that(at least for half of it).

 

TOR and VPN...I bet 80% of the actual user base would not know what those mean, let alone use them, even pay for them, a.f.a.i.k. better VPNs cost money, not much, but it's money...plus, I can never be too sure that at the end of the road my data is still private.

 

Oh...and if some still believe watching porn in "incognito" mode leaves no tracks...they're so....so...mistaken. 

 

I'm talking about the people on HERE who are making these ignorant statements about it not being a big deal or being unavoidable. The general public, as always, will continue to be morons about everything.

 

I just find it disappointing, as I expected more from a supposedly "tech centered enthusiast" community. 

[cesrai]

All very true, but my point overall is that this is not "not a big deal". It should be a very big deal, but no one seems to understand that, or care.

Well it's kinda a big deal, but I'm on the fence here. If MS doesn't collect data how is it supposed to improve ? I mean if they get the data of bugs, errors, and other things they can make the software better. And like services like Cortana they need to know about you to be good and keep track of what you're doing and help you. I would be totally fine if they just told me what data they are collecting and giving me the choice would be better.

[TorqueS]

I'm talking about the people on HERE who are making these ignorant statements about it not being a big deal or being unavoidable. The general public, as always, will continue to be morons about everything.

Oh, my bad then, speaking out of context.

Yeah, on this matter, people using these tech forums have no excuse.

[Trik'Stari]

Well it's kinda a big deal, but I'm on the fence here. If MS doesn't collect data how is it supposed to improve ? I mean if they get the data of bugs, errors, and other things they can make the software better. And like services like Cortana they need to know about you to be good and keep track of what you're doing and help you. I would be totally fine if they just told me what data they are collecting and giving me the choice would be better.

Very true. However finding things out about what the customers want can be done with surveys and crap. Even given a "choice", I wouldn't be surprised if it still spied on you, which is part of the reason I haven't upgraded, and probably won't for some time. (if I don't just bite the bullet and switch to full time Linux to begin with. Depends on whether or not I can get Fallout 4 for Linux)

 

Oh, my bad then, speaking out of context.

Yeah, on this matter, people using these tech forums have no excuse.

Agreed completely. I generally think of the tech community as being more intelligent, and more active on self-education than the general public.

[cesrai]

Very true. However finding things out about what the customers want can be done with surveys and crap. Even given a "choice", I wouldn't be surprised if it still spied on you, which is part of the reason I haven't upgraded, and probably won't for some time.

It's true they can use surveys but come on who will do that ? it will be a little group of people against a very huge of amount of data that's being send to them automatically and it will be just more convenient for the user and the dev.

But yes I think giving an option is a must be and not having it is just b.s.

[Trik'Stari]

It's true they can use surveys but come on who will do that ? it will be a little group of people against a very huge of amount of data that's being send to them automatically and it will be just more convenient for the user and the dev.

But yes I think giving an option is a must be and not having it is just b.s.

Very true, but there should still be some kind of anonymity in the data they receive (usage data only, not personal information). As for the option of turning it off, I wouldn't trust it even if it was being offered, mainly because I can't view the source code for the OS, so how in the hell can I really know whether or not they actually turned it off?

[bomerr]

Very true. However finding things out about what the customers want can be done with surveys and crap. Even given a "choice", I wouldn't be surprised if it still spied on you, which is part of the reason I haven't upgraded, and probably won't for some time. (if I don't just bite the bullet and switch to full time Linux to begin with. Depends on whether or not I can get Fallout 4 for Linux)

Agreed completely. I generally think of the tech community as being more intelligent, and more active on self-education than the general public.

gaming on opengl is like dropping down 1 gpu tier. directx is just much better and with 12 coming out soon gamers got no choice but to use win 10.

[cesrai]

Very true, but there should still be some kind of anonymity in the data they receive (usage data only, not personal information). As for the option of turning it off, I wouldn't trust it even if it was being offered, mainly because I can't view the source code for the OS, so how in the hell can I really know whether or not they actually turned it off?

I think the data is anonymous as I blevie I've read it in the agreement ( my agreement was the insider agreement ) and yes I agree option should be there. What about using wireshark and sniffing the data your PC is sending and see what it is ? and if you actually proof it's collecting data and you turned it off I'm like 75% sure you can sue MS for millions. And about the source code thingy * tin foil hat on * if you think about it Triki how do you know all programs don't collect data ? * tin foil hat off *. About personal data I think that's essential for Cortana and other programs.

