All eyes are on Microsoft and its new operating system, Windows 10. Dotted finger: management by the company, our personal data.
To rotate (and improve) many of its OS services towards more customization, but also to provide an efficient targeted advertising, Microsoft has indeed set up an important collection of data staff, often automatically sent to its servers.
A user clicking quickly on “next” when installing Windows 10, validate the collection. But another spending a little more time to scrutinize the installation options or delving retrospectively in the OS settings, will be able to limit or even refuse it altogether.
So , Windows 10 is clearly a very indiscreet operating system … if and only if you refuse to dig.
A gourmet OS personal data
But what Windows 10 data he inspects, exactly, and why? Much more transparent than Google, which has embarked on this kind of gathering long time, Microsoft hides nothing, everything is in its “privacy statement”
To improve the OS services. but also to offer “partners” data to an optimized ad targeting, or detailed knowledge of the user’s needs, a “unique advertising identifier” is assigned to each Microsoft account (for each device). This identifier indicates the Redmond company, is likely to be used by “application developers”, and the “ad networks” to “provide more relevant ads” and draw your “profile”.
With Windows 10, Microsoft and collect data on your navigation (history, favorites, information entered in the address bar) via its browser, Edge. One way, also, improve the “pages prediction” or preload pages in advance. These data, in addition to the “names and passwords to backup your apps, websites and Wi-Fi networks,” will “automatically synchronized” with Microsoft servers, if you use a user account.
10 Some Windows services are more data-intensive than others. This is the case of Cortana, the wizard voice of Microsoft – erected in rival Google Now and Siri. In order to “provide personalized experiences and relevant suggestions”, Microsoft will collect information about your geolocation on “your calendar data” on the “Apps you use” and data “of your e-mails and your text messages. ”
Cortana will know all about “the people you call” and “frequency of your interactions with them on your device.” It will also collect data on “what you watch and buy” as well as on your browsing history. In addition, he recorded “Input your voice” (to customize the voice recognition).
Finally, onedrive, the online storage service from Microsoft, will enable the company to reap “the data on your use of the service “, but also” on the content you store. ” This stored content, it will not be “used to send targeted ads,” may be “disclosed”, just as, more generally, “what you say in your emails, documents, and photos “If Microsoft” good faith belief that it is necessary to do so “- implying, if a public authority so requests, via.” valid legal request “
A installation possible without rushing
Is Your privacy threatened by Windows 10? Not if you do not accept the default settings, and you dive deep into the operating system options. As a user, you still have the last word.
If you have not yet installed Windows 10, this is an opportunity to prepare. During the update, do not click too fast on “next” buttons. When you access the screen “quick start”, click “customize settings”. This option will allow you to access the settings for sending personal data to Microsoft.
In the new window, you can and decide whether to pass information to Microsoft on your geolocation on your calendar, and other “related input data”, designed to “customize voice input, hit the keyboard” and the platform for recognition and Suggestion Microsoft.
You will also be possible to refuse or deny access applications and “partners” Microsoft to your “advertising ID”, as well as information on your geolocation. You can also choose not to send your Microsoft servers “navigation data” from Edge.
A final option will allow you to disable Wi-Fi Sense, which allows “automatic connection” to networks shared by your Outlook contacts, Skype and Facebook, but also allows, a contrario, your contacts to do the same with your own network, with hacking risks it represents.
Finally, note that you are not obliged to create a Microsoft account, even if you will be strongly encouraged during installation (or beyond, if you do do not right away). You can click “skip this step”, and create a local account instead. Without Microsoft account, you can install applications from the store, or use Cortana and onedrive. But it will cut net all automatic sending of personal data to Microsoft’s servers. And without Microsoft account, no advertising identifying either.
A posteriori, take a look in
settings
If you have already installed everything, nothing is lost. Go to the Start menu and in the “Settings” section. There, you can access all that have escaped you during installation.
You will be able, in the “Account” and the “your account”, choose to “connect with a local account instead.” You can also, in the “Privacy” disable geolocation, and access (applications) to your camera and microphone.
Wi-Fi Sense is deactivated in the “Network and Internet” option “manage Wi-Fi settings” where the boxes “share selected networks” with “Outlook Contacts, Skype and Facebook friends” are décochables.
An option will also allow you to set access apps to your contacts, messages and calendars. You will also be possible to disable Cortana, via the “voice, handwritten input and strikes” and the “stop know me”
These small adjustments were ultimately not rocket science. They help you prevent Microsoft glean personal data – but, on the other hand, you will accept it, they will prevent you to enjoy all the services supported by Windows 10.
We are thus far delivered passively our privacy at a new Big Brother, which appears here surprisingly fair play. Everything is a matter of research in the Windows settings 10, it would of course be easier to let default, without even a look.
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