LONDON: Several features and default settings in Windows 10 have led to the wide-spanning impression that it compromises user privacy on many fronts. Microsoft has now offered explanations to assure users that its latest operating system doesn’t put anyone’s privacy and personal information at risk.
“From the very beginning, we designed Windows 10 with two straightforward privacy principles in mind,” Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of the Windows and Devices Group wrote in a post on Blogging Windows on Monday. “Windows 10 collects information so the product will work better for you. And you are in control with the ability to determine what information is collected.” The company has also updated its Windows 10 services preferences FAQ pages to be clearer on the privacy front.
Windows 10 was released to public in 190 countries on July 29, but privacy concerns around it started to surface starting last year. A feature in Windows 10 said that the company is listening what commands you give to it and observing what you type on the machine. While Microsoft assured that it was done only to make its products better at serving you, privacy advocates saw this as a “keylogging” tool designed to spy on users.
Fuelling these concerns were things like Windows 10 sharing users’ Wi-Fi credentials with their contacts; sharing one’s Internet bandwidth to seed update to others; and assigning every machine with a unique ID to track users. But the company is finally addressing these concerns.
Myerson said that Microsoft isn’t collecting anyone’s content or files. In fact, on contrary, it is taking steps to avoid collecting any information that directly identifies a user. “We collect a limited amount of information to help us provide a secure and reliable experience,” the company said. “This includes data like an anonymous device ID and device type. … This doesn’t include any of your content or files, and we take several steps to avoid collecting any information that directly identifies you, such as your name, email address or account ID.”
