LifeHacker calls our Neowin..

[FiB3R]

build in fine-grained controls and let the user decide what and how much she wants to share beyond providing bug reports and other written feedback. If the user doesn't want her keypresses recorded or browsing history sent to Microsoft, let her opt out of it.

I wish this were the case. As it stands, I am unsure of exactly what data is being collected, and therefore will not be running it 24/7 which I was totally prepared to do, in fact even looking forward to. God knows I stuck it out with Windows ME until Devil's Own dropped.

 

So... as others have done, I will run it in a VM, but because of that, I imagine it will get very little use, and therefore much less feedback as a result.

 

EDIT: Starting to think I should have taken a look at the privacy statement for the Windows Phone Dev Preview :rolleyes:

[Dot Matrix]

build in fine-grained controls and let the user decide what and how much she wants to share beyond providing bug reports and other written feedback. If the user doesn't want her keypresses recorded or browsing history sent to Microsoft, let her opt out of it.

Then what's the point of collecting feedback? That's exactly why these pre-releases are open to the public.

[farmeunit]

Then what's the point of collecting feedback? That's exactly why these pre-releases are open to the public.

This!

 

If you're worried about it, don't use it.  Plan and simple.  What is so hard to understand?

[Praetor]

build in fine-grained controls and let the user decide what and how much she wants to share beyond providing bug reports and other written feedback. If the user doesn't want her keypresses recorded or browsing history sent to Microsoft, let her opt out of it.

 

Dude, this is a Preview, not a Free Windows; you are the tester of the OS when you install it.

What you are saying is like you work in a QC department but you want to optout for the tests? And don't want to provide the necessary tests info? That, alone, defies the whole purpose of this release: to collect data so they can provide a better OS.

[Active.]

Then what's the point of collecting feedback? That's exactly why these pre-releases are open to the public.

 

what do you mean? There are many ways in which MS asks for explicit feedback e.g. I was asked whether I succesfully used the Virtual Desktop Feature and Alt-Tabbing, whether I found the Live tiles useful etc. and was asked to fill out forms regarding those features. Plus many people might leave *most* or at the very least *some* of the data collection enabled but opt out of sharing potentially sensitive information. And don't forget that there's always the option of simply *telling* MS about your experience with the product. Personally I'm a little skeptical as to the value of all of this data colleciton in the first place, but that's a discussion for another time. Certainly MS would like to be given carte blanche to retrieve any and all data conerned with someone's usage of their product. I'm not sure that is really tenable, even for a Technical Preview. And it could very well backfire when users as a consequence stop using the product in any sort of realistic fashion.

 

 

you work in a QC department but you want to optout for the tests? 

 

Yeah...I don't remember getting paid for this. We're doing MS a favor here.

[vcfan]

So they want us to use our linked accounts and spend 'quality' time with the build, but we are supposed to leave all concern at the door?  Wow.

 

but our accounts are already stored at Microsoft

[Raa]

I spy quite a lot of people here that shouldn't be using the technical preview if they're going to get their knickers in a twist over data collection FFS.

I'd have to agree.

 

Now I know everything is logged, I won't put any sensitive information into it. Simple.

I probably wasn't going to before, but that isn't the point.

 

 

Dude, this is a Preview, not a Free Windows; you are the tester of the OS when you install it.

What you are saying is like you work in a QC department but you want to optout for the tests? And don't want to provide the necessary tests info? That, alone, defies the whole purpose of this release: to collect data so they can provide a better OS.

 

Pretty much this. I think some people are expecting a "free ride". It doesn't work that way.

[Active.]

I think some people are expecting a "free ride". It doesn't work that way.

