Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

jonathan.porta.codes

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

331–340 of 596 posts

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#331

Post by brownbat »

ewzimm wrote: post #20

Windows is now essentially a personalized, cloud-based operating system with the primary interface as a personal assistant, so I expected to see all these things as defaults. The advanced features just couldn't work without it. I'm glad there's at least an opt-out, but I do think that Windows needs an OS-wide incognito mode, just a simple switch to record or not record data. I generally use that on my browser for whe…

> OS-wide incognito mode

Great point...

Where's that utopian future where we bounce between a dozen purpose-built VMs, each customized to the task we're doing?

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#332

Post by sudioStudio64 »

shabbyrobe wrote: post #318
alyx wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get this whole skepticism thing, but Microsoft has been backing up BitLocker keys in OneDrive since at least Windows 8. I have personally used the feature several times to recover my drive keys. There's no evidence here that Microsoft has installed a "back door" for the FBI.

Would you assume that they haven't and trust your secrets to that assumption?

And what secrets are those? If you think that you are secure because you don't use bitlocker or windows AND THAT'S ALL that you do...you aren't secure, you just have bad UI.

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#333

Post by Jare »

bpodgursky wrote: post #251
quadrangle wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do not consent to you and others giving Microsoft (or Google or Facebook etc…) all the personal information this necessarily reveals about me when you accept their terms and have any electronic interactions with me.

That's not your consent to give. If you tell me your name, I'm free to repeat that to whoever I want. If you aren't ok with public information being re-broadcasted, don't go outside.

Can you cite a source that describes that freedom?

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#334

Post by sudioStudio64 »

brownbat wrote: post #331
ewzimm wrote: post #20

Windows is now essentially a personalized, cloud-based operating system with the primary interface as a personal assistant, so I expected to see all these things as defaults. The advanced features just couldn't work without it. I'm glad there's at least an opt-out, but I do think that Windows needs an OS-wide incognito mode, just a simple switch to record or not record data. I generally use that on my browser for whe…

> OS-wide incognito mode Great point... Where's that utopian future where we bounce between a dozen purpose-built VMs, each customized to the task we're doing?

There's an OS project run by Joanna Rutkowska and some other folks called Qubes that does exactly that. It's really interesting work by sharp people.

https://www.qubes-os.org/

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#335

Post by Dylan16807 »

dimino wrote: post #234
jblow wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whether they don't right this second doesn't matter. Their terms of service say they can . If they decided it was unthinkable that they would ever do this, they could have written their TOS to be less overreaching. But they didn't do that. Therefore they think it's a possibility (if in fact they are not already doing it. Are you so sure? How do you know?)

They also didn't specifically preclude the possibility of commandeering my computer by pushing an update that'll force me to mine bitcoin for them, but I can be pretty damn sure that's not going to happen. But let me rephrase anyway: I'll bet everything in my pocket that Windows 10 does not, nor will they ever , keylog every stroke and send it back to Microsoft servers for storage. I can be sure of this the same way…

The license agreement should be set up such that installing a bitcoin miner is not allowed despite not being explicitly mentioned. Same for key logging.

Companies need to get out of the habit of writing terms of service that permit the world.

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#336

Post by qmalxp »

smacktoward wrote: post #148
noxToken wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm getting sick of having to open incognito mode on Chrome unless I want Google Now to happily repeat whatever I was looking at later. Isn't that what incognito mode is for? If don't want your searches in cards at all, you completely opt-out of the cards that are strictly based on your search history. Ctrl+Shift+N seems like a small, reasonable step to go off the record. What is the alternative?

Why are you complaining about having to wear a bag over your head whenever you go out to pick up your prescriptions or meet your mistress, citizen? It's a small, reasonable step to go off the record. What is the alternative?

I mean, if you wanted to be sure you wouldn't get caught with your mistress, you basically would have to wear a bag on your head, no? Or at least her meet her indoors. You certainly wouldn't complain about invasion of privacy when your wife's friend sees you with the mistress on a date.

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#337

Post by PhantomGremlin »

MichaelGG wrote: post #50
ewzimm wrote: post #20

Windows is now essentially a personalized, cloud-based operating system with the primary interface as a personal assistant, so I expected to see all these things as defaults. The advanced features just couldn't work without it. I'm glad there's at least an opt-out, but I do think that Windows needs an OS-wide incognito mode, just a simple switch to record or not record data. I generally use that on my browser for whe…

Yeah there should definitely be a "Hey Cortana, off the record,..." query mode. I'm a bit conflicted now. My girls are 7 & 9 and they've been using Microsoft Accounts. With the final Win10 build having all this (none of these settings worked a few months ago), it looks like I've got a lot of reading and explaining to do for them.

My girls are 7 & 9 and they've been using Microsoft Accounts.

Well, maybe Child Protective Services should be involved? They intervene when children walk home alone from the park, perhaps they'll start to intervene when children are raised to use Microsoft products? http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/04/13/parents...

Just kidding, of course. But my daughters are now 14 and 17 and I don't think they know how to use Microsoft products. We've been on OS X for about 10 years.

So maybe CPS should investigate me? Am I doing my kids a dis-service by not exposing them to the dominant OS?

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#338

Post by Sir_Substance »

matthewmacleod wrote: post #242
quadrangle wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do not consent to you and others giving Microsoft (or Google or Facebook etc…) all the personal information this necessarily reveals about me when you accept their terms and have any electronic interactions with me.

I appreciate what you're trying to say, but ultimately... Sucks to be you. If you don't want others to share that data, you'll have to stop interacting with them.

Do you hold such a hard line stance on the moral correctness of revenge porn, I wonder?

After all, if you don't want others to share the data, you shouldn't interact with them.

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#339

Post by fiblye »

KeytarHero wrote: post #186
codeshaman wrote: post #150

I've never understood how people can truly believe that by checking (or unchecking) a checkbox their privacy will be fully protected. Especially since we're talking about a closed-source OS. I mean I cannot possibly verify what exactly goes on in the annals of the operating system and what happens to my data, where it is logged and where it is stored and how it is sent. So regardless of the settings, I always assume…

> I've never understood how people can truly believe that by checking (or unchecking) a checkbox their privacy is fully protected. You mean besides the fact that collecting personal data without your consent is illegal?

Unless, of course, the government is requesting or demanding your data without your consent.

I can't imagine any company in the pockets of the NSA getting in trouble for over-collecting user data.

Re: I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10

#340

Post by FeepingCreature »

Bouncingsoul1 wrote: post #282
kleiba wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who wanted that for desktop computers or laptops? This is not going to fly with business customers. ...nor with some private customers. Microsoft seems to be overlooking that not all nations are so happy about "the cloud" as the average American seems to be. Germany for one, where I currently live, is much more sceptical of sharing personal data -- potentially motivated by some of its 20th century history. But all th…

And yet to do your tax online in Germany you'll have to use Elster which is Windows only. Telling them I'll sign my pdfs with SHA-256 didn't help... So back to cellulose data carriers

Does ElsterOnline not work for your usecase?
Post reply on HN