New privacy settings coming to Windows 10 get previewed

[HEXUS]

Windows Insiders started to see the improvements roll out a few hours ago.

Read more.

[Ironbuket]

Due to M$'s business model, any forced decrease in data gathering will just be offset by an increase in shoving unwanted revenue generating software and adverts on to the users?

[deepblue08]

Actually, that's more of a $oo$gle model which makes 80% of their profits from ads and selling data collected for ad purposes. MS makes about 5% of their revenue from ads, so I would not stretch that idea that far.

[Ironbuket]

Actually, that's more of a $oo$gle model which makes 80% of their profits from ads and selling data collected for ad purposes. MS makes about 5% of their revenue from ads, so I would not stretch that idea that far.

So what percentage of M$ profits are earned by stealing peoples data?

[spacein_vader]

So what percentage of M$ profits are earned by stealing peoples data?

Technically speaking, none. You give consent as part of the install/upgrade process so they haven't stolen anything.

[Saracen]

Technically speaking, none. You give consent as part of the install/upgrade process so they haven't stolen anything.

By that logic, a conman that duped a little old lady out of her life's savings for unecessary roof repairs hasn't done anything either, because she gave consent.

Did Windows users truly give informed consent? Did most users genuinely understand the methods of data collection, the nature and extent of data collected and the uses to which it may be put? Or did they simply install an operating system, or buy a PC with it already on, and fail to read or understand, the pages of legalese?

If "acceptance" was a clear, plain English (or other native language) explanation of what's bring accepted, together with a genuine choice, then fair enough. In other words, if MS were given a genuinely informed consent to use data, perhaps in exchange for a discount, then fine. But their current 'consent' is about as genuine and informed as that given to the old lady by the conman. Moreover, in my opinion, the mindset MS exhibited in gaining this supposed consent, until forced to change by imminent legal changes, was about the same as the conman's mindset.

Personally, I'd rather pay full retail for an OS that isn't snooping on me, that have a "free" one that is.

[spacein_vader]

By that logic, a conman that duped a little old lady out of her life's savings for unecessary roof repairs hasn't done anything either, because she gave consent.

Did Windows users truly give informed consent? Did most users genuinely understand the methods of data collection, the nature and extent of data collected and the uses to which it may be put? Or did they simply install an operating system, or buy a PC with it already on, and fail to read or understand, the pages of legalese?

If "acceptance" was a clear, plain English (or other native language) explanation of what's bring accepted, together with a genuine choice, then fair enough. In other words, if MS were given a genuinely informed consent to use data, perhaps in exchange for a discount, then fine. But their current 'consent' is about as genuine and informed as that given to the old lady by the conman. Moreover, in my opinion, the mindset MS exhibited in gaining this supposed consent, until forced to change by imminent legal changes, was about the same as the conman's mindset.

Personally, I'd rather pay full retail for an OS that isn't snooping on me, that have a "free" one that is.

Informed consent, I'd guess not. I'm looking forward to GDPR as MS and a few others (I'm looking at you Google,) could be in for some fun.

I agree with you on paid vs. free with snooping too. But even if the wording around consent was clear as day MS are not obliged to make it a discount, they can make it a take it or don't use the software deal. I'd not take it, but then my experiment with Ubuntu (initial driver gremlins aside,) is going well and I have copies of Win 7 & 8.1 that I can use for the old games (and it is virtually just games that aren't available,) that won't play nice elsewhere. I suspect the average Joe will give up their data though.

[Saracen]

Informed consent, I'd guess not. I'm looking forward to GDPR as MS and a few others (I'm looking at you Google,) could be in for some fun.

I agree with you on paid vs. free with snooping too. But even if the wording around consent was clear as day MS are not obliged to make it a discount, they can make it a take it or don't use the software deal. I'd not take it, but then my experiment with Ubuntu (initial driver gremlins aside,) is going well and I have copies of Win 7 & 8.1 that I can use for the old games (and it is virtually just games that aren't available,) that won't play nice elsewhere. I suspect the average Joe will give up their data though.

The discount idea is entirely up to them, but the logic is .... a user's data has value, they want that data then it's not unreasonable to pay the user for it. Rather like store loyalty cards do/did.

What I, personally, really expect is a genuine choice of allowing data snoooping or not, and if not, a quick, simple, easy and permanent (unless the user changes the setting) way to utterly disably it in ALL forms. If that means some functions (like Cortana) don't / can't work, so be it. Turn 'em off.

That said, personally, no way am I using Win10 anyway, and while this is a major reason why not, it's certainly not the only one.