By default, Microsoft gets to see your location, keystrokes and
browser history – and listen to your microphone, and some of that stuff
is shared with “trusted [by Microsoft, not by you] partners.”
You can turn this all off, of course, by digging through screen after
screen of “privacy” dashboards, navigating the welter of tickboxes that
serve the same purposes as all those clean, ration-seeming lines on the
craps table: to complexify the proposition so you can’t figure out if
the odds are in your favor.
Oh, and if you’ve already chosen to use Firefox as your default browser, Microsoft overrides your decision
when you “upgrade” and switches you to the latest incarnation of the
immortal undead monster formerly known as Internet Explorer.
For fucks sake, Microsoft. You’re not supposed to be a fucking spyware vendor.
Please spread this around so our friends using Windows 10 (or thinking about using it) will be aware.
This is ridiculous scaremongering. Microsoft isn’t out to steal your credit card information, or .. whatever it is you all are afraid of. Honestly, it’s funny when you kids make fun of adults for being frightened of modern technology, but then you turn around and make silly posts like this.
Look, if you’re really worried about it, you can disable most of this stuffwhile setting up Windows 10, but you know, don’t just go crazy clicking next, next, next. Read everything on the screen, and choose custom over recommended settings whenever you get the opportunity. It’s all there; or most of it, anyway. For example, I had the opportunity to disable various privacy related features, and I was given the choice to replace my default browser with Edge (Microsoft’s new web browser), or leave it be.
If you’ve already installed Windows 10 and you’re concerned about what information is shared or accessible by different apps, it’s honestly so easy to verify and disable. Here, I’ll guide you:
Click Start and then Settings
The Settings app will pop up. Click on Privacy.
And looky here! Very simple display with everything simplified to on/off switches.
Neither hidden nor confusing, my goodness!
On the left are different categories. Most categories allow you to choose which apps are allowed to access what the category details, e.g. under Microphone, you can choose which apps can access the microphone, if any.
Understand that this means allowing certain apps the ability to use your microphone. This doesn’t translate to Microsoft listening in on your everyday activities; it means literally allowing certain apps the ability to utilize the microphone when you want them to. If you’re worried about the potential intricacies, the privacy statement is linked right below the master on/off switch.
Now cut it out with the needless scaremongering of new things you don’t understand, and learn how your new software works.
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