EFF Blasts Microsoft for Windows 10 Telemetry Concerns

If we thought all the fence around Windows 10 privacy concerns was over since the release of Anniversary Update, nosotros were definitely incorrect. The Electronic Borderland Foundation (EFF) has defendant Microsoft of disregarding user privacy with its latest desktop operating arrangement. In a scathing editorial, the nonprofit arrangement has blasted the company for its Windows x rollout strategy, privacy policies and the way its security patches are offered to users.

EFF has called on Microsoft to "come clean" with its community over privacy concerns and disregarding user choice in its Windows 10 free upgrade campaign that ran for a year. The organisation has criticized the software giant for its incessant advertising strategies that "went from abrasive to downright malicious." This free upgrade was offered to Windows vii and 8 users through the upgrade prompts that triggered a backfire from time and again. The operating organization is no longer offered equally a gratis upgrade, which means these adware prompts accept as well ceased to annoy users who chose to stay on older software.

"Time after time, with each update, Microsoft chose to use questionable tactics to cause users to download a slice of software that many didn't want," the editorial noted what has repeatedly been said over the last year since Windows 10 was released as a gratuitous upgrade.

Windows 10 has "blatant disregard of user selection and privacy"

Similar to previous reports and demands, EFF's editorial is particularly critical of Windows 10'south telemetry collection. "Windows 10 sends an unprecedented corporeality of usage data back to Microsoft," EFF'southward Amul Kalia wrote. Advocates have said that Windows 10 sends location, text input, voice input, bear upon input, and other telemetry data to Microsoft.

A significant issue is the telemetry information the visitor receives. While Microsoft insists that it aggregates and anonymizes this data, information technology hasn't explained just how information technology does so. Microsoft also won't say how long this information is retained, instead providing only general timeframes. Worse yet, unless yous're an enterprise user, no matter what, you have to share at to the lowest degree some of this telemetry data with Microsoft andthere's no way to opt-out of it.

EFF further said that the company is using security equally a reason for users to finish caring about their privacy. "Microsoft is claiming that giving ordinary users more privacy by letting them turn telemetry reporting down to its everyman level would hazard their security since they would no longer go security updates," the editorial noted.

What'south side by side - a Windows 10 privacy portal

The editorial calls on Microsoft "to acknowledge its missteps and offer real, meaningful opt-outs to the users who want them, preferably in a single unified screen." It too advises the company to stop using security every bit an excuse for telemetry, carve up "security updates from operating system upgrades," and "not endeavor to bypass user choice and privacy expectations."

While in that location certainly are some trust issues and privacy concerns with Windows ten, EFF's editorial could accept been better timed as the company no longer offers the costless upgrade. As usual, Microsoft is yet to be more proactive with these user concerns and allegations. The company responded with a statement toZDNetwith links to its privacy policy and final year's blog posts.