The truth about Windows 10 spying on almost everything you do

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You have probably heard the news by now: Microsoft has updated a controversial service agreement that lays out in scary detail how your personal data is being used and abused – at least, that’s what the major tech blogs are saying. But the reality is, even if you read the 12,000 word service agreement, it’s still confusing and vague at best.

 

Horacio Gutierrez, Deputy General Counsel of Microsoft’s legal and corporate affairs, wrote about the company’s commitment to transparency on the Microsoft blog in early June. This move, of course, was preceding the new privacy statement and service agreement that accompanied the release of Windows 10.

 

As he put it, “We are simplifying the services agreement and privacy statement because we believe that real transparency starts with straightforward terms and policies that people can clearly understand. As our services evolve, we recognize we must continue earning your trust.”

 

How Windows 10 is spying on you

 

The reality is, we can’t know what Microsoft is doing with your private data, but the release of the updated privacy policy and service agreement can give us some great insight. Yes, these long and tedious documents leave a lot of room for interpretation, but they also inspire something important: a discussion about how data harvesting and lack of digital privacy has become normalized.

 

Cortana: your personal assistant, or spy machine?

 

Cortana is your voice-activated personal assistant, much like Siri and Google Now. But in order for her to operate, Windows 10 collects your personal information to better serve you. This includes calendar events, contact information, alarm settings, what you view and purchase, your browsing history, emails and text messages… “and more”.

 

An advertisers greatest dream

 

You may not have realized it, but each user on each Windows device will be issued a unique advertising ID that is tied to the email address they have on file. The idea is that you will be better served through ads, because according to Microsoft, “Advertising keeps many of the services you use free of charge”.

 

Microsoft will share this profile (created from information aggregated from your personal files) with their partner ad networks – who in turn serve you ads on certain applications, like solitaire. If you were concerned with ad networks collecting information from your browsing history, then be aware that Microsoft is taking it to the next level with Windows 10.

 

Data syncing with OneDrive

 

OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage system, and it comes with the Windows 10 territory. You might think it’s great because there is no additional sign up or installment required and you can access it from any of your Microsoft devices. But this new convenience comes with a price.

 

Every time you are signed into your machine with your Microsoft account, your operating system immediately syncs your settings and other data to company’s servers. This includes browser behavior and history, as well as mobile hotspot and Wi-Fi network passwords.

 

What are they doing with this information?

 

If you had the time to read through the long privacy policy and service agreement, you might get a vague understanding of what Microsoft will do with your data, but little more. Besides, we all know better than to take giant corporations for their word – they have their own interests to look after. The real questions end up being, what can Microsoft do with this information? And ultimately, what are they mostly likely to do with it?

 

Advertisers can “serve” you better!

 

People are getting used to free services online left and right, so these expectations dominate the tech marketplace right now. Windows 10 doesn’t cost you any money, but it still comes at a price.

 

As Alec Meer of Rock Paper Shotgun points out, Microsoft is increasingly trying to compete with Google through software and applications. But this model requires that, “money comes from harvesting data and flogging it to advertisers and other organisations who want to know exactly what we’re all up to online”.

 

Comply with big brother

 

Microsoft doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to surveillance state issues:

 

Finally, we will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to: 1.comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies…

 

It’s important to note that while this may seem horrifying to some, it’s really not so different from any other privacy agreement. Just take a look at this snippet from Apple’s privacy policy:

 

It may be necessary − by law, legal process, litigation, and/or requests from public and governmental authorities within or outside your country of residence − for Apple to disclose your personal information. We may also disclose information about you if we determine that for purposes of national security, law enforcement, or other issues of public importance, disclosure is necessary or appropriate.

 

At the end of the day, there are few companies that are able to take a stance against big government agencies. The best you can hope for is providers who don’t bury this in privacy agreements, but who are upfront and honest about their current operations as they relate to the surveillance state.

 

The real truth: Microsoft isn’t the only bad guy

 

Shifting tides in modern culture have created two dangerous and commonly accepted thoughts on digital privacy, which could make you think that:

• Privacy must be compromised for safety.
  
• Privacy must be compromised for convenience.
  

 

While there are serious debates on the subject, it’s important to stop and wonder who is ultimately responsible for these ideas, which create the basis for how many companies, institutions, and individuals make their decisions about privacy.

 

But the reality is, the Windows 10 privacy agreement isn’t so much a revelation as a sign of the times.

While it has understandably stirred up some controversy, it hasn’t inspired a mass exodus from use of Microsoft software or products.

 

This is as it should be, because most of us know that it isn’t different with the developers of other major operating systems and mobile operating systems…like Apple and Google.

 

Siri’s telling everyone what you did last night

 

Sure, Apple and Google may have made a show of their commitment to user privacy, with smartphone encryption and very convincing, public battles with high-profile government agencies.

 

But you shouldn’t let these PR stunts fool you. Even when these companies have the best intentions, there is still a bottom line at the end of the day, and that’s money.

 

Don’t believe us? Cortana isn’t the only personal assistant who likes to abuse your privacy. Apple hands your voice recordings over to third parties for analysis, and you agreed to it in the privacy agreement. Whether it’s a personal message to your sweetheart or your child asking Siri silly questions, Apple stores those messages for two years and essentially does with them what they want.

 

It might be tempting to switch over to Google Now for your voice commands, but that would come at the cost of both your privacy and sanity. Google Now has a feature called Now cards, which are recommendations for products, services, and information based on your messages and recent searches. Even if you don’t rely on Google Now too much for recommendations, Google already knows so much about you because at some point you have probably used their products or services.

 

And if you use Gmail, you’ll note that Google has been serving ads through Gmail for some time now – and if you haven’t noticed any, just check under your Gmail’s “Promotions” tab. They get information straight out of your private emails to help their ad network partners target you. It’s right there in their privacy agreement. Microsoft even attacked Gmail over these privacy violations and launched a “You got Scroogled” marketing campaign.

 

 

Source and Full article:

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