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Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft

arstechnica.co.uk

191–200 of 267 posts

Re: Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft

#191

Given that it is proven that the NSA spied on European companies for economic reasons, this isn't a good idea. Now the NSA can just tap into Microsoft, either covertly or through court order, and spy on the whole world. Details of economic spying -- may not be the best article but the easiest to find: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/nsa-spied-on-french-economy...

Embrace, Extend, Eavesdrop.

Re: Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft

#192

It's hard to know without inspecting the exact data involved, but I feel like this is dangerously close to a HIPAA or HITECH breach, and I know of several hospitals who are strongly on the Microsoft bandwagon and are considering Windows 10. The "send search data to an internet endpoint even if it's patently obvious that the search is for local resources" reeks strongly of Ubuntu's Amazon Shopping Lens. Did Mark Shutt…

> It's hard to know without inspecting the exact data involved, but I feel like this is dangerously close to a HIPAA or HITECH breach Perhaps pedantic, but that's redundant; HITECH doesn't define breaches separately from HIPAA, it establishes standards for when HIPAA data is "unsecured" and reporting requirements, etc., related to HIPAA breaches.

I'm aware; my point was that there are HITECH implications as well that would be very hard to address with Windows 10 if my suspicions are correct; it would be hard to meet the breach reporting and notification requirements when the operating system may very well be actively siphoning PII even when supposedly configured to do otherwise. The only safe option is to assume that any patient data that exists on a Windows 10 system is unsecured unless that system is entirely disconnected from any kind of network or until Windows 10 is significantly more transparent about what it's doing behind users' backs.

Of course, this is speculation right now, and perhaps my concerns are unfounded, but I can already imagine some old doctor typing "J. Random Hacker biopsy" into that Start Menu search field in the hopes of finding some document and inadvertently sending the fact that J. Random Hacker had a biopsy to Microsoft and potentially some advertising partners (depending on the nature of such transmissions).

Re: Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft

#194

Until recently Microsoft had taken a far more reasonable approach to privacy than say Google. Anyone remember the MS "gmail man" ads mocking the way Google inspects your email when MS doesn't? It seems that MS under Nadella has taken a decidedly Google-like turn away from privacy with Windows 10. MS seems as hell-bent as Google and Facebook to collect as much data about you as possible, even if it is for seemingly in…

Competition is often a race to the bottom. Chromebooks are a huge threat to Windows hegemony. Microsoft lost the internet and mobile platforms to Google. They are going to fight tooth and nail for the PC. If the average person doesn't give a shit about privacy (and they truely don't), then Microsoft will not be able to charge for products Google supports for free with spying/ads.

+1 I upvoted you, but dissagree slightly: the web version of Office 365 works great on my Chromebook. Microsoft gets $100/year from me for Office 365 and I am happy enough even though I don't install the desktop versions of Word, Excell, etc. Worth $100/year for a gig per family member of cloud storage and the web versions of Office.

Re: Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft

#195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Uninformed consent is not consent. Better way of arguing for your point would be to say that you cannot consent if you are uninformed, but if you were presented with the privacy statement then whose fault is it that you are uninformed and still went ahead agreeing to something you don't understand. Do you also take candies from strangers? I don't think what Microsoft is doing is ethical, but then I think it would b…

>whose fault is it that you are uninformed and still went ahead agreeing to something you don't understand. There is no practical way for the average person to have a significant enough understanding of privacy policies due to the wordings and the 'as provided by law' type clauses that require understanding of even more complex documents (and possible even court cases). That people agree to it anyways is because it c…

> There is no practical way for the average person

And I'm arguing that this should not be a concern. If you do not understand something then you shouldn't agree to it. People should ask their lawyer, consult Microsoft, consult websites dedicated to such issues, etc. Unless you can prove that privacy statement is misleading to laypeople then it should be user's fault for not bothering to inform themselves.

> A ban on taking advantage of this is no more a nanny state than already existing bans on many cons and scams

I'm arguing for this (even though I severely disagree with choices Microsoft made) because it's a slippery slope that leads to precedents for government to introduce regulations that clearly aren't in public's interest.

Software as protected speech was established at the end of crypto wars, when encryption programs stopped being classified as munitions and restriction on strength of cryptography were lifted.

If we let Microsoft not exercise their right it might set a trend for the governments to go back in other areas like cryptography, using old scare tactics to reverse what was achieved before in the name public's interest by appealing to the fear of terrorism. You fight for Windows to not be compromised for its users, but it could be that this fight would lead to other curtailments of speech that would not only paradoxically harm Windows but any other reasonable alternative that we currently have.

Re: Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft

#197

I was downvoted and criticised a few days ago for defending Microsoft on Windows 10. I am starting to change my opinion after looking into the issue more. I watched a recent Richard Stallman talk on youtube and went through the process of making the tightest privacy settings I could on my iPad, Windows 10 laptop, and Android phone. (I left my Mac and Linux laptops as is since I just use those for development.) I thin…

> I think that Microsoft looked at the Google Now user experience on Android phones and decided to emulate that type of AI assistent in Windows. I don't mind that (Cortana). I do mind that when Cortana and its supporting options are explicitly disabled, Win 10 apparently still won't stop chattering back with HQ constantly. Not only for privacy reasons either; it seems (though I'm not certain of the relationship) to h…

I agree.

Re: Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft

#198
post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> that the site is almost unusable. The site is perfectly usable. More than usable, even, because I get RES-style zooming for free, amongst other things. You can right-click save normally already - just right-click and save. If you want the browser zoom tools, hit the "View in Browser" button or right-click and open in new tab

Both of which do not work. I can not right-click "view in new tab" or right-click "save as".

Works fine for me. Make sure your browser is functioning properly.

This website works in every browser I've used, and I've never heard of any problem even remotely close to what you say you're running into.

Re: Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft

#199
post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both of which do not work. I can not right-click "view in new tab" or right-click "save as".

Works fine for me. Make sure your browser is functioning properly. This website works in every browser I've used, and I've never heard of any problem even remotely close to what you say you're running into.

Browser works fine, it only is an issue with his site. Firefox 40.

Re: Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft

#200
post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His link worked for me.

His link requires javascript and decrypts on device. Additionally, it overrides the browsers zoom behaviour and makes it impossible to view the image in a new tab seperately. The link of the comment I replied to was just as bad as the sites that block right-clicking.

> impossible to view the image in a new tab seperately

But it's entirely possible, and there's even a dedicated button to view just the image. ("View in Browser").

Make sure your browser is functioning properly - this isn't an issue with the website.

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