Not so. If NSA erroneously thought you were part of a terrorist group and you became a target, they could use the zero-day data that Microsoft provides them to hack your Windows PC. But government never makes mistakes, you know, like executing innocent people...so there really isn't anything to worry about.
The most interesting things for me are: Where exactly does Microsoft see themselfes in the future? Will there be a need for Windows still if software devs are heading deeper into linux? Why didn't they focus on privacy, security and usability? How is it possible they were not able learn from their crash with the tiles on Windows Phone? Is Windows still a relevant system in 10 years? On the server markets they are losing share constantly. User said less cloud, dev embedded more cloud, why wft? I have serious doubts and worry a little bit about their masterplan, if something like that exists. "With great power comes great responsibility." Okay, but where's the responsibility lately? Playing balls endangers MS's whole business modells, even the biggest of the big players. LLAP, Tim Cook, cause it looks like your economy is pretty bound to services that do much more than their job.
Yah, that's what this free upgrade is all about. They're trying to get enough ppl on their system so that they'll stay simply to avoid the discomfort of switching. I think the adoption rate would be a LOT slower if they didn't do that. It makes me wonder how long ago they planned this strategy. I remember them doing a cheap upgrade offer when win8 initially released.
I think Microsoft has an unrealistic view of where they see themselves in the future. Part of what we are seeing now is that they're eating some humble pie and changing things for the better, such as allowing software companies such as SUSE to use Microsoft's signed key for UEFI booting. Here's an example: As I said in previous posts, as much as Microsoft wants to continue their old "Embrace, extend and extinguish" campaign, too many people know about this: when software vendors start being alienated as Microsoft has a lengthy history of buying up companies and deliberately changing a software standard just for the sake of shutting their competitor out of business, karma eventually catches up with them. You can only do something crummy and dreadful such as this for so long until people catch on to your bad business practices and don't want to work with you any longer. Microsoft, I think, partially sees this and this is why we have seen some changes in this area, but there definitely have not been enough (such as the privacy implications of Windows 10). Microsoft is entrapped in a really bad case of Stockholm syndrome, rehashing and regurgitating old business ideas and trying to find new ones, when stronger and more agile fish are attacking them from all angles in attempts to give Microsoft a taste of their own medicine. Because there is so much competition in the market now across all avenues when it comes to software and operating systems, I really can't picture Microsoft staying extremely relevant for the next 10 years. Sure, they'll be around, but when they have a 14% and dropping device market share as of last year, where will that put them in a decade? If I were Microsoft, I'd be very concerned. I think there will be a need for Windows software for a long time, even if Linux gets to be more dominant on the desktop. I'm not holding my breath when it comes to "the year of the Linux desktop" because it's been said so many times, but let us not forget that Android pretty much came out of nowhere and now it's an absolutely huge and awesome platform. Never say never. There are some great software titles available for Windows only, and many software titles will not properly run when being emulated on a Linux box. Using a VM takes more CPU cycles, so that approach is more of just a workaround. Also, with Microsoft open sourcing .NET, it really sends a clear message that they are done trying to manipulate and control standards. People can send MS a big middle finger in regards to not accepting Windows 10 by not buying it and by not using it. That will give them the hint real fast -- no cash and no data collection through telemetry. As far as the tiles, nobody I know likes the tiles. It started with the Zune, and that product was an outright failure. From what I remember Windows Phone was based on the Zune, and then of course the tiles from Windows Phone made it onto the desktop. Why MS is basing their UI on a failed product and using ugly 8-bit color flat and lifeless tiles is beyond me. Maybe it's so when things go "3D" again, consumers will say "wow...that's amazing!" Anyhow, Microsoft needs to start with getting rid of Sataya Nadella. The man is not a leader, and he seems to have the wrong long-term vision for the company. MS's board needs to smarten up and change their company politics to be in line with what's happening in 2015 and beyond, not living like it's 1995 all over again. Those days are long gone and are never coming back.
I desperately hope microsoft is not choosing the google way. Google is a marketing company gaining billions of dollars from ad revenues. Microsoft is a software developer. Who's willing to to pay for software thats tapping behaviour, creating personalized profiles for advertisement, on american serverfarms? Do you pay for google/analytics? No! You get money for placing ads from adsense in your websites. And I don't even understand why some people are referring to apple, never got a single advertisement email on my icloud account since I use the iphone6. Not one so far. On android I got so much spam immediately after creating my account, which they might have thought was related to my search behaviour. That's why I use duckduckgo for more than two years now, on my iphone too.
Windows 10 can check for ‘counterfeit games’ if you sign in with a Microsoft Account http://www.winbeta.org/news/windows10counterfeitgames
@Dolorous Edd: Once the truth comes out about Microsoft, people will start to question -every- piece of software and hardware that carries their personal information. Google and Android are definitely next on the "Hit parade". But, people need to see the truth about Microsoft first, to realize that this is a sinister trend, one that has been going on for years. Once they do, They'll start to question. Questions lead to answers. And answers lead to action. :MJ
I admit I am addicted to Windows. It's the system I've ever used, but I'm thinking very seriously, to continue with Linux. M$, and all manufacturers of software for Windows, need to think about the privacy problem. I believe that only we, the users, we are able to make change, or a big move arises around this, or will be a slow process, where the user tired of fighting, migrate to other OS. Read 2013: http://forums.mydigitallife.net/thr...r-I-don-t-trust-company-after-NSA-revelations
I tried with Cinnamom and looks excellent. In 10 minutes experiment with KDE. I see two very good alternatives.
Is there any truth to what is being reported about MS scanning and/or looking for pirated games. Windows 10 and Pirated Games
"Unauthorized hardware peripheral devices" may refer to a myriad of things, and the EULA is deliberately written in an exceedingly vague manner to give Microsoft the maximum amount of leeway fathomable when it comes to them controlling your computer. What exactly is "unauthorized", and what is authorized by our dear leader, Microsoft? Does that mean that certain Logitech keyboards may not work but a Microsoft keyboard will? The EULA states that Microsoft can do whatever they want, however they want, whenever they want. Whether or not a EULA holds up in a court of law is a completely different debate; however, somebody would have to prove damages or illicit activity on Microsoft's behalf. When they write an EULA so broadly pertaining to Windows 10, they are trying to cover their asses from every possible angle while simultaneously granting themselves rights to your machine and your private data. Your computer is owned by Microsoft, not you. Microsoft wants to rent their OS to you -- "Windows 365" -- so they can jack up the price whenever they feel like it. They did this to Office 365 customers twice so far, and believe it or not, people are willing to pay through the nose for the service. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/08/office_365_prices_rise/
That's funny because I am now using a Logitech KB and mouse because the MS one would not work. This stuff about games I this is BS unless they are referring to Xbox.
Here is my TinyWall connection status. In addition to what is shown, it lets Windows Update through by default although that can be switched. http://oi59.tinypic.com/2z7gbgg.jpg I've only allowed Firefox, Thunderbird, Avast, MalwareByte's, and the Bing Weather app to connect. Is that private enough?
It is but TinyWall is a control interface for the Windows Firewall, and we don't know if they aren't bypassing it somehow. We need someone to block everything with TinyWall and then check with Wireshark that absolutely nothing is being sent. I would do that but I'm new with Wireshark and can't do it correctly yet.
Maybe, maybe not http://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_c...ounterfeit_games_on_windows_10-blog-13584.php If they can prevent non-M$ games as well, then it is definitely crossing the threshold for me (not because i want to pirate, but it is MY machine damn it), I already use Linux on most machines, will think about removing Win 10 on test machines as well..only on VMs..