Ask Slashdot: Can You Disable Windows 10's Privacy-Invading Features?

An anonymous reader writes: I really want to upgrade to Windows 10, but have begun seeing stories come out about the new Terms and how they affect your privacy. It looks like the default Windows 10 system puts copies of your data out on the "cloud", gives your passwords out, and targets advertising to you. The main reason I am looking to upgrade is that Bitlocker is not available on Windows 7 Pro, but is on Windows 10 Pro, and Microsoft no longer offers Anytime Upgrades to Windows 7 Ultimate. However, I don't want to give away my privacy for security. The other option is to wait until October to see what the Windows 10 Enterprise version offers, but it may not be available through retail. Are the privacy minded Slashdot readers not going with Windows 10?

For reference, I am referring to these articles. (Not to mention claims that it steals your bandwidth.) Have a question for Slashdot's readers? Take a look at other recent questions first to see if someone else has had a similar question. And if not, ask away! The more details and context you include, the more likely your question will be selected.

Comments

RTFA?

[shutdown -p now]

Did you even read the articles that you've linked to? They talk about privacy issues with default settings (that is, "Express" install). If you're a regular member of the Slashdot audience, you will certainly pick "Customize" during installation anyway, and you'll get individual switches for all these things combined on the very first screen that you'll see after that, from advertising ID to Cortana. Just disable it all, and you're good to go. For bonus points, use a local user account rather than Microsoft ID.

Re:RTFA?

[Anonymous Coward]

Settings -> Privacy, under the "Diagnostics and Usage Data" header: "Send your device data to Microsoft". Default is "Enhanced", there are also choices for "Basic" and "Full (Recommended)". See the definitions under the fourth bullet on http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/feedback-diagnostics-privacy-faq

Don't see any way to disable it. Of course this may not really be a Windows 10-specific issue since they slipped a "Diagnostic Tracking Service" into previous versions (such as Win7) through Windows Update earlier this year.

Re:RTFA?

[davester666]

Yes. Except you can't turn it off. If you aren't running Enterprise or Server versions, when you set it to '0', the text basically says "fuck you, we are still taking your private data".