Windows 10 privacy Crisis: five major issues to consider

Windows 10 privacy Crisis: five major issues to consider

Bkjia.com quick translation] although the user's privacy awareness has been soaring throughout 2015, one of the biggest challenges that makes the debate more intense is the release of Windows 10.

The latest version of Microsoft's flagship operating system was released in July this year. Existing users can download it for free. By default, it shares personal user information with Microsoft. Although an option to disable related functions is provided, even if the related functions are disabled, Windows 10 still seems to send the information back to Microsoft.

"Privacy is still a hot topic for consumers," said Gary Davis, Chief consumer security Promotion Officer of intel; consumers will be frustrated if they hear that companies use and disclose their personal information without their knowledge."

Windows 10 privacy disputes have aroused strong reaction from many people in the industry, but in addition, they reveal the industry's expectations for privacy. The following are five experiences.

1. personalization and privacy

Over the past few years, we have seen that Microsoft's business model has gradually changed from traditional software to cloud services. However, as Jason Fossen, SANS Institute researcher, said, personal data is needed to implement cloud services for individual users.

SANS Institute researcher Jason Fossen said: "Microsoft executives are not sincere about releasing Windows 10 free of charge. They need to boost the Windows Store and the Microsoft cloud ecosystem ."

Microsoft's practices in Windows 10 are not new. Industry giants such as Google, apple, and Amazon are collecting and using personal data to customize and improve product experience for individual users. A major challenge that has been revealed in the world is to exchange personal data for convenience and ease of use. One major problem is: do we want stronger privacy or better products?

John Pironti, president of IP segment ts, said: "If we want better products, it may be necessary to allow some data to be sent back to Microsoft. This is no different from using Apple's Siri and other services. If you don't use Siri, it won't be better ."

There is no clear answer in this regard, because the user has to make a compromise between privacy and products/services that he thinks are the most appropriate.

2. Select exit and join

Another problem with Windows 10 is how much control a user wants to take on his/her personal data. Many users want to clearly know how their data is transmitted, protected, and used due to the frequent reporting of major hackers and leaks.

Pironti said: "given the recent increase in privacy concerns, I think we can objectively say that an individual wants to determine how his or her system interacts with the outside world ."

Users who have downloaded Windows 10 have the opportunity to exit the default settings for sharing information. This means they have the opportunity to disable the function of sending personal data back to Microsoft during installation (if a custom installation is selected) or later.

Users in the United States and other countries have gradually accepted the option to exit as a factual model for using new software and services. Pironti said, however, the UK and the European Union are pursuing the choice of join mode. The default practice is to prohibit sending personal information, but users can click a button or check box to allow information to be used.

This raises the question: whether we want to join a society or withdraw from a society. However, Pironti asked, are we sure we fully aware of the impact of these practices? By default, shared information may be deemed as infringing privacy. By default, you may not be able to take full advantage of some key functions.

3. Incorrect options

Although collecting personal data is a hot topic, it is still a common practice. For some companies, the option of choosing to exit is not even provided.

Pironti said, for example, Google admitted from the very beginning that it had cached a large amount of metadata for each search request. Google has never lied about this, but if you want to use its services, it has never provided a different option to opt out.

On the other hand, Microsoft does provide the exit option, but does not adopt the appropriate method.

Pironti said: "I think if you pay attention to Microsoft, the major difference is that you have obtained the disabled option, but this option is incorrect ."

In general, the bigger problem is that users think they quit, but they did not actually quit. Microsoft and other technology companies need to be more transparent in terms of policy restrictions.

"For all companies today, making every effort to use transparent and easy-to-understand policy terms and easily set and control user privacy settings should be a top priority," Davis said ."

4. Privacy is subjective

We should have strong privacy. The answer to this question varies from person to person. Most people may have at least one conspiracy between their moments. They may want to gain stronger privacy than ordinary users.

This difference is also reflected in different ages. Pironti said that many young users feel that they no longer have privacy and are more willing to sacrifice their privacy to gain more features. Older users tend to be less confident and cautious.

Fossen says that the collection and use of personal information is for many reasons, but is usually not malicious, such as for advertising or application personalization. But remember: Once your information is sold as a commodity, it is almost impossible to receive it back.

Fossen said: "If you believe that Microsoft can protect your interests and that Microsoft engineers can protect your information technical capabilities, you can register and use all Microsoft services without reservation ."

5. companies and users

The impact of the debate on Windows 10 has not actually brought a major impact to Microsoft. The initial installation rate remains high, and the reports on the operating system's privacy issues do not seem to have slowed down significantly.

When asked whether he thinks that a user has lost trust in Microsoft, Pironti said that he does not think that the user has lost trust in Microsoft. He said that even though these issues are made public, if everyone is really worried, the uninstallation rate of the operating system will be relatively high.

To solve this problem, the company and both users need to work together. Microsoft and other industry giants need to be more frank about how they process personal information, which must be clearly stated in the official documentation. Something like Google's privacy dashboard opens a good start.

Users must resist the functionality they feel uncomfortable. For example, Facebook has changed its Privacy Guidelines many times. Sometimes, Facebook has to make concessions on some new versions because the user base is in conflict with these changes.

Pironti said that so far, we have seen only the initial response to changes. The technology market will continue to change, and users' responses and responses will also change.

Pironti said: "Just like others, we will adapt. We need to determine what our reasonable expectations are and what the limits we are willing to accept and unwilling to accept. In addition, I think we will share a long history of wisdom with Microsoft, and Microsoft will also adjust its practices ."

Original article title: The Windows 10 privacy debacle: Five big issues to consider