It's an OS of alpha quality (or so I've been told). How exactly would you consider the "privilege" of using it a free ride, even if you didn't provide any feedback at all (which I'm not even arguing for). :huh:  

[Dot Matrix]

what do you mean? There are many ways in which MS asks for explicit feedback e.g. I was asked whether I succesfully used the Virtual Desktop Feature and Alt-Tabbing, whether I found the Live tiles useful etc. and was asked to fill out forms regarding those features. Plus many people might leave *most* or at the very least *some* of the data collection enabled but opt out of sharing potentially sensitive information. And don't forget that there's always the option of simply *telling* MS about your experience with the product. Personally I'm a little skeptical as to the value of all of this data colleciton in the first place, but that's a discussion for another time. Certainly MS would like to be given carte blanche to retrieve any and all data conerned with someone's usage of their product. I'm not sure that is really tenable, even for a Technical Preview. And it could very well backfire when users as a consequence stop using the product in any sort of realistic fashion.

Microsoft isn't actively collecting sensitive information. They're not stupid. But there is always the off chance that sensitive information could be transmitted. As was said above, this is a technical preview intended for feedback purposes. It's all or nothing. This isn't a free lunch. If you're not looking to provide feedback, then the Technical Preview isn't for you.

[Active.]

Microsoft isn't actively collecting sensitive information. They're not stupid. But there is always the off chance that sensitive information could be transmitted. 

How does that work in practice? Are you saying they are somehow filtering out sensitive data from the "browsing, search and file history" and  "typed characters" they are allowing themselves to collect?  

 

 

This isn't a free lunch.  

Again with the free lunch.  :| I'm sure that's what it feels like for you... what's the lunch we're getting here?

[Dot Matrix]

 

How does that work in practice? Are you saying they are somehow filtering out sensitive data from the "browsing, search and file history" and  "typed characters" they are allowing themselves to collect?  

Browsing and Search history provides Cortana's backend with information relevant to you, it also helps improves Bing's performance and ability to gather the relevant information. Typed characters are useful in providing feedback to predictive text and built in spell check.

 

As I said above, Microsoft aren't using these services to harvest sensitive data, but there is the possibility of it being collected. Again, this is a technical preview, not a production OS.

[Active.]

Hey, I'm sure they could make use of a recording of the saccadic movements of my eyes and a video recording of what I'm looking at, but I'm not about to let them access my camera or have them record my screen. As I said on the first page, this isn't really the black-and-white issue some of you make it out to be. Certainly MS is free to put into their privacy statement whatever they want... but we're also free to discuss and possibly criticize or suggest improvements to it or the corresponding software implementation.

[Max Norris]

Can't believe this silly argument is still going on.. three pages of the same people ignoring what's right in front of their faces.

A very early test version is released specifically to collect telemetry to see if the thing is or isn't working properly.. not a consumer preview or even a developer preview.. a "does this ___ even work" test. They invite people to run this test to help them improve the product. They tell you about the telemetry up front, repeatedly. They even tell you this is not meant to be used as a day-to-day OS. And yet people complain.. they don't want to be included in a test that they downloaded, they feel they should be allowed to run what's essentially an alpha build day to day even though they're warned not to, and extra credit to those that complained last time around about having their feedback ignored and are now complaining about telemetry.

 

As I said on the first page, this isn't really the black-and-white issue some of you make it out to be.

And as I commented also on the first page, it most certainly is. This is not a consumer product, this is not an invite to everyone come and play with it willy nilly. This is a specific release designed to test certain things. You elected to ignore the multiple warnings telling you it was going to do exactly that.. you installed this test, not Microsoft, not your OEM, you. Why would you think the privacy policy would even apply when they tell you up front that they're wanting to collect data? Turning off the telemetry kind of makes it a self-defeating test, don't you think? Now you want to cry on everyone's shoulder? Sometimes think they shouldn't even bother as people can't be bothered to read.. skip further previews and just release it as apparently nobody wants to help improve it.

[Ian S.]

Hey, I'm sure they could make use of a recording of the saccadic movements of my eyes and a video recording of what I'm looking at, but I'm not about to let them access my camera or have them record my screen. As I said on the first page, this isn't really the black-and-white issue some of you make it out to be. Certainly MS is free to put into their privacy statement whatever they want... but we're also free to discuss and possibly criticize or suggest improvements to it or the corresponding software implementation.

Active audio/visual is different from stored data, which you have an option of not putting in the Tech Preview.

