Im sorry, but this is excessive. edit: Moar FUD!

[Mushkins]

There's a good article from Ed Bott, who analyzed the data before the user slunk off and deleted everything.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/when-it-comes-to-windows-10-privacy-dont-trust-amateur-analysts/

In short his heart was probably in the right place, but from a technical perspective he was woefully incompetent. Over 50% of the data is just attempted DNS queries, NetBIOS lookups, and IPv6 checks.

I'm glad someone took the time to look into it so there's concrete proof just how nonsensical this fearmongering is.

Just because a machine connects to a Microsoft owned IP does not mean it's secretly spying on you. I really wish these FUD posts would start getting deleted/locked or tagged with "misleading" or something.

 

[Anteaus]

For the sake of conversation, is it possible to use Windows Firewall in Windows 10 to block any or all of these outgoing connections or has Microsoft hardwired them to bypass the firewall? The lack of transparency from MS as to what Windows is actually sending out makes me wonder how much of it can be stopped without external intervention in spite of how knowledgeable the user is.

Like others, I don't necessarily think MS is malicious in intent. I think they are way too presumptuous as to what activities we are expected to allow as paying customers. In spite of the fact that many of us received free upgrades to Windows 10, this is a pay to license product and as such it is reasonable for us to object to software design that is becoming more in line with free-to-use ad driven software. There is an opportunity cost to using free software that we all accept but I think MS is being too excessive in its desire to convert Windows from standalone licensing to "Windows as a service" with all of the blatant monetization that comes with it.

I think people are less annoyed about privacy concerns and more that we are paying to be guinea pigs in some great experiment for greater profit down the road at the expense of the user experience today.

 

[blackangst1]

There's a good article from Ed Bott, who analyzed the data before the user slunk off and deleted everything.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/when-it-comes-to-windows-10-privacy-dont-trust-amateur-analysts/

In short his heart was probably in the right place, but from a technical perspective he was woefully incompetent. Over 50% of the data is just attempted DNS queries, NetBIOS lookups, and IPv6 checks.

Excellent find ViRGE! Thanks!

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

There's a good article from Ed Bott, who analyzed the data before the user slunk off and deleted everything.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/when-it-comes-to-windows-10-privacy-dont-trust-amateur-analysts/

Checking it out, I noticed there's a follow-up article in the sidebar claiming Microsoft will not be making a change to Windows' privacy settings.

 

[quikah]

Checking it out, I noticed there's a follow-up article in the sidebar claiming Microsoft will not be making a change to Windows' privacy settings.

I think Gordon Kelley just makes s*** up at this point. The guy has no credibility.

There was a decent analysis done last year, though it was limited in scope:

https://systemoverlord.com/blog/so-is-windows-10-spying-on-you/

 

[Charlie98]

There's a good article from Ed Bott, who analyzed the data before the user slunk off and deleted everything.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/when-it-comes-to-windows-10-privacy-dont-trust-amateur-analysts/

In short his heart was probably in the right place, but from a technical perspective he was woefully incompetent. Over 50% of the data is just attempted DNS queries, NetBIOS lookups, and IPv6 checks.

There is always the fact that if you want to try to prove something, there is methodology you can employ to help arrive at your predisposed conclusion.

 

[Raduque]

I can't even read those junk Forbes articles, because I'm using a host file to block ads and they think I'm using adblock, and want me to turn it off. I surf using Edge.

Somebody needs to contact that Gordon Kelly and ask him to read the article by Ed Bott.

 

[mv2devnull]

For the sake of conversation, is it possible to use Windows Firewall in Windows 10 to block any or all of these outgoing connections or has Microsoft hardware wired them to bypass the firewall?

Firewall is software, so no "hardware wires".

There are some applications that by nature connect to the network stack outside of the firewall. DHCPd, tcpdump and wireshark are such (in Linux).

Firewall is an ordered set of filter rules, where first match is used. Technically, a ruleset can contain a high-priority rule that cannot be shown, removed, or superceded by firewall configuration tools, but that makes the tools more complex.

