Katherine Albrecht: Windows 10 Is Full Blown Electronic Tyranny

a reply to: Bedlam

A bit is a bit of an understatement. But it's usable at least.

OP, just remember the Prism debate and Microsofts admissions regarding to data collection for the NSA. (Microsoft handed the NSA access to encrypted messages) Nothing is likely to have improved since then and a lot of tech bloggers are exposing Windows 10 spying;

• I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10
  
• ‘Incredibly intrusive’: Windows 10 spies on you by default
  
• Windows 10 is spying on you - Business Insider
  
• Microsoft openly offered cloud data to the NSA. With Windows 10 releasing this summer, and having OneDrive embedded and unremovable, have we forgot that it was already compromised?

Again, most of this is over the privacy settings in Windows 10, a separate issue from the NSA's backdoor.

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

Wow. So basically, not only should I not upgrade any of my devices to Windows 10... according to this graphic, I shouldn't let any Windows 10 device on my wifi, nor should I take any of my lower-level devices to Starbucks, in case there is a device running Windows 10 on their wifi.

Fabulous.

originally posted by: Informer1958
a reply to: Blackmarketeer

My question is, why dose the government and Microsoft need all of our information?

Not for our own good or amusement I promise you that. Nearly all of us probably have something on our computer somewhere they could toss us in jail for - or they can plant it there like kiddie pr0n. If they want they don't have to give us a trial or even tell anyone that they are holding you. You can be black bagged out of existence, legally. Still, knowing what we do, what we want, where we go, why we do what we do - those are all questions which , when answered give them power over us. Had an affair and emailed your lover? Uh-oh. In the end it's still easier to convince people to act a certain way rather than forcing them. Having all our information makes their propaganda that much more effective.

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

‘Incredibly intrusive’: Windows 10 spies on you by default

Microsoft’s new Windows 10 operating system is immensely popular, with 14 million downloads in just two days. The price of the free upgrade may just be your privacy, though, as changing Windows 10’s intrusive default settings is difficult.
Technology journalists and bloggers are singing Windows 10’s praises, often using the words such as “amazing,”“glorious” and “fantastic.” The operating system has been described as faster, smoother and more user-friendly than any previous version of Windows. According to Wired magazine, more than 14 million people have downloaded their upgrade since the system was released on Wednesday.

While the upgrade is currently free of charge to owners of licensed copies of Windows 8 and Windows 7, it does come at a price. Several tech bloggers have warned that the privacy settings in the operating system are invasive by default, and that changing them involves over a dozen different screens and an external website.

www.rt.com...

The average user do not know how to disable most of these features. I certainly don't know. People are going to have to research on YouTube for basic instructions on how to disable these features.
This is one of your links you provide us, Thank you again for giving us this info.

a reply to: Informer1958

People are going to have to research on YouTube for basic instructions on how to disable these features.

Why youtube? Poor reading skills?
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Windows '95 all the way! Nothing newer than that is necessary.

Windows 10 is spying on you — at least that’s what this developer thinks

Porta says, when the settings are on, Microsoft will have free rein to collect any data it wants and concludes: “I might as well relocate my computer to Microsoft headquarters and have the entire company look over my shoulder.”

www.businessinsider.com...

a reply to: IridiumFlareMadness

Hell, DOS worked fine.

It's easy enough to disable your mic, camera etc. I'll not upgrade yet simply because it's too early.. there are too many issues still with Windows 10, including their auto update, which until their recent patch, was mandatory. Which is not a great thing. It's still mostly mandatory, except for those who know which updates to bypass. I usually give a new OS at least a year before I leap in.

For "Go Linux!".. sure.. but for businesses that's typically not a reasonable option.

OneDrive is optional.. except for the fact it's the only reasonable way to use OneNote on multiple devices. So I don't care for the allegations that they are openly allowing the NSA to have access to their cloud service.. when last year, they were supposedly thumbing their nose at the NSA for the same access. I'll certainly have to read more about that.. not great for businesses.

As far as privacy goes, unless you are incredibly well schooled in ways to prevent it, most of your activity on the Internet can be tracked, captured, analyzed at someone's leisure. Not that the NSA cares personally what you do. Their software filters for certain items.. there is no way they can track everything that is done. The data center they recently built in Utah is about a mile long. The amount of data they capture on any given day is ridiculously huge. They honestly couldn't care less if you pirate a game, or steal a song, or browse porn, or doing whatever it is you might be doing.

I'm in no rush to upgrade to Windows 10, but has little to do with the privacy issues honestly.

I'm was seriously considering Windows 10 until I watched this video explaining how to disable all the data collection, and I could not believe how many different settings had to be changed. I can't imagine how much bandwidth would be wasted by having all those settings constantly enabled. That's my other issue with new Windows operating systems, they assume everyone has a permanent high speed connection to the internet and an unlimited amount of bandwidth, so they try to integrate everything with the cloud. I'm the type of person who wants the minimum number of incoming and outgoing connections at any given time. My Comodo Firewall will tell me what apps are using up bandwidth in the background and I disable them.

