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Windows 10 privacy issues you should be aware of

Published Jul 29th, 2015 4:36PM EDT
Windows 10 Privacy Issues

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Windows 10 is finally here, and though not shrouded in the same type of pomp and circumstance that surrounded the launch of, say, Windows 95, it’s still a significant update worth checking out. Not only is Windows 10 available as a free update to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users, but the new OS from Microsoft comes with a bevy of interesting new features that are certainly worth exploring.

At the same time, and as with any new OS release, there are a few wrinkles to be ironed out and new privacy issues worth noting. While most of the privacy issues associated with Windows 10 can be alleviated with a simple adjustment of one’s settings, there are still a few issues worth highlighting before you start using Windows 10 as your everyday OS.

DON’T MISS: How to download and install Windows 10 right now

Running down the most important of these issues, The Next Web today took a close look at 6 such examples. For instance, if you activate Cortana, Microsoft’s terms and conditions list out all of the information you’ll be making available to the friendly folks up in Redmond.

To enable Cortana to provide personalized experiences and relevant suggestions, Microsoft collects and uses various types of data, such as your device location, data from your calendar, the apps you use, data from your emails and text messages, who you call, your contacts and how often you interact with them on your device.

Cortana also learns about you by collecting data about how you use your device and other Microsoft services, such as your music, alarm settings, whether the lock screen is on, what you view and purchase, your browse and Bing search history, and more.

While the inclusion of the phrase “and more” might be somewhat worrisome, what Microsoft is doing here isn’t all that out of the ordinary as far as personalized digital assistants go. After all, both Google and Apple collect similar data points when customers use services like Siri and Google Now. But as a new feature to Windows, it’s something that’s worth highlighting for the more privacy-minded folks among us.

As far as glaring privacy issues consumers should pay close attention to, The Next Web highlights this portion from Microsoft’s privacy policy.

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 protect our customers or enforce the terms governing the use of the services.

Are any of these reasons cause enough to steer clear of Windows 10? Not at all, but if you’re dead set on all things privacy related, make sure to hit the source link below for the full rundown on some of the new privacy terms and conditions that come along with Microsoft’s most recent Windows upgrade. Knowledge is power, after all.

Yoni Heisler Contributing Writer

Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large with over 15 years of experience. A life long expert Mac user and Apple expert, his writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and TUAW.

When not analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni enjoys catching Improv shows in Chicago, playing soccer, and cultivating new TV show addictions.