Windows 10!

[Alexander Nicholi]

Citing Snowden is a moot point because, as someone who worked for the NSA, he knew very well how to avoid being tracked by them, something that the average user may not have access to.

And, quite frankly, every high-selling commercial OS has privacy issues. Google is even worse than Microsoft in this regard. Team Fail definitely has a good point. I'd be willing to say that most privacy advocators are probably the people with the most skeletons in the closet, since there's no real reason to be such a staunch privacy supporter if you have nothing to hide. If you do have something to hide, however, it can be eventually found out, and the legal system has means to access your data. Doing bank transactions is a liability, surfing the web is a liability. Cops are everywhere as snitches.

I went over this before about "Having nothing to hide," but apparently since you didn't catch that I'll go ahead and

You can't "have nothing to hide" without knowing what they're looking for, lol. Basic logic says that much. The fact of the matter is you don't even know who these "third parties" are so you have no safety with your information whatsoever.

Do you think that, if I started posting Nazi or terrorism supporting bullshit for example, the police wouldn't even try to find out who I am, where I live, and so on? They can investigate me if they want, and they have the means to find out. If I'm openly commiting a crime, no amount of "privacy" excuses will save me. Encryption, VPNs, Tor, masked emails only delay the process. You WILL leave a footprint somewhere, because hey, we're human and make mistakes, and, when they find it, your whole privacy setup is compromised.

Remaining inconspicuous also involves a good degree of self-control and avoiding getting into sensitive situations. If you don't do that, no "privacy" will save you from the consequences.

Lol, advocating for privacy is far from advocating for crime. Nice try though. No one cares about criminals, they take what they can get. And those arguments against criminals are nice, except governments are well known to gratuitously abuse their power, and have countless times in the past gone out to not only prosecute and convict non-criminals, but even people advocating or protesting in the name of what most people consider good or charitable. That's a rock-solid reason to not give them any more than they need to keep the peace.


And since this topic is supposed to be about Windows, not governments and crime, I'll reiterate that your phone conversations, chat logs, photos, videos, keystrokes, and webcam being Microsoft's analytical guppie for statistics aggregation isn't acceptable. It's worth noting that most people simply don't give a shit, though. Ever wondered why politics suck?

And as for whether privacy is valuable: Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more powerful you are in relation to what you know. That is a truth. So by giving up all of your information you're giving Microsoft and whoever else buys your info from them a stupidly large amount of power over you. Comfortable?

 

[Mana1]

Still waiting for the update on this end ;-;. Forever waiting. Kind of glad I'm not one of the first to get it though!

 

[Legendary Silke]

Still waiting for the update on this end ;-;. Forever waiting. Kind of glad I'm not one of the first to get it though!

Going to guess that you managed to at least reserve it?

 

[Mana1]

Going to guess that you managed to at least reserve it?

Yeah I'm just waiting for the notification, I reserved aggeeees ago so a bit disappointed that its taking so long o_o I was expecting a day or two.

 

[Legendary Silke]

Yeah I'm just waiting for the notification, I reserved aggeeees ago so a bit disappointed that its taking so long o_o I was expecting a day or two.

Try checking Windows Update for new updates. Sometimes that is all it takes to make the computer think "oh, that's right!"

 

[Sir Codin]

https://www.pcauthority.com.au/News...-your-pirated-games-and-illegal-hardware.aspx

Guess which operating system I'm never getting...

 

[Legendary Silke]

https://www.pcauthority.com.au/News...-your-pirated-games-and-illegal-hardware.aspx

Guess which operating system I'm never getting...

I bet people will work around that somehow. :)

That, or it ends up being unenforceable.

Actually, Windows Central just updated and it appears to be yet another non-issue as it's the wrong EULA. (the one tied to Windows itself isn't, the Services Agreement is, but that means that it's referring to XBL and Store content.)

 

[Rukario]

Just one small question in regards to privacy: Why does cortana need to send your data (i.e. what it has "learned" about you ) to Microsoft?



I see no reason what so ever, other than to add to MS's userdata database available to anyone with the right amount of money in their wallet or a gov agency..

No thanks. Annomymouse machine data and hash's is one thing (and can be useful if a program crashed, etc) but detailed search, browsing, what you watch,and so on habits nope. no way.

 

[Mana1]

https://www.pcauthority.com.au/News...-your-pirated-games-and-illegal-hardware.aspx

Guess which operating system I'm never getting...

This feels somewhat ironic.

>Microsoft spying on me!
>Actually doing illegal things that negatively impact on Microsoft (/other gaming companies).

