Windows 10 is spying on almost everything you do – here’s how to opt out
Windows 10 is amazing. Windows 10 is fantastic. Windows 10 is glorious. Windows 10 is faster, smoother and more user-friendly than any Windows operating system that has come before it. Windows 10 is everything Windows 8 should have been, addressing nearly all of the major problems users had with Microsoft’s previous-generation platform in one fell swoop.
But there’s something you should know: As you read this article from your newly upgraded PC, Windows 10 is also spying on nearly everything you do.
DON’T MISS: Windows 10: The first 5 things you need to do immediately after you install it
It’s your own fault if you don’t know that Windows 10 is spying on you. That’s what people always say when users fail to read through a company’s terms of service document, right?
Well, here is Microsoft’s 12,000-word service agreement. Some of it is probably in English. We’re pretty sure it says you can’t steal Windows or use Windows to send spam, and also that Microsoft retains the right to take possession of your first-born child if it so chooses. And that’s only one of several documents you’ll have to read through.
Actually, here’s one excerpt from Microsoft’s privacy statement that everyone can understand:
Finally, 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: 1.comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies; 2.protect our customers, for example to prevent spam or attempts to defraud users of the services, or to help prevent the loss of life or serious injury of anyone; 3.operate and maintain the security of our services, including to prevent or stop an attack on our computer systems or networks; or 4.protect the rights or property of Microsoft, including enforcing the terms governing the use of the 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.
If that sentence sent shivers down your spine, don’t worry. As invasive as it is, Microsoft does allow Windows 10 users to opt out of all of the features that might be considered invasions of privacy. Of course, users are opted in by default, which is more than a little disconcerting, but let’s focus on the solution.
Rock Paper Shotgun has broken things down into four main bullet points that will guide you through regaining control of your personal data.
READ MORE: 5 common problems people are having with Windows 10 – and how to fix them
First, you’ll want to open Settings and click on Privacy. There, you’ll find 13 different screens — yes, 13 — to go through, and you’ll want to disable anything that seems worrying. The blog notes that most of the important settings can be found on the General tab, though other tabs are important as well. For example, you’ll definitely want to adjust what types of data each app on your system can access.
Next, users should consider dumping Cortana. Yes, the voice-driven assistant is easily one of the best new features in Windows 10, but it also plays fast and loose with your data. As a result, many users will find that the benefits do not outweigh the risks.
For the third task, you’ll have to venture outside the confines of your PC and hit the web. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to check out Microsoft’s nifty new Edge browser. In it, click on this link and set both “Personalised ads in this browser” and “Personalised ads wherever I use my Microsoft account” to off. This will disable Microsoft’s Google-style ad tracking features.
The last tip is one that most users will likely forgo, as it is a bit excessive. Rock Paper Shotgun recommends removing your Microsoft account from Windows 10 completely and using a newly made local account instead. This way, Microsoft doesn’t grab hold of all your data to sync it across machines. To us that’s a great and useful feature, but if you want to kill it just follow the link below in our source section for complete instructions and plenty more details.
Date: August 04, 2015 at 11:13:07 From: Skywise, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Video on How To Stop It Spying & Logging Activity - Step By...
And then watch the whining really start. I'm not knocking linux, but it is not an easy OS to work with. If you can't figure out how to configure windows to be 'safe', trying to install and use linux will be a waste of your time. Yes, it's 'safer' in many respects, but you have to have know what you are doing.
Windows has the advantage of pretty much working "out of the box". And with a little effort you can make it 'safe' as well.
Anyway, I'd wager that 95% of folks' computer problems are because they did something stupid. Sorry. But it's true. The CD tray is NOT a cup holder. But more realistically, bad 'surfing' habits abound. I have been playing with computers for over 30 years, so I guess that explains why I have never been infected by anything. But when I hear what some people did before things went wrong with their computer, I think "why on earth would you even think to do that?"
I'm just saying, a little knowledge goes a long way.
I'm sure Windows 10 can be locked down nice and tight once you learn what to do.
Date: August 05, 2015 at 15:17:26 From: Skywise, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Video on How To Stop It Spying & Logging Activity - Step By...
I understand you can run windows through emulation on linux.... Wine I believe it's called.
True that there are linux versions for most common software. If all one does is 'surf the net' and play around on facebook and twitter and other mindless tasks, linux has all you need. Heck, most smart phones and tablets are running some form of 'nix on the inside.
However, not everything is available on the linux side. Or as good. Even though I'm still using windblows, I do prefer to find free open source programs where I can. As a general rule, those are also available on linux so I have some idea with what's available. There's a few items I've never found that are as good as what's on windows. For example, gimp may do everything photoshop or paint shop pro can do, but it's interface is just absolutely horrible.
And as a minor point, I actually have a piece of high end audio hardware for my computer that is not supported on linux at all. And that's something you can't run through an emulator as it's low level direct hardware access.
BTW, now I know where you keep your financial stuff. ;)
Date: August 05, 2015 at 16:55:10 From: Roger Hunter, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Video on How To Stop It Spying & Logging Activity - Step By...
Brian;
> I understand you can run windows through emulation on linux.... Wine I believe it's called.
Wine only does some programs. You can install Windows on a Virtual Reality drive tho.
> True that there are linux versions for most common software. If all one does is 'surf the net' and play around on facebook and twitter and other mindless tasks, linux has all you need. Heck, most smart phones and tablets are running some form of 'nix on the inside.
True.
> However, not everything is available on the linux side. Or as good. Even though I'm still using windblows, I do prefer to find free open source programs where I can. As a general rule, those are also available on linux so I have some idea with what's available. There's a few items I've never found that are as good as what's on windows. For example, gimp may do everything photoshop or paint shop pro can do, but it's interface is just absolutely horrible.
Granted. Amateurs have their limitations.
> And as a minor point, I actually have a piece of high end audio hardware for my computer that is not supported on linux at all. And that's something you can't run through an emulator as it's low level direct hardware access.
Could be done tho if there was enough demand for it.
> BTW, now I know where you keep your financial stuff. ;)
Date: August 05, 2015 at 21:19:40 From: Skywise, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Video on How To Stop It Spying & Logging Activity - Step By...
>> For example, gimp may do everything photoshop or >> paint shop pro can do, but it's interface is just >> absolutely horrible.
> Granted. Amateurs have their limitations.
I think the problem was they were trying as hard as possible to not be like the other software. Well, they succeeded.
>> And that's something you can't run through an >> emulator as it's low level direct hardware access.
> Could be done tho if there was enough demand for it.
But it would be up to the manufacturer to write it. In my specific case, the product is already discontinued. Most high end audio equipment and software, and I mean the really professional stuff, only support windows and mac. Linux is simply too small a market to invest in.
Brian
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Date: August 04, 2015 at 10:17:17 From: mr bopp, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Video on How To Stop It Spying & Logging Activity - Step By...
gppd point roger...
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Date: August 03, 2015 at 22:59:02 From: sheila, [DNS_Address] Subject: Re: Video on How To Stop It Spying & Logging Activity - Step By Step...
yeah, I kept getting these "prompts" to get Windows 10 which I didn't want. When I went to task manager I saw a new service, can't remember the name now, something like "dwx" ? I googled it a couple of months ago, got rid of the spy service, and the little "Windows 10 reserve your copy now" thingy such that it totally disappeared and will never update Windows 7 unless they totally cut me off.
Always check the task manager to see if any new services appear and if there's any updates, make darned sure you aren't going to get Windows 10, they are pushing it bigtime so be careful.