My friend Whyves (not his real name – gotta protect the innocent 😉 ) has asked me a great question and I got some great answers at this live event so I interupt my regularly scheduled blog posts to bring you this breaking news:
Microsoft does not want your data
With the release of Windows 10 the amount of data (telemetry) being sent back to Microsoft (called “phoning home”) has increased. This data is used to drive the update mechanisms: they will fix the parts of the OS/applications that are being used and not focus their efforts on the trailing edges.
There is one important distinction in that: telemetry is not personally identifiable data. It is data on what features were used but not the data itself – none of your data is at risk: they just want to know how you use the OS/applications
Now, as always in the modern age there are other considerations:
- If you turn on (and I mean tracking features in) Cortana some of your data will be sent out to the cloud. If you ask Cortana to remind you of a meeting that data will be sent to the cloud (for storage) until the meeting and then deleted.
- Turning on tracking features in IE/Edge will allow some data to be tracked. Again, you will have to turn on these features and if you asked to be tracked you will be
- The best way to avoid being tracked is to not asked to be tracked. Also, the more you remove store apps and apply security to your device the less telemetry will be sent back
- Google and Apple take more telemetry and data than Microsoft does. Again:
Microsoft does not want your data (just look at the changes to OneDrive if you dont believe me 😉
Thanks Wjyves – keep your stick on the ice!