[Trik'Stari]

gaming on opengl is like doing down 1 gpu tier. directx is just much better and with 12 coming out soon gamers got no choice but to use win 10.

Sadly true. Which is why I am going to wait a good long while until there is a tried and true method for preventing this kind of BS. I already have a crappy internet connection as it is, and I'm not going to use an OS that not only spies on me, but slowly eats up my bandwidth by doing so.

 

I think the data is anonymous as I blevie I've read it in the agreement ( my agreement was the insider agreement ) and yes I agree option should be there. What about using wireshark and sniffing the data your PC is sending and see what it is ? and if you actually proof it's collecting data and you turned it off I'm like 75% sure you can sue MS for millions. And about the source code thingy * tin foil hat on * if you think about it Triki how do you know all programs don't collect data ? * tin foil hat off *

Very true.

[cesrai]

gaming on opengl is like dropping down 1 gpu tier. directx is just much better and with 12 coming out soon gamers got no choice but to use win 10.

That's true and I hope Vulcan brings some changes.

[GoodBytes]

I moved the thread to Operating System and Software. This is no news, it has been reports (almost spam) on the news section so many times.

[cesrai]

I moved the thread to Operating System and Software. This is no news, it has been reports (almost spam) on the news section so many times.

Good call and thanks for not locking it.

[bomerr]

Sadly true. Which is why I am going to wait a good long while until there is a tried and true method for preventing this kind of BS. I already have a crappy internet connection as it is, and I'm not going to use an OS that not only spies on me, but slowly eats up my bandwidth by doing so.

 

Very true.

win 10 insider here.

i got lazy after reformating for the 10th time so i just use express.

but you know instead of paying for win 10 with my cash im paying for it with my data and you know honestly that's a win-win sit for both me and microsoft.

[Trik'Stari]

That's true and I hope Vulcan brings some changes.

supposedly dx12 is just mantle renamed or something. Not to mention new stuff coming to openGL

http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/177407-microsoft-hints-that-directx-12-will-imitate-and-destroy-amds-mantle

 

Considering that DX12 isn't even out yet, I see no reason to upgrade right now. Best to wait and see what happens.

 

win 10 insider here.

i got lazy after reformating for the 10th time so i just use express.

but you know instead of paying for win 10 with my cash im paying for it with my data and you know honestly that's a win-win sit for both me and microsoft.

 

It makes me feel sad that you feel that way. You have zero control how that data is used, and zero capability to verify that the data is even accurate. It's nowhere near a win-win.

[GoodBytes]

Also, these instruction I have shared multiple times. Nothing new.. it was identical for Windows 8, which no one minded.

But good call doing a a thread about it, hopefully it will reduce people freaking out (despite them using Chrome and Android).

[cesrai]

supposedly dx12 is just mantle renamed or something. Not to mention new stuff coming to openGL

http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/177407-microsoft-hints-that-directx-12-will-imitate-and-destroy-amds-mantle

 

Considering that DX12 isn't even out yet, I see no reason to upgrade right now. Best to wait and see what happens.

I call b.s. on that as DX12 have been in development for many years and by changes I mean in real life performance, I think Mantle made MS tell us that they are making an API and stuff but I don't think it's imitating it. And if it was then Mantle is just imitating Glide. Having a low level API is like something that was bound to happen since every DX has been like more low level than the previous from what I've seen.

And Mantle wasn't that good of an API IMHO cause of this http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-driver-update-direct3d-optimization,26381.html

[Trik'Stari]

I call b.s. on that as DX12 have been in development for many years and by changes I mean in real life performance, I think Mantle made MS tell us that they are making an API and stuff but I don't think it's imitating it. And if it was then Mantle is just imitating Glide. Having a low level API is like something that was bound to happen since every DX has been like more low level than the previous from what I've seen.

And Mantle wasn't that good of an API IMHO cause of this http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-driver-update-direct3d-optimization,26381.html

Not to mention that mantle is officially dead, which I forgot about. (the article I linked was old).

 

as I said earlier. I suppose I will upgrade eventually, but I will definitely wait until there are tried and true methods for completely forcing telemetry off. Maybe dual boot with Linux and only use W10 for gaming (something I had not considered, that someone on the Tek Syndicate forums pointed out).

