Windows 10 appears to be mainly spyware - I'm uninstalling Windows 10 and going back to Windows 7

August 8, 2015 | Vanity

[Perseverando]

Last weekend I loaded Windows 10 on an old laptop I rarely use. I immediately noticed several privacy issues with new open windows (pun intended) for spying on what I do, where I go and what I say online.

After reading some to the reviews and discussions I think it's time to revert back to Windows 7 ASAP.

Thanks, but no thanks Microsoft! The police state is doing a fine job without any additional help from you and me.

I haven't turned the laptop on since I loaded Windows 10, but the next time I do, it will be for the sole purpose of uninstalling Windows 10.

Anyone care to join me?

[trebb]

Still on Win7 - might start boning up on LINUX...

[VanDeKoik]

And you could not go and turn off the data collection options (you could have done that during the initial install), but instead post an absurd rant essentially saying you have no idea what you are doing?

I swear is FR the place for all of the tech illiterate people on the right choose to go?

[Jonty30]

I cannot believe that Mucrosoft would shoot itself in the foot this way, when it needed to build goodwill with its customer base the most right now.

They should have made a point of saying that Microsoft would protect its customers for privacy issue and then follow through. It might have helped it increase its phone share as well if it had done that.

[Logical me]

Isn’t this damn company a liberal bunch of knuckle heads?

[LYDIAONTARIO]

I am tech illiterate and conservative, so you are right!

[Jonty30]

http://www.networkworld.com/article/2956574/microsoft-subnet/windows-10-privacy-spyware-settings-user-agreement.html

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

And you could not go and turn off the data collection options (you could have done that during the initial install), but instead post an absurd rant essentially saying you have no idea what you are doing?

I just installed Windows 10 myself - works just fine, btw - but had been cautioned in advance about turning off those data-collecting features. It pays to listen to other people, especially if you don't otherwise have a clue.

Otherwise, "Caveat Emptor" needs to be the rule of the day.

[catfish1957]

Thanks for the heads up, I was thinking about upgrading my back up computer. Wow...just what we need....., an OS with the snooping ability of Google.

[rockrr]

I think that I get Perseverando’s point even if I don’t share his/her reservations to the degree that he/she does. If I were building an OS my approach would be opt-in rather than opt-out. That is, I would allow the end user to turn on the things they want instead of having to configure their environment to (hopefully) turn off things that bother or distress them.

Just yesterday I came across a list of services or “features” that are (more or less) introduced with Win-10 that some people view with alarm. These are all turned on by default when they should be turned off.

You can disable the following:

Disable Telemetry
Disable Biometrics
Disable Handwriting Data Sharing
Disable Handwriting Error Reporting
Disable Application Telemetry
Disable Inventory Collector
Disable Steps Recorder
Disable enabling Lock Screen Camera
Disable and Reset Cortana
Disable Location
Disable Sensors
Disable Web Search
Disable Windows Media DRM Internet Access
Defer Windows Upgrades
Disable App Notifications
Disable Password Reveal Button
Disable and Reset Advertising ID
Disable SmartScreen Filter for URLs
Disable Sending Writing Info
Disable Access to Language List
Disable App Access to Location Info
Disable App Access to Camera
Disable App Access to Microphone
Disable Getting to know me
Disable App Access to Account Info
Disable App Access to Calendar
Disable App Access to Messages
Disable App Access to Radios
Disable Sync With Devices
Disable Windows Feedback Requestes
Disable Windows Update Sharing
Disable Windows Update for other Products
Disable WiFi Sense
Disable Windows Defender
Disable Automatic Windows Updates
Disable OneDrive
Disable Automatic Driver Update

Computers should work for you, not the other way around.

[ElkGroveDan]

You can turn off all those “spyware” settings. But I get the feeling that won’t make you happy.

[paul544]

You would think there is a market for that kind of focused approach to privacy but the lack of entry seems to refute that. I guess there is more money in selling customer data than in selling to a mostly ignorant public.

I do have to say that the Nokia Lumina with Windows mobile OS is actually pretty good. Very responsive and easy to use.

[SkyDancer]

But why would anyone want that feature that collects data? Shouldn't it be the other way round like if you do want that feature you'd have to turn it on. BTW, I am not having W10 installed.

[ElkGroveDan]

Yep.

[Baynative]

I'm in need of a new computer and I don't want the mess my wife deals with every day trying to work with Windows 8. I've heard there's a company near Seattle doing quite a business in reconditioned laptops that come with Windows 7 - XP Office. (Of course as the the demand for 7 keeps growing, Microsoft will probably write updates rendering it inoperative.)

If I can't find them, I think it's time to go to Mac.

[Kirkwood]

It was a surprise to everyone, even the beta testers. The reason to turn these things off is beyond the ability of many users to fully understand, especially when so much of the privacy switches are hidden. Microsoft could have had the installation designed to opt in to data mining features or make the privacy issues more obvious, but purposely hid these concerns because they were looking at the potential income that could be generated from personal data mining. In years to come we will see a lot more personal data mining attacks on the windows 10 platform.

[freds6girlies]

bookmark

[Grampa Dave]

You might consider an Acer Chromebook 15 or their new desktop.

Each morning I pick up the lid, and I’m ready to go without the IE bs re updates.

[Kirkwood]

Yes, you can disable these for now, but these can be turned back on by Microsoft upgrades without the user’s knowledge, or by future malware without the user being aware of a privacy attack. Windows 10 is going to be a highly vulnerable platform.

[VTenigma]

Many of we conservatives are older and didn’t grow up in the tech revolution. Wrap your head around this, I went to high school around the time pocket calculators came into being. We were not allowed to use calculators for math class, we had to learn slide rules. Have you ever used a slide rule? This was the seventies, not some dark time.

As for being tech literate, I get by, as to the technologies I am literate in I kick ass and take names. I’m constantly learning and advancing, but at some point you need to cut you losses as you age. I don’t have space in my brain to be expert in OS or IT tech, you’ll find out.