People are used to talking about how Facebook and Google use personal data, but Microsoft's Windows has always been outside the Internet economy. Regardless of whether the situation is good or bad, it used to be an operating system that was responsible for running software developed by others. Now, Windows 10 is closer to the Internet than any previous PC operating system. It allows people to operate through voice assistant Cortana, store files in the cloud, quickly access WiFi networks, and protect against new cyber threats.
But these features also mean that Microsoft has never been so interested in collecting personal data as it is today.
Many people ask the author, Windows 10 is a "spyware", to invade our lives and hide their true purpose. This argument is too exaggerated. Although its privacy policy is too general, no evidence has yet been found that Microsoft is farther away than other large technology companies in this regard.
But it's important to understand that Microsoft offers a free upgrade to Windows 10 because it has a clear goal to make money from Internet services, ads, apps and games running on the system. Microsoft's finance staff called this new business model "customer lifetime value" —— they don't want to make money only when you buy a new computer, but rather as a long-lasting practice. Microsoft received $3.6 billion in revenue from search engine advertising last year. They did not sell personal data, but they did use it.
The Microsoft spokesperson said that any data shared with Microsoft is left to the consumer's discretion, that is, Microsoft will not collect information without permission.
This is a good thing, but many of Microsoft's data collection mechanisms are enabled by default. Closing these options requires knowing where they are and will involve the use of some features of Windows 10.
What users can do
The most active data collection application is the virtual assistant Cortana. She can track your web search history and check the email to know your preferences and schedule. Most of this information is stored in an editable "Notepad", which is available when you open Cortana. Microsoft's Bing search engine also stores information, users can click "Set & rdquo; & mdash; & mdash; & ldquo; Manage what Cortana knows about me in the cloud" to clear, or go directly to bing.com /account /personalization adjustment.
Microsoft said the company will use "a variety of security technologies and processes" to protect the data collected by Cortana. This data is encrypted when it is transmitted to Microsoft. But law enforcement agencies and government agencies may also force Microsoft to hand over some data.
If you don't want Microsoft to be involved in your personal life, you can choose not to connect Windows 10 to your Microsoft account (in the installation process, when asked to log in with a Microsoft account, select “Create new account” and “ Microsoft account login & rdquo;) In this case, the Windows 10 search box is still valid, but Cortana can not be used without a Microsoft account. Built-in anti-virus software is still available.
Windows 10 may collect data in many other ways, even without logging in with a Microsoft account. In particular, the Edge browser will use Bing as the default search engine, which can track some activities (anonymous if not logged in) and will allow users to see targeted ads. Go to choice.microsoft.com to adjust and users can opt out of ad tracking. Edge also prejudges the pages you want to see, so you can load the pages you might click in advance. This feature can be turned off in the Edge settings.
There are many other switches on privacy in the Windows Settings menu. This includes Microsoft accepting and sharing information about the user's computer UID, location, microphone, camera, and even input habits. If you use the quick install of Windows 10, all of these settings are enabled by default. In the “Settings" menu, users can also limit the use of these features by specific applications.
About WiFi password sharing tool
A feature called "WiFi Sense" in Windows 10 is also somewhat worrying. This feature is meant to share passwords with friends and make connecting to WiFi easier. There is nothing wrong with this feature itself, but you should know its mechanics.
When you log in to a WiFi network under Windows 10, you will be given the option to share logins with Outlook.com, Facebook, and Skype. If you choose, the WiFi login password will be stored in Microsoft's encryption server, and friends will receive these passwords when needed. — they can't see the contents of the password itself, just log in to the WiFi network. In the WiFi settings of Windows, users can decide which networks to share.
If you don't want someone to store and use your own home network password, log in to your friend's computer and turn off the Share checkbox. You can also add the words “_optout” to the name of the WiFi network to avoid using this feature.
No doubt, Windows 10 is Microsoft's new tool. Just like the other “free” things on the web, the responsibility to stay vigilant is all in our own right. Each of us has to decide how much data to share as part of the product and what we can get from it.