[cesrai]

Not to mention that mantle is officially dead, which I forgot about. (the article I linked was old).

 

as I said earlier. I suppose I will upgrade eventually, but I will definitely wait until there are tried and true methods for completely forcing telemetry off. Maybe dual boot with Linux and only use W10 for gaming (something I had not considered, that someone on the Tek Syndicate forums pointed out).

Well what about making a hackintosh and using bootcamp to use Win10 for gaming ? Austin Evans did it on the MacBook and it went well.

[Techhog]

Even if you go custom it won't solve the problem ye dang fools.

There is more going on behind your backs that you don't Se.

The only 100% safe route to go is to use Linux. (No, Windows 7 is not safe.) So, a choice has to be made.

[Techhog]

Very true, but there should still be some kind of anonymity in the data they receive (usage data only, not personal information). As for the option of turning it off, I wouldn't trust it even if it was being offered, mainly because I can't view the source code for the OS, so how in the hell can I really know whether or not they actually turned it off?

I'm pretty sure that the telemetry data used for things like OS features is anonymous, and the identifiable information is for advertising and the government.

[GoodBytes]

Telemetry data is fully anonymous. Microsoft doesn't care what you do. What they care is what people have has setup:

Stuff like:

 - % of Windows users on laptops/desktops/tablet running their OS, to know what to optimize/work on the most for the next version.

 - Percentage of users with multiple monitor setups, and how many monitors

 - Percentage of users with these hardware specs of higher

 - How many time "Media Center" is lunched

 - How people are switching between applications the most

and so on and so forth.

 

This was introduced since Windows XP, and usually Microsoft is pretty open about it. Microsoft was very open about it with Windows 8 development, showing Windows 7 user data on its blog.

[Trik'Stari]

Telemetry data is fully anonymous. Microsoft doesn't care what you do. What they care is what people have has setup:

Stuff like:

 - % of Windows users on laptops/desktops/tablet running their OS, to know what to optimize/work on the most for the next version.

 - Percentage of users with multiple monitor setups, and how many monitors

 - Percentage of users with these hardware specs of higher

 - How many time "Media Center" is lunched

 - How people are switching between applications the most

and so on and so forth.

 

This was introduced since Windows XP, and usually Microsoft is pretty open about it. Microsoft was very open about it with Windows 8 development, showing Windows 7 user data on its blog.

Then why does it directly state "we will access disclose, and preserve personal data including emails, or files in private folders"?

 

Also, worth pointing out that IBM is switching off of Windows, to apple (which doesn't make sense to me, but is still noteworthy)

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/IBM-will-Windows-Rechner-von-Lenovo-durch-Macs-ersetzen-2767208.html

[GoodBytes]

Then why does it directly state "we will access disclose, and preserve personal data including emails, or files in private folders"?

Because, when you use a Microsoft account: ie: outlook.com / live.com / hotmail.com, the e-mails you send and receive are on Microsoft servers. That is why you don't need a mailing server at home, and you can access your e-mails from any computer by using IMAP, or the web.

Same for OneDrive... personal files put on OneDrive folder, are on Microsoft servers. Microsoft does backups of its servers for recovery, so they'll have ypur files, same for e-mails, calendar, credit card information (from purchases and subscriptions of Microsoft services), etc.

[Trik'Stari]

Because, when you use a Microsoft account: ie: outlook.com / live.com / hotmail.com, the e-mails you send and receive are on Microsoft servers. That is why you don't need a mailing server at home, and you can access your e-mails from any computer by using IMAP, or the web.

Same for OneDrive... personal files put on OneDrive folder, are on Microsoft servers. Microsoft does backups of its servers for recovery, so they'll have ypur files, same for e-mails, calendar, credit card information (from purchases and subscriptions of Microsoft services), etc.

Interesting. Glad I don't use any of those except Outlook (which I am forced to used by ECPI, even though I hate outlook).

[GoodBytes]

Personally, I have an account that I have done just for Windows 8/OneDrive/Grove Music streaming subscription/Office 365, etc.

I have done it not for privacy, but rather for security purposes. (reduces potential being hacked). Then in Outlook (office software), I have my actual e-mails, and use that. I also don't save my credit card info (I don't do this for all sites, regardless who they are)