Also about the Internet in general. People want it all - they want to be protected, and hackers to be caught, and pedos and drug dealers to be tracked down.. but they want 100% privacy as well. It's completely impossible to do this. They want safety while online.. but they want no limitations on what they do. They want free websites and services and software.. but they hate pop-ups or anything a website does to earn money to stay afloat. People are simply spoiled with the Internet.

They want amazingly brilliant computers that can track everything you do so your life is easier.. to schedule and help your kids do their homework and be personalized around you and your life. But they don't want anything recorded or tracked or monitored. This is also impossible. With the Internet, people seriously are spoiled. They want all the luxuries with complete protection and safety, without being tracked.. but while having computer software learn their habits to serve them better. The best rule of thumb.. if you have any sort of network adapter enabled on your computer, presume your privacy is very low.

a reply to: fleabit

The best rule of thumb.. if you have any sort of network adapter enabled on your computer, presume your privacy is very low.

In a nutshell. Yes.

originally posted by: ChaoticOrder
I'm was seriously considering Windows 10 until I watched this video explaining how to disable all the data collection, and I could not believe how many different settings had to be changed. I can't imagine how much bandwidth would be wasted by having all those settings constantly enabled. That's my other issue with new Windows operating systems, they assume everyone has a permanent high speed connection to the internet and an unlimited amount of bandwidth, so they try to integrate everything with the cloud. I'm the type of person who wants the minimum number of incoming and outgoing connections at any given time. My Comodo Firewall will tell me what apps are using up bandwidth in the background and I disable them.

Most folks don't realize how many services Google offers.. it's nearing 200 now. Once they implemented their new privacy standards, I disabled almost all of them on my and my wife's computer. It's just as convoluted.. which of course, is on purpose. I don't think it's something super-nefarious on Google's part.. they just want to tie their services together in a way to better learn what you want or need, so they can make more money off of you. Capitalism baby.

MS is no different.

As far as the # of things people have running that goes out to the Internet.. it's much more than people think. File sharing sites (Box, Dropbox, etc.), music sites, social sites, even your printer driver software. Most software you load these days has an open connection to the Internet for one reason or another.

But honestly.. people have no idea the # of ways they can be hacked. For example.. Flash Player. Disabled in IE or Firefox? ok. But.. did you go into your settings in Adobe Reader and disable the feature that allows Adobe to open Flash files (which is on by default)? I doubt it.. few even know this exists. Yet it's a prime way folks get viruses. Computers with any sort of Internet connection pass a ridiculous amount of traffic most don't know about.

When my jobsites complain about their Internet speeds, I show them reports generated via the Meraki equipment I set them up with.. and they are stunned at the amount of crap their own people (or themselves) cause, and had no idea.

for those looking for an easy way to disable pesky tracking services get oosu10

here www.oo-software.com...

basically turn off unwanted services that may report user input data.

or explicitly shut options via the 'god mode'

winsupersite.com...

or simply renaming some windows services folders [back up first] (not recommended) can disable or allow you to uninstall native win10 bloatware like Cortana.
hope this helps. cheers.

I'd actually want to use Cortana. I think that will be one of the cooler features of Windows going forward. Cortana, Amazon Echo, etc.. I'm looking forward to a fully interactive assistant. Stark Industries oh yea! ; )

originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: Informer1958

Oh, your one of those who believe all YouTube videos are lies.

That does not follow from the statement which was made.
You are attempting to establish a false dichotomy. That is a logical fallacy.

I will, eventually, install Windows 10. And disable the questionable "features."

But, can you be totally sure 'they' are disabled? my hair is blue, but until we meet in person, you will have to take my word for it. (its white actually)

I recently installed a linux os on my pc because of this.

It is a lot different and I'm finding it difficult to learn, but learn I will.

I'm not a politician or a cyber criminal, just don't like people, or fictitious people/corporations spying on me.

a reply to: pikestaff
I don't really care if your hair is blue.
Nor do I particularly care if Microsoft (or anyone else) knows that I bought a Roomba for $150 on Ebay. Score!

a reply to: andy06shake

already on it, if any windows 10 users are interested

windows 10 privacy/spying patch

Key features of the app:
- Delete "Diagnostics Tracking", "WAP Push Message" Services and Keylogger feature
- Disable domains for feedback - Ban user specified unwanted domains
- Disable Unwanted scheduled tasks - Remove unwanted Windows 10 Metro apps
- Disable AdvertisingID
- Disable websites to access your language list
- Disable speech, inking and typing knowing (disable Cortana)
- Disable web search in the search box
- Can add your own lines into the "hosts" file during the process
- Creates Restore Point to support rollback - Free system resources like memory and CPU time; this makes notebooks to run a little more time on the battery power
- It's multilanguage: English, Chinese, German, Russian
- Language autoselection on the app startup
- Small size, less than 400Kb
- It's 100% free, without ads and hidden activity

More precisely, you can remove XBOX, Solitaires, OneDrive, Mail, Calendar, People or Builder 3D, as well as various media tools (namely News, Weather or Sports). All in all, "Remove Windows 10 Spying Features" can be used by all those who are worried about their privacy when using Windows 10. This app is very simple and can be used by beginner users as they simply need to press a button to disable the tracking.

windows 10 privacy/spying patch