Network security has always emphasized layers of defence. Most of us have a box (usually called "router" or "modem") of some sort between our PC and ISP. A second firewall. The "analysis" copy-paste-reported by Forbes did use one (in horribly incompetent or intentionally fearmongering way). Nevertheless, there is no way that MS can work around a "faulty cable".

Speaking of "faulty cable". The "router" has IP addresses on both subnets. Its existence is known. Windows knows the address of the gateway. Networked games, for example, do use protocols supported by router to temporarily allow specific traffic.

Add a bridge. A bridge (and switch) needs no IP address. It is invisible. It does not support "knock here to open". Yet, a bridge can be configured to filter traffic that is passing through. It is essentially a "deliberately faulty cable".

 

[Anteaus]

Firewall is software, so no "hardware wires".

There are some applications that by nature connect to the network stack outside of the firewall. DHCPd, tcpdump and wireshark are such (in Linux).

Firewall is an ordered set of filter rules, where first match is used. Technically, a ruleset can contain a high-priority rule that cannot be shown, removed, or superceded by firewall configuration tools, but that makes the tools more complex.

Network security has always emphasized layers of defence. Most of us have a box (usually called "router" or "modem") of some sort between our PC and ISP. A second firewall. The "analysis" copy-paste-reported by Forbes did use one (in horribly incompetent or intentionally fearmongering way). Nevertheless, there is no way that MS can work around a "faulty cable".

Speaking of "faulty cable". The "router" has IP addresses on both subnets. Its existence is known. Windows knows the address of the gateway. Networked games, for example, do use protocols supported by router to temporarily allow specific traffic.

Add a bridge. A bridge (and switch) needs no IP address. It is invisible. It does not support "knock here to open". Yet, a bridge can be configured to filter traffic that is passing through. It is essentially a "deliberately faulty cable".

Thanks for the response. Actually it was a typo I meant to say "hardwired" as in the metaphor, not the physical connection. I meant whether Microsoft programmed in a software workaround in which these connections had "DMZ" style access and could bypass the Windows firewall. Sorry about the confusion.

 

[mv2devnull]

No problem. If you block in Windows Firewall an outbound connection and log in your router same outbound traffic, then the router log will reveal if Windows ignores your firewall rule "for your own good".

And no, I don't know what the Windows Firewall does (or doesn't).

 

[RampantAndroid]

Thanks for the response. Actually it was a typo I meant to say "hardwired" as in the metaphor, not the physical connection. I meant whether Microsoft programmed in a software workaround in which these connections had "DMZ" style access and could bypass the Windows firewall. Sorry about the confusion.

Should be easy. Block Windows Update.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb693717.aspx

 

[cytg111]

Microsoft’s telemetry U-turn?

LOL another Forbes article. Maybe MS got so much blow back from all of their telemetry, which they never came out and stated what was actually collected, according to this article in Forbes, they plan to make a change.



http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonk...mpaign=yahootix&partner=yahootix#1312b6a39743

Redacted now?

For me it wouldnt even matter, - if they did provide said options. The trust is gone, no telling what they'll decide to listen in on next, remove/delete on my pc or whatnot.

Cant. Be.Trusted.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Redacted now?

For me it wouldnt even matter, - if they did provide said options. The trust is gone, no telling what they'll decide to listen in on next, remove/delete on my pc or whatnot.

Cant. Be.Trusted.

...what do you think they listened in on? And there have been no reports of things being deleted (create another thread to complain about Onedrive not hosting porn...)

 

[cytg111]

...what do you think they listened in on? And there have been no reports of things being deleted (create another thread to complain about Onedrive not hosting porn...)

1. Everything that makes them better at shoving ad's up my * *, - now harvested at the OS level. They're pulling a Google just worse. And no, two wrongs do not make a right! Google and facebook is on my kill list as well .

2. Classic shell, poof, gone. I know the version was incompatible with 10 and MS might even view it as intrusive, but outright delete it? Meh.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Please, tell me more how you're getting ads at the OS level, because I have yet to see a single OS level ad on any Windows 10 PC I've worked on.

 

[quikah]

Please, tell me more how you're getting ads at the OS level, because I have yet to see a single OS level ad on any Windows 10 PC I've worked on.

