Windows 10: A Step Back toward 1984 and Big Brother?

General Forums Off-topic Chat
1

I just read a really disturbing article about Windows 10 privacy (Google it; there are quite a few). In short, the end user has no privacy whatsoever. Microsoft will have access to everything you do, type, and say as well as every web site you ever visit. What’s more, they state clearly in their ‘privacy’ policy that they can disclose or even sell anything they gather from you to anyone they want, any time they want.

I was all ready to jump onto the bandwagon until I read that. In fact, until yesterday, I was signed up and waiting impatiently for the upgrade prompt. Now I’m thinking Windows 7 is going to do me until 2020 when the warranty runs out. After that? I have no idea.

Maybe Linux? Hard to say, really. I’ve checked back with Linux every few years since 1995 and it still looks like a big mess to me.

Apple and the Mac? This year’s models are all sealed up so no hardware upgrades… unless you fork over the big bucks and get the top-of-the-line Mac Pro bucket. Otherwise, what you buy is what you’re going to be using until you go buy a whole new system.

And I really can’t think of another OS that will run high quality software for music production, graphics, video editing, animation and writing. (sigh)

I can only hope that the outcry is so loud that Microsoft rethinks their privacy policy… or someone comes along with a saner OS that actually allows us the privacy we all have the right to.

I just read a really disturbing article about Windows 10 privacy (Google it; there are quite a few). In short, the end user has no privacy whatsoever. Microsoft will have access to everything you do, type, and say as well as every web site you ever visit. What’s more, they state clearly in their ‘privacy’ policy that they can disclose or even sell anything they gather from you to anyone they want, any time they want.

I was all ready to jump onto the bandwagon until I read that. In fact, until yesterday, I was signed up and waiting impatiently for the upgrade prompt. Now I’m thinking Windows 7 is going to do me until 2020 when the warranty runs out. After that? I have no idea.

Maybe Linux? Hard to say, really. I’ve checked back with Linux every few years since 1995 and it still looks like a big mess to me.

Apple and the Mac? This year’s models are all sealed up so no hardware upgrades… unless you fork over the big bucks and get the top-of-the-line Mac Pro bucket. Otherwise, what you buy is what you’re going to be using until you go buy a whole new system.

And I really can’t think of another OS that will run high quality software for 3D, music production, graphics, video editing, animation and writing. (sigh)

I can only hope that the outcry is so loud that Microsoft rethinks their privacy policy… or someone comes along with a saner OS that actually allows us the privacy we all have the right to.I just read a really disturbing article about Windows 10 privacy (Google it; there are quite a few). In short, the end user has no privacy whatsoever. Microsoft will have access to everything you do, type, and say as well as every web site you ever visit. What’s more, they state clearly in their ‘privacy’ policy that they can disclose or even sell anything they gather from you to anyone they want, any time they want.

I was all ready to jump onto the bandwagon until I read that. In fact, until yesterday, I was signed up and waiting impatiently for the upgrade prompt. Now I’m thinking Windows 7 is going to do me until 2020 when the warranty runs out. After that? I have no idea.

Maybe Linux? Hard to say, really. I’ve checked back with Linux every few years since 1995 and it still looks like a big mess to me.

Apple and the Mac? This year’s models are all sealed up so no hardware upgrades… unless you fork over the big bucks and get the top-of-the-line Mac Pro bucket. Otherwise, what you buy is what you’re going to be using until you go buy a whole new system.

And I really can’t think of another OS that will run high quality software for music production, graphics, video editing, animation and writing. (sigh)

I can only hope that the outcry is so loud that Microsoft rethinks their privacy policy… or someone comes along with a saner OS that actually allows us the privacy we all have the right to.

2

Not to mention the new law from new Zealand that bans trolling, basically the thought police, but I digress

Sure they capture your data, but they wont actually use it so… yeah

3

Windows isn’t the only one. Check out Google Now:

“It recognizes repeated actions that a user performs on the device (common locations, repeated calendar appointments, search queries, etc.) to display more relevant information to the user in the form of “cards”.”

“the predictive power of Google Now reveals ‘exactly how much data and information Google actually has about [users’] routines and daily lives.’”

Anyway it doesn’t really matter if you trust Microsoft or Google with that information, neither of those companies have what it takes to keep that information safe from hackers. So even if neither Microsoft nor Google choose to use that wealth of information in a nefarious manner there are those who certainly would choose to use it nefariously and neither Microsoft nor Google can protect that information from those individuals and/or groups.

P.S. Point being it doesn’t matter if Microsoft or Google are the ‘good guys’ or the ‘bad guys’ either way the bad guys are going to get that information.

4

I think Microsoft is trying to make the pirates who crack windows look like the good guys.

5

When did this become a new thing? Literally everyone has been doing that for years now.

6

A link Windows 10 users might find useful:

Windows 10 is Spying on You: Here’s how to Stop it

“Conventional wisdom has it that Microsoft’s fight for technological relevance is against Apple. For a time that was true, but as of late they’ve effectively ceded the floor to the Cupertino mob when it comes to hardware (although I hope the Surface Pro line continues – I’m a big fan) and have once again narrowed their computing focus to software. The battle there is against Google, whose search, browser and productivity tools increasingly form a loose, web-based operating system. People aren’t so hot on paying for things these days, which means the money comes from harvesting data and flogging it to advertisers and other organisations who want to know exactly what we’re all up to online. Microsoft want a piece of that, so if you ever wondered why they’ve made the Windows 10 upgrade free to Win 7 & 8 users, here’s one possible answer. Windows 10 has all sorts of user tracking baked right in…”

“I’ll refer you here and here for a detailed breakdown of the really worrying stuff, but the long and short of it is the operating system assigns you a unique advertising ID, which is is tied to the email address you’ve associated with Windows and fed data from a great many facets of your computer usage…”

“The new version of Solitaire also features ads (see above) unless you pay to unlock them, which is a particularly heartbreaking sign of the times, and that’s one example of somewhere this is likely to weave its dark spell. Essentially, you might wind up clicking on more ads than you otherwise would, because they’re tailored to your interests. Some people may not mind that, others will find it to be profoundly sinister…”

“We will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to.”

