At long last, Microsoft is trying to set the record straight on the information that Windows 10 collects about you.
Advertisement
The company states that this information it collects, after approval from the customer’s end, includes:an anonymous device ID, device type, and application crash data which may be used by Microsoft in order to improve app reliability and performance.
Mehdi’s remarks suggest that Microsoft will form more local alliances, and this is supported by ongoing cooperation between the U.S. firm and Chinese device manufacturer Xiaomi, which is now running trials for Windows 10 on its mobile devices.
The Windows boss then goes on to explain how this collected information can help improve Windows 10.
You may have read about feature updates, Windows 10 servicing, deferred updates or the different servicing branches that Microsoft created for Windows 10 but since Microsoft did not reveal too much about them, it was not really clear how they’d affect administrative tasks in Windows environments. It also collects information about your computer’s performance to detect and correct potential bugs. Microsoft offers its “express installation files” option as one way to deal with the potential network bandwidth hit implied by pushing down these cumulative Windows 10 releases. There is also a section that contains guidelines on how to activate the Windows 10 Insider preview, activating Windows after reinstallation, and activating the OS after a hardware configuration.
“Aggregate data showed us that a particular version of a graphics driver was crashing on some Windows 10 PCs, which then caused a reboot”.
Windows 10 also includes family features that are enabled by default to send activity data to a parent.
Windows 10 adopters of the long-term servicing branch won’t be getting regular feature upgrades.
Personalization Data: Information about what you prefer, common words you type, questions you answer when using Cortana, and so on is collected to provide a better user experience. You are in control of the information we collect for these purposes and can update your settings at any time. This is true no matter what privacy options you choose. We automatically take out things that could potentially be used to identify you, like IDs and IP addresses.
“Trust is a core pillar of our “More Personal Computing” vision, and we know we have to earn it”, Myerson wrote.
Microsoft officials have said that they are instituting this more agile upgrade process with Windows 10 to address the innovation and security expectations of its customers.
Microsoft’s Windows as a service approach delivers OS feature upgrades at a faster pace, although security patch updates still continue to arrive on a monthly basis.
Advertisement
To make that world possible, we also need to calmly discuss these issues and avoid succumbing to paranoia.