They put a suggested app ad in the start menu a while back. You can turn it off.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Oh, that. I forgot about that one. Well, that's pretty darn minor given you can just flip the off switch and never see it again.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I got to experience win 10, since we got a new computer in the church sound room and they insisted on going with 10 instead of 7. The start menu by default is full of ads but you can remove them one by one.

Anyone know how to get rid of the empty grey area after doing that? I just want the start menu to be normal. (without having to install something 3rd party).

Not too worried about the spy stuff on that machine as it's not connected to the internet. Overall the OS itself is ok though, it is MUCH better than 8.x. That was a huge abomination, at least 10 has a start menu. They tried to stick the metro crap in it, but can get rid of it like I did.

I'm sure they'll eventually start pushing ads on win10 though. The platform is designed around that. Collect info on users then send targeted ads. Basically what Google does, but they'll do it at the OS level. It's inevitable.

 

[SparkyJJO]

"Full of ads"?

You can grab and resize the start menu vertically (and horizontally) like a normal window. Just resize until you don't have a blank space if you like.

I've actually grown to like having about 4 spaces worth of blank space between the 6 most recently used programs and then File Explorer, Settings, Power, and All Apps (am I the only one who hates that word "apps"? Ugh). I have a few things pinned on the right side also but not much.

If they push ads onto a program that I pay for (OK, this one was a free upgrade copy admittedly) I and a heck of a lot of people will be pretty infuriated. Free stuff with ads I get, but throw that crap at us after we pay money absolutely not.

 

[nerp]

He probably is confusing live tiles from the store and other apps being "ads" -- people are used to static interfaces.

 

[Ketchup]

He probably is confusing live tiles from the store and other apps being "ads" -- people are used to static interfaces.

I think so too. As Sparky said, just turn them all off, then drag the RH border to the left = You will have a normal-sized start menu.

Right now there are only three size options for the start menu in desktop mode. I can't wait until they add some more.

 

[cytg111]

Please, tell me more how you're getting ads at the OS level, because I have yet to see a single OS level ad on any Windows 10 PC I've worked on.

No, not through the OS as medium, probably through Bing and partners / third parties.

Microsoft uses the operating system to sniff out your DNA, mothers maiden name and your filthy porn needs to better serve up a properly sized dong for your fitting pleasure.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/29...ng-in-windows-10-both-sides-of-the-story.html

http://www.howtogeek.com/224616/30-ways-windows-10-phones-home/

Google is doing the same thing with android (and before that with cookie tracking, search history and whatnot - was kinda innocent back then).

Wonder why they're all so heavily invested in AI at the moment? The dataming and profiling of our personas is at an all time high(in some respects even putting NSA to shame im sure).. And why? Cause they're competing in being the most efficient ad-pusher in the game - and the casualty is our privacy. Mind you, we are (you and me) spending the same amount of $$'ers roughly, so the Pie is actually the same size.

And now this 'war' has invaded my operating system. No Effen Way. Microsoft? You're out.

 

[cytg111]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3037...-begin-with-rise-of-the-tomb-raider-push.html


Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hahaha

Hooooo hihi hihi hihi

Oh man, that was fun. I needed that.

 

[Ketchup]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3037...-begin-with-rise-of-the-tomb-raider-push.html


Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hahaha

Hooooo hihi hihi hihi

Oh man, that was fun. I needed that.

I am glad you like it. You can turn it off if you don't, just like you can turn off just about anything in 10 you don't care for (live tiles, included apps, connects for said apps, etc).

 

[Red Squirrel]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3037...-begin-with-rise-of-the-tomb-raider-push.html


Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hahaha

Hooooo hihi hihi hihi

Oh man, that was fun. I needed that.

Honestly this platform is a dream come true for MS and for advertisers and I'm sure we'll see more of this, they are testing the waters. It's the way everything is going now, collect info on people, sell it to advertisers and/or send targeted ads. I imagine they will keep the ability to turn it off though, as there may potentially be legal issues if they don't, I'm not really sure. But doing this makes perfect business sense. You don't spend all that time and effort on a meta data collection system and not turn it into extra revenue.

What I could see them do actually is have a free version with ads you can't turn off, and have a paid version with no ads. Basically like a lot of phone apps.