[Active.]

Now you want to cry on everyone's shoulder?

Is that the impression you're getting?  :huh:

 

 

Active audio/visual is different from stored data, which you have an option of not putting in the Tech Preview.

So that's where you would draw the line?

[Max Norris]

Is that the impression you're getting?  :huh:

Well when you're repeatedly saying the same thing for three pages and ignoring it when everyone else is trying to point out the patently obvious.. yea it kind of comes off like that.

[Active.]

Well when you're repeatedly saying the same thing for three pages and ignoring it when everyone else is trying to point out the patently obvious.. yea it kind of comes off like that.

I'm patiently answering questions. 

[Max Norris]

I'm patiently answering questions.

Sure, and again being able to selectively turn off telemetry is negating the entire point of the test, rendering it a big waste of time beyond "whee look at the new start menu." It doesn't do anyone any good.. less bugs may be found, Microsoft might get some inaccurate ideas about what people want resulting in another 8.0 type of reception, etc. It's bad for Microsoft, and it's bad for the end-user who may get something that's not as good as it could have been. I get having concerns about privacy, in which case this test build is definitely not for you. Wait for the actual developer or consumer previews where this sort of thing won't be going on.

[Active.]

Agree to disagree. :)

[gohpep]

Browsing and Search history provides Cortana's backend with information relevant to you, it also helps improves Bing's performance and ability to gather the relevant information. Typed characters are useful in providing feedback to predictive text and built in spell check.

 

As I said above, Microsoft aren't using these services to harvest sensitive data, but there is the possibility of it being collected. Again, this is a technical preview, not a production OS.

Yes, they are kind of aggregating data into general user patterns which cannot be used to identify anyone person.

[Active.]

cannot be used to identify anyone person.

out of curiosity...how do you know this? I did not find anything in the privacy statement that would suggest that. It even suggests the opposite to me: "We may combine this data with information that is linked to your user ID, such as information contained in your Microsoft account."

[Ian S.]

out of curiosity...how do you know this? I did not find anything in the privacy statement that would suggest that. It even suggests the opposite to me: "We may combine this data with information that is linked to your user ID, such as information contained in your Microsoft account."

Like we said, it does not matter if it is identifiable it is a preview, don't like it? Don't use it. It is not forced on anyone and downloading for non-techies is in fact discouraged by Microsoft. On another note, why not complain about Google? Or Apple? Or Amazon?

[Active.]

Like we said, it does not matter if it is identifiable 

I didn't say it did.  

[Ian S.]

I didn't say it did.  

What about the rest of my response?

 it is a preview, don't like it? Don't use it. It is not forced on anyone and downloading for non-techies is in fact discouraged by Microsoft. On another note, why not complain about Google? Or Apple? Or Amazon?

Why are you stuck in a hate-Microsoft world? Look at it rationally from our point of view. Is it wrong to collect data in a preview? Even if it is specifically stated? And downloading is discouraged? It is no like they are advertising Windows 10 TP from every rooftop they can find, so what is the problem? Just delete the preview, if you don't like it; it is that simple.. This discussion is going nowhere. 

[devHead]

build in fine-grained controls and let the user decide what and how much she wants to share beyond providing bug reports and other written feedback. If the user doesn't want her keypresses recorded or browsing history sent to Microsoft, let her opt out of it.

The person who wants to do that has no business installing the preview on their machine.  Microsoft isn't releasing the Technical Preview for every Tom, Dick, and Sally to play with and then give their opinion on things that should be changed ("I don't like the icons you have on the Desktop" or "Make some cooler wallpapers!").  They are releasing it to 'technical' people so that Microsoft can get real metrics on what should be improved, what bugs exist on different systems, etc.  You think they're going to listen to every piece of feedback?  If you don't like what they're doing, don't install it.  It's not for you!

out of curiosity...how do you know this? I did not find anything in the privacy statement that would suggest that. It even suggests the opposite to me: "We may combine this data with information that is linked to your user ID, such as information contained in your Microsoft account."

UNINSTALL IT AND STOP POSTING YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT IT!