Windows 10: Privacy issues

Now I have had a look and cannot find anything near what I want to know.
My beef with Windows 10 is and always will be the issue with privacy because I don't believe anyone has the right to access my personal data and email content which always has the probability of containing very intimate and private details about myself or my family.
If emails for example can be accessed then what about my banking details? because it seems to me not a day goes by where I do not read an article that details how and what Microsoft can use this operating system to invade what I consider my absolute right to say, type and do what I want to without such data being basically in the public domain.
In my mind it is tantamount to me broadcasting everything about me across the net so that anyone can know just about everything about me.
There are also other items such as what I have to download ie updates without any choice over what they may contain, and they have taken away as far as I can tell programs that I would have to source elsewhere ie WMP.

Now as for emails if I use a non Microsoft based email service ie Thunderbird is Microsoft going to be able to access data from that too??

I am asking because I can see the day coming when 10 will be the only Microsoft OS available and in that case if the conditions are not changed then I would have to look elsewhere for an OS that I can use for my personal data.

As you may see I am extremely disappointed and in part outraged that they (Microsoft) are allowed to do this to private citizens, especially when so much fuss is made whenever mention is made of the police, or security agencies even hint at accessing data in order to investigate individuals.

Moreover one has to pay for the privilege of such intrusion.

:)

 

Privacy Issues

Thank you in advance, I am not one bit computer savvy and having reservations about the privacy and control of my pc. The story goes like this....

My PC was a birthday gift from employer which happens to be my family business. How can I tell if I am part of a workgroup? I wasn't told I would be when it was gifted and have concerns over just how in control I am of my PC. I no longer work for the family
business and haven't for some time.

I noticed some strange things happening with my PC and trusted a couple of people to look at it however they failed to let me explain my concerns and 1 tried to run windows 7 as she didn't know windows 10.

Now it says Windows is not activated, go to settings and when I do it says the pc is running a home version and I need the product key.....I don't have this information. I'm just not sure where to start.

Kind Regards

 

Privacy Issues

well believe what do you want

 

Out of 7 billion people on Planet Earth and you are worried that someone is looking to do you harm. . .then the first thing you need to do is unplug from the internet, then you just might be sight form the bad folks out there wishing to do you a great deal of harm. . .good luck with that. . .*Smile

 

Quite frankly Lee I did not say anything about anyone doing me harm what I DID say was I object most strongly to people like Microsoft making a product that could, can and will delve into and divulge my own personal details which could be of very intimate and personal nature including for example medical histories which I am sure that you yourself would be most upset if it were accessed and open to any operator who could use that information for any use they thought fit.
You seem very blaise' about what is accessed using Windows 10 and it indicates to me that you are quite apathetic as to the feelings of others such as myself wanting to maintain some level of anonymity when it comes down to personal info. The fact is that suing Windows over the years has required me to give out personal info to Microsoft and I think that quite fair enough for purposes of doing business.

Now I am quite aware to and not so naive as to think that my info can be accessed by anyone hacking my system, and to me that would be my decision to take that risk. For a company who I pay good money to and have done so over the years to deliberately take over what I use my computers for and pay for the privilege is to me at least quite wrong, and boarders on the unethical.

 

FWIW, In the US we have HIPAA laws that would prevent that from occurring and if it did MS would be ripped apart in any court in this country. HIPAA laws require that release of any medical information must be signed off by the patient before the Dr can send the information to anyone. Health Information Privacy

Overall MS is the least of my concerns.. hackers are the ones to watch out for.,
My 2c on this subject..

 

What does not stop amazing me is how selective some users read the news and the information available. "This article / blog post supports my opinion, therefore it must be valid and true" versus "This article / blog post seems to contradict what I've heard and believe, therefore it must be false, disinformation".

Microsoft really do not collect and share your banking data and credentials, nor do they collect and share your medical records. Microsoft does not call your sister-in-law and tell her that you called her a bitch in your phone conversation or email or Skype chat, Microsoft will not inform your neighbors about you checking in to an adult website. Microsoft will not collect and share your credit card information apart of storing your chosen payment details for Microsoft and Windows Stores, exactly as any other online merchant like Amazon and others do.

Paul Thurrott, one of the most widely known Windows experts says this:

(Quote from Microsoft Finally Confirms That Windows 10 Does Not Violate Your Privacy - Thurrott.com)

He also gives simple instructions to increase your privacy if the defaults are not what you want to: Windows 10 Tip: Understand and Configure Privacy Settings - Thurrott.com

This really is no rocket science: Microsoft has never nor will they ever force anyone to use Windows 10. It's up to you to decide if you want to be part of the future of Windows operating systems. If not, get a Mac or if it's too expensive, wipe the HDD on your PC and install any of the free Linux distros.

