Windows 10 Makes Privacy Concessions - Comments Page 1

We all could use DoNotSpy10 to tune the data collection options the way we want them, thus not needing any of the W10 built-in tools to do that! It overrides the W10 settings, thus all set.

Thanks for all your info and this upcoming Window 10 changes. I do read them and like your input.

Chuck

I've enough MS experience to know that I will NEVER be in control of how much raw data it gathers on behalf of all its advertisers, its own "know-it-all" needs, even the gubmint. By setting this dashboard to the lowest level of spy settings probably triggers other imbedded kernels to funnel even more "user experience" data, including keystrokes, to whomever pays for it. Just by being on any computer these days triggers eyes everywhere into watching you. Privacy went out the door the first time a caveman stood in his doorway so anybody else could see him. We just do it a whole lot faster these days! Anyway, thank you, Bob for helping all of U.S. in any even small way to cope with Techsposure (I love word-play). Also love your in-sight looking out for me!

Looks like it's time to move to Linux to me.

^ ^ ^ Yeah, pretty soon.

I am one who did not know and did not see that I could skip the Microsoft Account request when I finally upgraded from Win 7 to Win 10. Can it be reversed? Thanks Bob, I enjoy and learn lots from your letters.

I also registered. Even if we could cancel our accounts, the account information will remain with them for eternity. Once tagged, I doubt you could ever shake that off if you use a MS product.

Wouldn't using a VPN solve many of these problems?
How about a VPN and Private Browsing Mode?
I know that AOL and Google, Amazon and BestBuy all think I am lost in Canada. Not the case!

I code for a living and my competitors would love to see my code. For this reason I hid behind a good firewall, and don't use the cloud for any code backup (Just USB drives hidden away in a file cabinet.)
I am currently only coding on my Win7 computer and using a Win10 for comparability testing. Will I be at risk for having my code targeted for hacking with Win10 because Microsoft insists on access?

Too little, too late. My WIN PC will remain WIN 7 until no longer supported. My two everyday go to PCs will remain Linux.

I have always believed that MS and altruism are mutually exclusive.

For Greg, How much did you pay for windows 10? As Long as Microsoft can keep other people from peeping into my computer or my affairs, that is OK with me. I too write software/code for a living. I also been using Windows as I have been since 1988 when WINDOWS 3.1 came out. I try Linus once and uninstalled it instantly. I know hackers try mostly for Windows OS. But since of late they are going after all other OS since Windows has been giving them some problem.

So soon no OS will be spared from hackers.

I read this article but I do not understand it.
What action should a computer novice like me take ?
I ordered your new "Back Up" book and am about half way through it. Good book.
Thanks jg

Joe Farkas.....
Many thanks for the DoNotSpy10 tip.
I just installed it and it looks like an awesomely well built piece of software.
Kudos for the tip.

I clicked on some of the links Bob gave and eventually wound up on a site in which a MS guy tried to explain and welcomed questions on any concerns on privacy.

Here's what I wrote:
Not so much a question but some suggestions and requests.

1) I don't want to get a Microsoft account to exercise privacy options. I don't want a Microsoft account under any circumstances. How can I avoid creating one while opting out of stuff I want out of? (And please make it transparent how people can do this. The choice should be the customer's and it should be a free choice.) And if one creates a Microsoft account for a particular purposes and, the purpose accomplished, closes it, does he have the option of erasing all the identifying data he submitted to open it? If not, why not?

2) I don't want to be told how my information is collected and used as much as I don't want my information to be collected in the first place. It is none of your business. Will you now please stop collecting it and calling home with it?

3) Why don't you have an option for 'total privacy'? I would welcome no less.

4) I declined the free upgrade from W7 to W10, though I shouldn't have had to find and delete the paragraph with a K number to do so on my own, which would have done it automatically had I left it intact, whether I wanted it to or not. I sent you an email asking for how to avoid an automatic upgrade. No answer. I had to find it in a newsletter. Will you in future ask your customers what they prefer before doing anything to their machines?

5) I found that paragraph with a K number on my systray after an Update. I later learned its purpose was to upgrade me to W10, without my permission. I then stopped downloading updates. Do you realize the cause and effect here?

6) I also have 8.1 on another computer, which I wish to downgrade to W7. Will you tell me the best way (or must I depend on outside sources)?

7) If ever W7 becomes impractical, I will go to Apple or Ubuntu. Do you realize this is in response to my need to protect my privacy against your ever-increasing encroachments? Do you realize one's privacy is worth a lot more than any conveniences you can provide?

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If you would like to send them something similar, please draft your own wording from scratch. They asked for questions, so I forged my complaints "in the form of a question." One thing you can learn from some quiz shows.

I learned a long time ago how to get rig of add distraction. When I'm watching a tv show at the breaks I will search for things that I have no interest in or could not use even if I did. Doesn't stop the adds but if you have no interest in them they are not a distraction. I would love to see the data they sell to add people for me though.

Bob, you begin today's story by saying: "Microsoft is making changes to Win 10 that please privacy advocates overall."
And you end by saying: "Overall, these privacy gains are welcome."
The technical details appear simple enough: just open a menu and turn off each option.
All of this sounds like good news to me.
How refreshing it would have been to read this story without the glass-half-empty tone!

How does one become a successful affiliate on the inter net?

4 gigabytes? That's kind of ridiculous!

I appreciate your information, your candor in the observations you make...and the fact that we think alike about most technology issues!