Windows 10 spies on kids and informs their parents

Apparently Windows 10 spies on kids and informs their parents - By default.

I'm sorry if this has been posted before. I haven't found it. And this is REALLY important.

Such is the sad truth if one believes the story on the webpage of The Independent August 31st 2015. I see no reason to doubt it.

Windows 10 sends a weekly “activity update” on childrens’ internet browsing and computer history to parents, by default and without telling anyone. The feature could be dangerous as well as embarrassing, users have pointed out, allowing parents to watch everything their children do on the computer. The operating system sends a weekly note that includes a list of websites children have visited, how many hours per day they have spent on the computer, and for how long they have used their favourite apps, according to reports.

This is what I have been hating about win10. There are so many annoying hidden features and settings that it's just extremely annoying and frustrating.

Windows 10 is an awesome idea, but Microsoft has done everything in their power to make it complicated and frustrating to use.

Yes the answer to just simply disable the settings, but why do they have to be enabled in the first place? This is an advantage that Win 7 has or 10.

i've been using windows 10 since the update was available for my laptop.
loving it, but like the other person said, some features are not easy to find, kinda like windows mobile, you have to dig around and look for stuff.
I guess this is only active if you enable some safety feature if you have children using the computer.
i don't see why it's a bad thing in theory at least.
it's damned if you do, damned if you don't type of thing
We complain that this feature could be enable to spy on adults.
but if not there at all, parents would complain that microsoft does not help them safeguard their children and will move on to a competitor that does.
sounds like something that does not have a correct answer.
I will fiddle around with this option when i get home and set up to send an email to myself about my browsing.
...i'll try to keep it clean

There are really expensive programs for just this thing.

It's probably in the user accounts section.

This has been done to every person who uses the internet since the late 90's. I'm glad Microsoft finally released the same ability to parents to protect their children, that they use to spy on us.

Maybe its a lose/win?


And..
Children should have zero expectations of privacy ESPECIALLY while online. The internet is a tool, not some basic right that they are entitled to without adult supervision.. The internet is a very dangerous place for children if left unchecked.

But I do understand its a little unnerving when you realize information from your computer is being gathered and put together in report form for someone to read.

a reply to: HolgerTheDane2

Good zooks...I'm more worried about my wife seeing all the crazy stuff I look at...sound the alarms...

You know what they say about strangers bearing gifts...

Smells like Déjà poo to me...

originally posted by: Informer1958
Folks, if you value your privacy and you have Windows 10 you should remove it as soon as possible.

Windows 10 Is Full Blown Electronic Tyranny

Just to make sure that you understand the reason why I think it is very important:

I don't mind at all that parents are in the loop regarding their children's internet habits. Quite the contrary.

What I DO mind is the fact that I think it should be an informed choice, and if parents check up on their kids - as they should - the kids should know that they do.

I'm not very keen on sneaking and censoring.
To be quite honest I once told my daughters that I'd rather they looked at porn than 50 ways to kill people. And I still stand by that.

a reply to: HolgerTheDane2
The parents setup the accounts for activity reports themselves. MS doesn't do it without permission, and it can be turned off any time. I'm no fan of MS, but these threads are getting ridiculous.
Monitor your child's device...

a reply to: HolgerTheDane2

As long as there is an option to disable this, I don't see a problem. As a parent, I want a way to know what my kids are doing online. There are far too many predators around to not know. For mine, it's pretty much gaming, and they know not to post anything personal, but for a lot of kids (most?), there is a lot of social media stuff, and contacting people they don't really know. We are responsible for the safety of our children, and for what they learn. Online is no exception.

This is again part of breaking up families, step by step.

Don't get Windows10, and i wouldn't be suprised if 10 isn't first that does this spying thing, this time it's just massive and public, smells bad.

a reply to: UnHealtyArrogance
What are you talking about?

Get a grip Oo

a reply to: HolgerTheDane2

It's all very well bringing the 'protecting kids' excuse as an emotional persuasion..but in reality it most certainly will not apply to just kids.

It's the fact the there seems to be so much in 10 that is of a monitoring and reporting flavour, that does not make itself immediately obvious to the average win10 user. It stinks of spying on the user.

Yes, kids ought to be monitored by their parents and yes, their internet activities ought to be restricted..but don't hide this stuff in the guts and gears of the operating system without making it obvious to the purchaser of the software, otherwise people will naturally assume the worst, as is the case generally with Win10 right now.

Transparency works wonders to calm the mind.

It seems to me that whoever wrote that article in Independent really has no idea that this feature was in Win 7 and Win 8 for long time, and has nothing to do with windows 10, but with your Microsoft account (be it hotmail, live, outlook... ) that has been linked with child account(s). This is all part of family safety feature of MS accounts.

Kids younger then 13 should not be able to create email unless done through school (where they are cut from outside world) or by parents giving consent for email with Microsoft. (Google does not offer this, and will close email account for anyone younger then 13, this is how my daughter lost her email we used for library)

You actually have to pay 50 cents to verify minors account and part of what you get is this weekly report witch I really don't mind for my kids, telling me how much time they spend in front of computer and what are top web pages / applications they access and for what amount of time.

Creation of local accounts disables this features... but also makes it harder for you to copy settings from one computer to another...

So, imho, it is article that is wrong... poorly made research...

answers.microsoft.com... lf