Makes sense they'd do this, really. Surprised they didn't crack down further back, cracked games have been commonplace for like a decade now haha.

 

[Tsutarja]

Honestly, I'm getting tired of the whole "omg microsoft is spying on me that's illegal!!!!!1111!!" issue. I understand that privacy is key to many people (and believe me, it is to me as well), but if Microsoft didn't state that collection of data is in existence, they could get into legal trouble for allowing their users to partake in illegal activities, such as pirating of video games, or torrenting of media.

 

[Legendary Silke]

Just one small question in regards to privacy: Why does cortana need to send your data (i.e. what it has "learned" about you ) to Microsoft?

I see no reason what so ever, other than to add to MS's userdata database available to anyone with the right amount of money in their wallet or a gov agency..

No thanks. Annomymouse machine data and hash's is one thing (and can be useful if a program crashed, etc) but detailed search, browsing, what you watch,and so on habits nope. no way.

Rukario, this actually goes both ways. It'd be actually really handy if, you know, personalization actually sticks when going across multiple machines signed into the same account. Either way, if you don't feel like doing that, you can turn it off and have it be more generic, though it'll also stop some features from working, or have you having to use inferior alternatives. The same information is also being improved to improve the very thing you're using, too.

I think Cortana needs to be that personal in order to be personal in the first place, so yeah. Without that information, it'd be...well, quite generic and unhelpful. (I don't think a personal assistant can even work if it doesn't know anything about you.)

This feels somewhat ironic.

>Microsoft spying on me!
>Actually doing illegal things that negatively impact on Microsoft (/other gaming companies).

Makes sense they'd do this, really. Surprised they didn't crack down further back, cracked games have been commonplace for like a decade now haha.

I'm going to guess that it's probably unenforceable, or if it is, people will get around that really quickly. That, and it appears to be the wrong EULA, anyway.

Either way, more people should spend some time in understanding and (re)configuring privacy-related settings in Windows 10 and I'm sure you'll be a happier person, since you'll have your OS set up exactly the way you like it.

Honestly, I'm getting tired of the whole "omg microsoft is spying on me that's illegal!!!!!1111!!" issue. I understand that privacy is key to many people (and believe me, it is to me as well), but if Microsoft didn't state that collection of data is in existence, they could get into legal trouble for allowing their users to partake in illegal activities, such as pirating of video games, or torrenting of media.

I actually don't think that's exactly what's going on here with the new EULA update.

 

[Legendary Silke]

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/wi...tip-understand-and-configure-privacy-settings

Lest you want to hose the FUD

I doubt that'll stop the FUD if what I've seen on the Internet is of any indication. :)

But, yeah, every bit helps at this point.

 

[Leviathan]

Not to go off piste here or anything, but would anyone happen to know how exactly does one change the default white background for file explorer? I'd like it to be a dark colour instead, to match my theme more. I went looking in the registry but couldn't pinpoint the setting governing it.

 

[Rukario]

Rukario, this actually goes both ways. It'd be actually really handy if, you know, personalization actually sticks when going across multiple machines signed into the same account. Either way, if you don't feel like doing that, you can turn it off and have it be more generic, though it'll also stop some features from working, or have you having to use inferior alternatives. The same information is also being improved to improve the very thing you're using, too.

I think Cortana needs to be that personal in order to be personal in the first place, so yeah. Without that information, it'd be...well, quite generic and unhelpful. (I don't think a personal assistant can even work if it doesn't know anything about you.)

Note

If you want to use Cortana, you must have Getting to know you turned on.

While it may be nice to sync between devices like your pc / lapto and a winphone, by logging in to ohh lets say a MS account.. I still disagree that this info needs to sent to MS. It should all be local, handled at the local level either by usb connecting phone/devices, or via lan wifi. MS has no business knowing wtf you do.

most of these neat new features REQUIRE to login to MS and send your data.. DO NOT WAMT. I want to use these features but only at a local lan or (my) network level.

 

[Alexander Nicholi]

Note

If you want to use Cortana, you must have Getting to know you turned on.

While it may be nice to sync between devices like your pc / lapto and a winphone, by logging in to ohh lets say a MS account.. I still disagree that this info needs to sent to MS. It should all be local, handled at the local level either by usb connecting phone/devices, or via lan wifi. MS has no business knowing wtf you do.

most of these neat new features REQUIRE to login to MS and send your data.. DO NOT WAMT. I want to use these features but only at a local lan or (my) network level.

But Steve, mass data collection is cool! Just give your info up, they won't do anything bad with it, we promise!

