UPDATE (Nov 19th, 12pm EST): Ed Bott emailed me to clarify a few points. First, PINs for BitLocker are not required and will not be backed up to OneDrive. I knew that PINs were not required, but I was trying to say "would there be a way that a user could use BitLocker without giving all the necessary bits to OneDrive". Apparently, using PINs is one of those ways. He also claims that you can manage your own keys by changing them and storing them locally.
He also commented on the HIPAA remark. He claims that Windows 10 is HIPAA compliant, and the reason why it was not included in the statement is because the question wasn't asked. Again, if applicable, check with your vendors and other support.
Okay so one of the major concerns with Windows 10 is how it handles your private data. I gave my thoughts on the topic a couple of weeks ago, which was a bit critical of Microsoft. I said that there are definite concerns that should be disclosed, but it is not enough of a concern to stop using it and switch to Linux or something. At least, not yet.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Since then, Ed Bott of ZDNet discussed Microsoft's new privacy policy, which clarifies a few points. It looks like he ran the two versions of the EULA through a text-difference tool to highlight all changes, and took a few screenshots of key moments.
The foremost change is that Microsoft specified that only OneDrive, Outlook, and Skype files and content, private or public, are subject to disclosure to law enforcement. The previous wording looked like it applied to all files on Windows 10. Full access to all files sounds like something the law enforcement would want, but Windows 10 does not provide it.
Another change involves BitLocker. Recovery keys are synchronized to OneDrive “to allow recovery on personal devices”. I am not sure if this also includes PINs, for devices configured to use those, but it would be crappy if it did. Regardless, the privacy statement now says “Microsoft doesn't use your individual recovery keys for any purpose.” This raises two concerns: Why did they specify “Microsoft” and why did they qualify “recovery keys” with “individual”? My assumption is that this is just an awkward trait of the English language, but it could exempt sending batches of keys to third parties, such as governments, especially if it counts as a OneDrive personal file. Again, it is probably just an awkward wording though.
A final point for me is that Telemetry, when set to “Basic”, satisfies FINRA, SEC, and FTC regulations. Oddly they don't specify HIPAA, but you probably shouldn't be listening to tech reporters (yes including me) for advice about securing health insurance and patient data. You should have more reliable channels for that sort of inquiry.
Nope…still dont trust em’.
Nope…still dont trust em’.
Same here, NEVER TRUST M$!
Same here, NEVER TRUST M$! I’m not about to install windows 10, ever! M$ can change that EULA at will, and then what will happen to the fools the click yes to the EULA. Those forced NON-Security updates, still there, and the TIFKAM Tiles renamed to universal Apps, no thanks! Still trying to make PCs/laptops appliances! I’m not taking the bait Ed, for M$, Bott! 7 is the new XP and the last Windows OS that I’ll ever allow on MY PCs/Laptops! I’m looking at Steam Machines currently and waiting for Vulkan.
You probably don’t use a
You probably don’t use a smartphone either then? I don’t think there is a smartphone out there that doesn’t have a similar privacy policy, except maybe Blackberry OS.
Dumb flip phone for me, just
Dumb flip phone for me, just for making and receiving calls! I use a Laptop for everything else, and I never stay logged into any Online services(Email mostly), I only log in, send mail, and log out. Smart Phones are not really needed for what I do. Windows 10, No way in hell, Android No, full Linux Yes. Windows 7 is OK, I do not install any updates not clearly marked as security updates on 7 to keep that back-ported M$ spy-ware in check.
HP laptop support after the split is much worse, especially business laptops being in a neither here nor there world of just what new HP entity will provide support! lots of buck passing when help is needed from HP. If only the Linux Laptop options would improve and some AMD options would appear. I’m really hoping for some Steam OS/Steam Box type of branded laptops, so I can be ready come 2020 and 7’s EOL! Old laptops are getting Linux Mint full time after 2020. I’m very cautious about getting a windows 10 laptop to re-image to a Linux distro, what with the OEM Option with windows 10 on devices factory installed. Will they even have a windows Secure Boot OFF switch in their UEFI/BIOS, the Off switch is optional for OEMs now. This has implications for custom Linux builds without signed windows Secure Boot Keys. Why should M$ have so much control over third party OEM firmware/UEFI/BIOS!
Windows 10 will move many to other OS options, be it the Apple hardware/OS option, Full Linux Option, or some BSD distro. Vulkan for graphics looks to be very helpful for the non DX dependent laptops/PCs. So Steam OS on a Steam Box may be just what I need for around the house, while waiting for better Linux laptop options with AMD APUs.
“7 is the new XP”
I remember
“7 is the new XP”
I remember when 7 released how many people said they would never leave XP…I would guess that many of those people are the ones on 7 now saying they will never upgrade from 7.
