Microsoft has created a wonderful new operating system: Windows 10. Making up for many of the shortcomings of its predecessor, Windows 8, it is no wonder the new OS received over 14 million downloads in its first 24 hours. However, it would be negligent not to take a moment to seriously scold Microsoft for their blatant disregard for user privacy.

 

Problem

 

User tracking, information gathering, and targeted ads have become privacy issues that leave a sour taste in the mouths of users and online privacy advocates alike; and Microsoft’s new Windows 10 OS unfortunately falls prey to each of these faults — or rather, allows its users to fall prey to them. Surprisingly, Microsoft makes the process of opting out of their privacy setting unreasonably difficult, with 13 separate privacy windows and an external site users must visit to complete the process.

 

A small excerpt of Microsoft’s Privacy Statement highlights Windows 10’s disregard for our privacy concerns.

 

“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; 2.protect our customers, for example to prevent spam or attempts to defraud users of the services, or to help prevent the loss of life or serious injury of anyone; 3.operate and maintain the security of our services, including to prevent or stop an attack on our computer systems or networks; or 4.protect the rights or property of Microsoft, including enforcing the terms governing the use of the services – however, if we receive information indicating that someone is using our services to traffic in stolen intellectual or physical property of Microsoft, we will not inspect a customer’s private content ourselves, but we may refer the matter to law enforcement.”

 

While Microsoft’s level of reach might seem astonishing to some here, it is just the tip of the privacy issues iceberg inherent in Windows 10. While I’m sure all of their privacy settings are appropriately laid out in their statements, RockPaperShotgun (RPS) raises a good point in their article when they say the documents amount to 45 pages of language that is far from simplistic.

 

According to RPS, the unclear, jargony language of Microsoft’s documents on the issue seem to be directly contradicting their goal of transparency, as Microsoft professes that “real transparency starts with straightforward terms and policies that people can clearly understand”. To this, RPS crafts the perfect response: “There is no world in which 45 pages of policy documents and opt-out settings split across 13 different Settings screens and an external website constitutes ‘real transparency’.” Now that’s clear.

 

Solutions

 

Disregarding these shortcomings, Windows 10 appears to be a very successful OS. Now that we’ve taken the appropriate time to address the privacy pitfalls of Windows 10, we can begin exploring the various solutions so we can enjoy Microsoft’s new product.

 

Opting Out

 

As frustrating as it is to read about your need to opt out of settings when you didn’t opt in, it is even more frustrating to write about it; but this is an important issue, and so we press on: begin by opening your privacy settings. You will find your settings under the newly reborn Start Menu. Once in settings, click on privacy, where you will see the 13 screens previously mentioned. By default you will see many of the settings turned on, and you can click through the screens turning off settings you do not want. In this window you can determine which apps have access to specific information. Some sections included are Location, Messages, and contacts. See image below.