 

If my reply did not go through Bunny what you posted made a little more sense instead of saying that I should stay off the net.
At least you have made an effort to ease some of my concerns because I posted what I did because I value my individuality as much as the rest of the 7 billion others around me.
I would use Windows 10 if I knew I could be totally safe ie medical info and intimate and personal details.

Thank you *Smile

 

Thanks to you too Kari I am glad that some do appreciate my concerns re 10. I have to add tough that there are features I would have to spend a lot of time getting used to especially the app look of the desktop and the update no choice of course.

 

Whoever said Windows 10 is the future of operating systems ?

Whatever happened to this being a help forum and not an argument forum, back to Windows Seven forums.

Just defending a friend *Smile

Lee, why is every post you make ludicrous ? You make the US look bad man *Redface

John is a nice respectful member, don`t dis him like that, next time, don`t post *Mad

And maybe Santa will finally give/make/create you a real avatar *Biggrin

 

I don't know who has said that.

The selective reading and understanding seems to continue. You are clearly referring to my post, in which I stated this:

It requires quite a verbal somersault talent to read "... if you want to be part of the future of Windows..." and purposely interpret it as "Windows 10 is the future of operating systems" to get it argumentative.

Please allow me to check that I understand you correctly so that I can change my posting behavior to something you could accept: You mean that however groundless invalid statements are presented about MS spying or any other topic, we should always take such posts in their face value and leave misunderstandings, wrong beliefs based on ill-intended rumors, invalid information and such in peace, not correct them? Especially if they are posted by a nice respectful member? Wrong information should stay for the sake of not arguing with its presenter?

My post was not impolite, rude or insulting in any way. I presented an opinion and some facts. For your information, John seemed to understand it better than you, judging by his response:

A bit confused,

 

Look I am rather sorry I asked in the first place because I have not got any answers really that provide me with what I wanted to know ie an email service that is not directly controlled by Windows.

Mike (AddRam) quite rightly picked up Lee for being (what I thought best not to answer) rather blaise' and disrespectful in reply to what is a major concern of mine - not to mention probably a whole host of other users of Microsoft's products.

I accept that in all probability that my data and personal details would not be accessed - it is the principal of it all and I think that most individuals would agree that personal means just that and not open to anyone accessing one's data - however trivial it may be without the explicit permission of the owner of the information call it what you will.

I would like to know just what information is going to be gathered and I think that emails in particular are sacrosanct between myself and whoever I communicate with. If Microsoft are so adamant about collecting information then they should get explicit permission from each and every individual user to do so, and be explicit on what form of information is going to be and why they need to know before one could make an informed decision, and not be a s I said just one of the lemmings that follow the rest to oblivion. It simply doesn't make sense to me that an intelligent person would blithely give away their right like this. It to me is like me agreeing to a telephone company to listen in on my calls and make of them what they will.

 

Your Windows Phone rings, Cortana pipes up and says "Johnny, you got a text message from Jimmy, would you like me to read it, reply or disregard it?"
That's basically what's meant by gathering your info, nothing more!

 

@ ICIT2LOL

You've been harping on emails, and have given the impression you've likened the email system, as it relates to Microsoft, to the United States Postal Service and Microsoft is the federal government. IF you're thinking that, you are wrong.

There are plenty of other operating systems producers out there. They can't all be federal governments.

There are plenty of email systems operated by entrepreneurs, some fly-by-nights, some dinosaurs and some who have enormous credibility, stability and reliability. The two I have used in my existence (non-Microsoft) both warned that emails can be captured and read when I open them. That is not the fault of Microsoft. That is the fault of the users not demanding or not willing to pay for a more secure email system. Ask Hillary Clinton.

As someone who dons a tin hat now and then, I see that Microsoft offers us an operating system that is less configurable than in the past. But it is still configurable as it relates to privacy. Obviously, transparency is not Microsoft's strong suit. So, yes, the conspiracy theorist in me 'knows' that I can be identified, I can be tracked and my behavior can be predicted. But Microsoft doesn't occupy that throne alone. Many commercial enterprises count on that capability to help with their revenue stream.

My browser sends telemetry data back to the coder. I do not expect the team of programmers to be more concerned about my private info than the data indicating the software is problematic. Other software also send telemetry data, moreso just to get an idea of the number of users. Oftentimes, the number of downloads is not indicative of usage.

Privacy is only important if I can be leveraged by private information. With my tin hat on, I am worried that hackers can read my emails when I do, and do damage to my relationships revealed in the emails. I don't believe Microsoft will be a participant.

 

Very good Edwin and I don't want to sound pedantic or just plain rude but what if that text message contained intimate or very personal information? That means that some automaton has intercepted information meant for me - in effect reading my personal data whatever that may be - before I even know it is available.
What bothers me is that this happens at all I personally want complete anonymity from anyone or thing else. I don't need a Microsoft product to tell me I have a message - I can actually read it myself.