So I guess we can expect those types to adopt Windows 10 around the time the rest of us get Windows 12? (Yes, I know Windows is supposed to no longer be iterative, it’s just a joke)
Most enterprises will wait
Most enterprises will wait for 12/whatever as they have too much invested in getting the mission critical software certified for 7, let alone any of M$’s new and shiny! Lots of enterprises and government entities will pay for 7 updates after 2020, just like XP, if the cost/benefit analysis say that’s what costs less at the time of 7’s EOL. Certifying Mission Critical software to work with a new OS is very expensive, way more expensive than any OS’s price, offered as a Free upgrade or not!
I dunno, when 7 was released,
I dunno, when 7 was released, I remember thinking “Wow, this is the new XP” and then switched immediately to it as soon as all my family’s old hardware started dying out.
Now 8 I had issues with, and 10… is well.. it’s okay, but it breaks stuff that was stable in 7.
You are wrong. Windows 7 was
You are wrong. Windows 7 was a massive improvement over XP, almost everyone wanted to switch over. Windows 10 was not an improvement over Windows 7. In fact, it was a downgrade for many people. I’ve switched to Linux this year and only use Windows when I want to play games and use some specific applications that doesn’t exist in Linux and is a hassle to run in a VM. The only reason to install Windows 10 for me is when a lot of new games are only DX12. I doubt that will be the case any time soon. I hope Vulkan will be the norm.
The number of games that are
The number of games that are DX11 only is 56,including those TBA.DX9 is still the most popular api today.
I’ll try to restrict MS programs to local network only.
Soooooorta…
When 7
Soooooorta…
When 7 released, I had no immediate intentions of upgrading from XP. It wasn’t that I’d *never* leave XP, I just couldn’t really see a reason to, when I’d gotten so used to (and imho so good with) XP. It wasn’t until some game came out (I don’t even remember which anymore) which *had to have* DX10 that I absolutely had to play, that I grudgingly installed 7 – and then I dual-booted for a while. Some months later, I came to the realization that I hadn’t even booted up XP in weeks and had, in fact, already installed my DX9 games in 7 so that I wouldn’t have to switch.
That’s when I finally stepped off of XP and fully onto 7.
So far it’s looking like the 7-to-10 switch will go the same way. I don’t need 10, I don’t really want 10, I definitely don’t want to deal with the rapey spyware data mining crap that it does, and I don’t want them giving/selling my “metadata” to anyone, including themselves. It won’t be until a game releases that’s DX12 *only* and that I’m falling over myself dying to play, that I’ll even consider installing 10.
Halo 2 maybe?
Halo 2 maybe?
Very sane perspective. I
Very sane perspective. I feel that you should never trust any big data company that collects your personal information (this includes Google and Facebook and similar companies) ever.
I’m using Windows 10 myself, but even if desktop Linux took off, it’d probably be handled by a company that was big-ish or would eventually turn big, and it’d probably start collecting data too, unless people made enough of a stink about it.
That said, if people protest enough, we may be able to change the current big companies too, although I feel that it’d be good if we were able to create a solution that was transparent and open-source at every level so we could see what was actually going on with our data.
I feel like transparency (including open source software AND hardware) will become a bigger thing as technology becomes more integrated into our personal lives in the future.
Linux is open source no one
Linux is open source no one entity controls the Linux based ecosystem. But Google has ruined the Full Linux based Tablet market, with its influence and the Android ecosystem Ad pushing OS. There are some that are getting the Nvidia K1 and installing Full Linux distros, so for the current sales price on the K1 tablet that makes for some interesting experiments. Hopefully Steam OS and Steam machines will lead to a Steam OS based Tablet, then things will become nice and adware free for some tablets. Windows 10 is still not well received for free, compared to windows 7 at full cost. M$ wants to become Google and is all in with its windows 10 scroogle! Not likely that windows 10 will ever beat 7, Mr SatNad of the cloud in Redmond, what is that smell!
Never Trust Ed Bott, he’s a
Never Trust Ed Bott, he’s a Microsoft shill.
If you don’t trust “M$”, then
If you don’t trust “M$”, then you shouldn’t be running Windows. At all. Any version.
The Operating System mediates all control your have over your computer. If you don’t trust it, there’s no safe way to run it. It has ultimate control over your network interface, it has ultimate control over your drives, it has ultimate control over your display, it has ultimate control over whatever is resident in RAM. All passwords, keys, credentials, etc are in the hands of your OS.
As for reasons to trust Microsoft, the answer is easy: business and enterprise. Microsoft make their money selling software to enterprise. If the OS were found to be phoning home with any personal data from the machine, Microsoft would overnight lose their paying customer base. It would be corporate suicide.