P.S. It’s odd too, people were all pissed off when the NSA was doing it, but who cares if Microsoft and Google does it. At least the NSA was doing it for national security purposes and not just to sell you some bullshit you didn’t want in the first place.

7

A couple points here.

  • 1). If you use a tablet or are making use of Facebook, corporations have access to your stuff already. It’s simply become the rule nowadays and an OS like Win7 is now the exception.
  • 2). The reason why companies use targeted ads and byzantine EULA’s now is not because of vicious intents on the company’s part, it is because it’s one of the few proven ways to maintain revenue during an era where many people simply do not want to pay for software and services anymore (meaning if the corporations stopped advertisements and made the product or service commercial, then people would still complain). People think 99 cents for a mobile app. is too expensive, what is Microsoft to do.

The only real way to bring the respect of privacy back is to convince people that they would be better off paying for upgrades and internet services, but making the premium model viable again will be extremely difficult.

8

Oh god don’t give ideas
the last thing I want is for privacy to be, WINDOWS 10 PRO’s selling points.

9

If you want to freeload when it comes to software, you will get your software with the usual ‘free’ strings that come attached.

I think Microsoft didn’t even start the concept of upgrading you at no cost until Windows 8 came out, before then you had to purchase your new OS. Please note that even FOSS software like Linux isn’t ;truly’ free (The reason that Linux Mint is even making the strides it did is because of donation money coming in on a consistent basis).

10

Today, we live in times when many “necessary laws” do not yet exist. Historically, this is the eve of the time during which such laws begin to be enacted: when “the public at large” finally realizes that their world is being invaded.

11

Exactly. How does the old adage go?
“If you’re not paying for a product, then by default you are the product.”

12

The truth is the world is a more dangerous place than it used to be, and it’s not getting any better.

Would you still be singing the same tune when the advent of complete digital privacy leads to you risking your life whenever you step out of your house to a public place?

13

I’m sure the 18th century was so much better.

14

OP is right in my opinion. Windows 10 is just one step closer to the “Ministry of Love”. Sadly today’s Americans are children that think they should be watched over and protected from EVERYTHING. Freedom is a distant memory in this country. Cops have already this year killed over 600 ppl. That is nearly 3 everyday. Ever wonder how the German ppl allowed Hitler and the Nazi to take power? Take a look around.

15

@brent we’re not there yet

It’s still not like 1984, yet anyway
they still can’t monitor you from Television screens, they still don’t control what you eat, they still don’t control what you do.

16

Yeah, as usual with these kinds of articles, they always conveniently leave things out:

We will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to.

Now, when might that be? Well, if I weren´t a conspiracy nut, I would imagine this might be in case of things like child pornography, terrorism or other criminal acts. Do you honestly believe Microsoft would do this in any other case? Could they express themselves better? Sure.

17

@BrilliantApe: The problem there is the vague wording. When it comes to legal terminology one needs to be very specific otherwise it could be interpreted any number of ways by any number of people.

Look at the definitions section and see that they are almost overly specific in defining what they mean when they say something. Here is an example from an end user license defining the word “You.”

“means an individual or a legal entity exercising rights under this License. For legal entities, “You” includes any entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with You. For purposes of this definition, “control” means (a) the power, direct or indirect, to cause the direction or management of such entity, whether by contract or otherwise, or (b) ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares or beneficial ownership of such entity.”

That is extremely specific just to define the word you and it is to ensure that the licenser and licensee cannot twist the meaning to suit their needs.

Microsoft’s wording is extremely vague, any lawyer could make up whatever meaning they want for that phrase to make it suit whatever action Microsoft wants to take. It could be necessary that Microsoft sell the information to a marketing firm because they need money for instance.

Yes I do. Microsoft’s highly paid and highly skilled lawyers know exactly what they’re doing, they know full well the reason to clearly define the meaning behind one statement or another. If they chose not to clearly define something like that there is a reason for it.

18

You answered “How”
but you didn’t answer “Why”

so Why?

19

Well aside from the usual money and power argument…

Microsoft is on their death bed. Microsoft completely missed the Smartphone/Tablet revolution, their market share in the mobile market might as-well be non-existant. New PC sales are dropping at an unprecedented rate and Microsoft needs to find new ways of generating revenue.

Microsoft’s previous efforts to break into new markets have turned up short. Windows Phone is a complete and total failure and Sony has Microsoft’s XBox all but defeated.

Virtually all organisms ever encountered, not the least of which being humans, will do absolutely anything in the name of survival. Microsoft’s back is against the wall and they have no other options. What we’re seeing Microsoft do now is probably the so called nuclear option, the last ditch effort to keep from laying off all their employees and putting their assets up for sale.

20

i have been using Linux only for the last ten years
no real issues

if you want a nice STABLE and current OS
look at OpenSUSE 13.2 in the RPM camp

Mint 17 in the DEB camp

i use OpenSUSE 13.2 as my main EVERYDAY OS and Scientific Linux 6.6 for the must use software that needs a RHEL environment