Windows 10
A privacy nightmare
Why is Windows 10 a privacy nightmare?
- Data syncing is by default enabled.
- Browsing history and open websites.
- Apps settings.
- WiFi hotspot names and passwords.
- Your device is by default tagged with a unique advertising ID.
- Used to serve you with personalized advertisements by third-party advertisers and ad networks.
- Cortana can collect any of your data.
- Your keystrokes, searches and mic input.
- Calendar data.
- Music you listen to.
- Credit Card information.
- Purchases.
- Microsoft can collect any personal data.
- Your identity.
- Passwords.
- Demographics.
- Interests and habits.
- Usage data.
- Contacts and relationships.
- Location data.
- Content like emails, instant messages, caller list, audio and video recordings.
- Your data can be shared.
- When downloading Windows 10, you are authorizing Microsoft to share any of above-mentioned data with any third-party, with or without your consent.
Related Links
- Microsoft Privacy Statement
- Microsoft collects, uses and discloses personal information as described here. This allows One Drive data, Cortana searches and MS browser history to be sold to third parties.
- Cortana and privacy
- To personalize your experience and provide the best possible suggestions, Cortana accesses your email and other communications and collects data about your contacts (People), like their title, suffix, first name, last name, middle name, nicknames, and company name. If you call, email, or text someone or they call, email, or text you, Cortana collects that person’s email address or phone number.
Solutions
Tools
- W10Privacy
- This tool uses some known methods that attempt to disable major tracking features in Windows 10.
- WindowsSpyBlocker
- Open source tool that blocks data collection.
- Comparison of Windows 10 Privacy tools
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