Back in November of 2015, Forbes published an article in which Microsoft Vice President Joe Belfiore admitted that some of the data collection features of Windows 10 could not be disabled. His reasoning was that:
"In the case of knowing that our system that we’ve created is crashing, or is having serious performance problems, we view that as so helpful to the ecosystem and so not an issue of personal privacy, that today we collect that data so that we make that experience better for everyone."
Here are just a few of the things that are included in Windows 10 'disclaimers' regarding data collection...
"In the case of knowing that our system that we’ve created is crashing, or is having serious performance problems, we view that as so helpful to the ecosystem and so not an issue of personal privacy, that today we collect that data so that we make that experience better for everyone."
Here are just a few of the things that are included in Windows 10 'disclaimers' regarding data collection...
"Privacy Disclaimers"
I've added a little bit of commentary here and there, but most of this is legitimately, word-for-word...
Microsoft further admits to collecting the following data:
- Some diagnostic data is vital to the operation of Windows and cannot be turned off if you use Windows.
- ...You can turn this off temporarily, but if it's off for a while we'll turn it back on automatically.
- We'll collect info like contacts, recent calendar events, speech and handwriting patters, and typing history.
- Basic diagnostic and usage data will be collected, and unable to disable this feature from non-Enterprise versions
- 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 good faith belief that doing so is necessary to: 1. comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies; ... 4. protect the rights or property of Microsoft, including enforcing the terms governing the use of services - however, if we receive information indicating that someone is using our services to traffic in stolen intellectual or physical property of Microsoft, we will not inspect a customer's private content ourselves, but we may refer the matter to law enforcement.
- Microsoft collects and uses various types of data...from your emails and text messages, who you call, your contacts and how often you interact with them on your device...your browser hand search history, and more.
- ...unable to disable the sharing of your browsing history and keystrokes with Microsoft...
- The BitLocker (encryption) recovery key for your device is automatically backed up online... (this is very close to breaching your 4th Amendment rights)
- ...automatically sync files and settings...
- By using Wi-Fi Sense, you agree that it can use your location (Furthermore, Windows 10 automatically sends your Wi-Fi password to Microsoft.)
- Technically "Windows Wi-Fi" is a third-party app that accesses your Facebook friend so Microsoft knows who you're friends with...Microsoft doesn't need to ask for access to your Skype and Outlook.com contacts because these other services are both owned by Microsoft and tied to your Microsoft account.
- Data is transmitted to Microsoft and stored with one or more unique identifiers that can help us recognize an individual user on an individual device...
- Microsoft operates a location service that helps determine the precise geographic location of a specific Windows device. Depending on the capabilities of the device, location is determined using satellite global positioning service (GPS), detecting nearby cell towers and/or Wi-Fi access points and comparing that information against a database that Microsoft maintains of cell towers and Wi-Fi access points whose location is know, or deriving location from your IP address.
Microsoft further admits to collecting the following data:
- Programs that are installed
- Speech patterns and queries
- Information on any file that is opened
- How long you use a file
- Information on any program that can open a file
- Key strokes
- Handwritten notes
- Network information: IP Address, network status, operating conditions, device information, etc.
So, what do you think. Is this a breach of privacy, or are we all just overreacting?