This is something that no one expected, when microsoft said,
Inside Microsoft’s Insider Program you’ll get all the latest Windows preview builds as soon as they’re available. In return, we want to know what you think. You’ll get an easy-to-use app to give us your feedback, which will help guide us along the way.
for it’s Windows Technical Preview release this week, it also meant it will log every move you do.
Are Microsoft the bad guys ?
It’s not something that we could judge Microsoft as guilty. As how many of us here read the Privacy Policy or Terms of Service before downloading a software ? none of us have time to read those lengthy paragraphs.
Here is some lines from Microsoft’s privacy policy,
Data We Collect
Microsoft collects many kinds of information in a variety of ways in order to operate effectively and provide you the best products, services and experiences we can. We may combine this data with information that is linked to your user ID, such as information contained in your Microsoft account.
When you acquire, install and use the Program, Microsoft collects information about you, your devices, applications and networks, and your use of those devices, applications and networks. Examples of data we collect include your name, email address, preferences and interests; browsing, search and file history; phone call and SMS data; device configuration and sensor data; and application usage. For example, when you:
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install the Program, we may collect information about your device and applications and use it for purposes such as determining or improving compatibility,
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use voice input features like speech-to-text, we may collect voice information and use it for purposes such as improving speech processing,
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open a file, we may collect information about the file, the application used to open the file, and how long it takes any use it for purposes such as improving performance, or
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enter text, we may collect typed characters and use them for purposes such as improving autocomplete and spellcheck features.
The Program contains internet-enabled features and social functionality. When these features are used, they transmit certain standard computer information (“Standard Computer Data”) to Microsoft. Standard Computer Data may include information about the Program computing environment such as IP address, network status, operating conditions and information about devices and software used with the Program.
The Program contains internet-enabled features that transmit performance or usage information to Microsoft (“Experience Data”). Experience Data may include information about the Program’s performance and reliability, such as how quickly the Program responds when you click a button or how many problems you experience with the Program. Experience Data may also include information about your use of the Program, such as the features used most often or how frequently you launch programs. Experience Data may be collected through the use of cookies or similar technologies; learn more below.
it actually means that all your data is collected. Anything you type, or any applications you run and mostly everything. They say it is to improve the software such as auto correction, speech to text with voice information and much more.
How do Microsoft use the Data ?
As mentioned earlier or even in the Privacy Policy, Microsoft uses it to improve their software. Every Person has a different way of thinking, so everyone uses Windows in different ways, and that could show bugs which Microsoft staffs didn’t expect.
So is it safe ?
Microsoft has nothing to do with our data but we should hope their staff’s have nothing to do about it too. Microsoft should only give access to private information to trusted staffs.
if you have used Windows 10 Technical preview before reading this for any private information’s such as Banking, or even entered a password in a social site then it is better for you to change it all. Who knows, your data maybe the next in line. Microsoft says that it will handle our data securely, I trust them but not all their staffs.
This is the main reason Microsoft didn’t want people to install it on their main computers. Though I would expect Microsoft to at least add a bigger notice of one line in their download page like they said about the Insider Program.
Share this with your friends and prevent loss of any personal data before it’s too late.
This will be removed on RTM versions of Windows 10.