I love how people have flatly ignored every point they have no argument against in this discussion. It's as if we didn't even say it, they wen't right back to "it's fine if you're not doing anything illegal" lolol

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/wi...tip-understand-and-configure-privacy-settings

Lest you want to hose the FUD

I stopped reading after the first sentence. Who on earth puts their life's privacy in the hands of how some journalist feels? Is that not insane?

 

[Alexander Nicholi]

Riddle me this: Where's the proof that they're even doing anything with most of this data?

The fact that they're taking it to begin with. Why would they waste their time collecting data they never use?

All that's known is if they find something they don't like (Which at this point seems to be pirated copies of MS software and games, which is probably sifted through using varying degrees of data algorithms and keywords to find offenders), they'll hand it to authorities for persecution.

It's as if everyone is implying that data collection automatically goes to the NSA. There's nothing to tie MS to the NSA right at this moment, unless you've been reading all those documents that Snowden released with a fine-toothed comb?

I never made such a connection. What connection I did make, is that all of that stuff is a very real possibility. And as for the NSA, it's probably not even necessary. They have devices embedded in motherboard and hard drive firmware that tracks what they want to know anyway, a simple Google search will let you know that.

The fact of the matter is, only Microsoft knows what they are doing with the data collection, obviously. Though we do know that they are doing something with it, else why would they collect it? At that point it becomes a matter of trust, and it's wholly irrational to trust a corporation more than you would someone you've never met and probably never will meet. So would you give someone down the street your unedited, uncensored life story? Didn't think so.

I think a big problem with situations like this is that because of how public companies are, people are subconsciously convinced into trusting them easier. Maybe there's a bit of psychological exploration to that, but it sounds about right.

 

[Leviathan]

There's a pair of registry files here you can use to toggle the dark theme. However, it doesn't work in Explorer, although it does work in the Shop and Edge after toggling a setting: https://www.howtogeek.com/222614/how-to-enable-windows-10’s-hidden-dark-theme/.

Yeah, I have it working in other parts of 10, but it's the blaring whiteness in the file explorer that I kinda want to mute the contrast on. I went poking at Windows 10's own contrast settings too but they were horrid, so I suppose I'll sit tight for a while and see if Microsoft brings in anything new.

 

[Rukario]

Yeah, I have it working in other parts of 10, but it's the blaring whiteness in the file explorer that I kinda want to mute the contrast on. I went poking at Windows 10's own contrast settings too but they were horrid, so I suppose I'll sit tight for a while and see if Microsoft brings in anything new.

Guys, for some all-in-one-place tweaks (at least until MS releases something) try https://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.1836

 

[Alexander Nicholi]

Perhaps capture everything so they can sift out what's useful and toss the rest? Android's logcats work very much in the same way.

Again, your guess is as good as mine. We do not know that or anything else about what they're doing with the data, unless they feel like disclosing proof.

It's all the privacy nuts out there that make similar implications to strike fear into the uninformed by writing these articles that make these vague connections.

And then you run into all of these anti-privacy nitwits who are afraid of the realities the privacy nuts bring unto them, and they argue ad nauseam in favour of stranger corporations and companies harvesting their data for no valid reason whatsoever, because they don't like how uncomfortable the truth makes them feel and thusly shut it out.

Well, suppose MS were to do whatever they wanted with the data - that'd open them to a lawsuit very quickly. Therefore, you can't compare some person on a street to a company because one has to be held to a higher legal standpoint than the other.

Show me the law that prohibits them from using the data they collected! I'm sure Microsoft's lawyers would have let them know, or someone would have, before they made the decision to dump so much money into such an endeavour only for it to be moot.

Right now, two things are certain to be done with the data:

1. It's used for the betterment of Windows through error reports and data collection of what's running to find conflicts in hardware and software.
2. This data is probably filtered prior to submission as to find if any cracks or keygens or modified versions are being used - to which they can disable as per the EULA.

And that's all great and wonderful, but again we don't know whatever else they may be doing with it. It's not an exhaustive list, unfortunately.

In addition, there is a modification you can make to your hosts file if you do not like this telemetery stuff - it'll essentially block Windows from being able to do its own reporting.

And then we run into of the issue of whether that actually works. Short of doing a binary audit or them publicizing their source code, it's not useful really. There are other ways, though, such as packet monitoring or such. I'd love to see that explored in some article so you guys can all lose your marbles and call the author a privacy nut.

 

[Leviathan]

Guys, for some all-in-one-place tweaks (at least until MS releases something) try https://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.1836

Oh, I've never seen this site before. Thank you for the helpful link!