Source:http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/windows-10-watching-you-fans-6187498
More than 14 million people have now downloaded the smash hit operating system - but do they know what's lurking inside it?rest
Microsoft has been accused of packing its Windows 10 operating system with Big Brother-style "spy" software.
The must-have operating system has now been downloaded by more than 14 million people, with many Microsoft fans still waiting in a queue to download the upgrade.
But this super successful launch has been marred by accusations that Windows 10 contains privacy-busting software which collects huge amounts of data about its users.
In its privacy guidelines, Microsoft has admitted it collects key information on Windows users, recording the searches they make with Bing, requests spoken to the voice assistant Cortana and even "your typed and handwritten words".
The tech giant also said it could rifle through a variety of private and personal places.
“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,” Microsoft wrote in its terms of service.
Microsoft has compiled a huge 45 page document detailing its privacy policy in intense detail.
The European Digital Rights Organisation summed it up with the following statement:
"One can say that Microsoft basically grants itself very broad rights to collect everything you do, say and write with and on your devices in order to sell more targeted advertising or to sell your data to third parties.
"The company appears to be granting itself the right to share your data either with your consent 'or as necessary'."
Microsoft's privacy changes have met with a furious reaction.
So I was going to install windows 10 tomorrow. Now I'm not so sure. #privacy #bigbrother
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"I am pretty surprised by the far-reaching data collection that Microsoft seems to want,” web developer Jonathan Porta wrote on his blog, which was quoted by RT.
"I am even more surprised by the fact that the settings all default to incredibly intrusive. I am certain that most individuals will just accept the defaults and have no idea how much information they are giving away.”
In a statement, Microsoft said: "“Windows does not collect personal information without your consent.
"To effectively provide Windows as a service, Microsoft collects some performance, diagnostic and usage information that helps keep Windows and apps running properly by communicating the capabilities of a device, reliability of apps, whether Windows is operating correctly and a device’s status if a disruption were to occur."
The tech giant promised it "does not sell this data or use it for advertising purposes".
You can opt to limit the data Microsoft collects inside the privacy settings control panel, although you will have to click through up to 13 screens to make the changes.
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