Windows 10

[sexobon]

Using the Express installation gives away the store in regard to privacy as does the majority of Recommended settings and Microsoft steers you towards them. There's an option to Customize settings somewhere on each page, in the fine print, perhaps at the bottom of the page, that you might have to scroll down to find; but, all of the sharing can be shut down. While I did that during installation, it can be done post installation through Settings as well. It's the same with selecting apps to install and permissions.

I turned Wi-Fi sharing off: I left Wi-Fi hotspots access on. I want to be able to keep browsing and I know not to send sensitive information over unsecured public access Wi-Fi connections. Hotspots access would have to be turned off if for some reason I didn't want my location tracked.

The default settings are for the masses whose lives are open books. For them and for those who additionally trust their contacts with access to their Wi-Fi connections, there are conveniences to be had.

[Happy Monkey]

It peer-to-peers windows updates.

[sexobon]

That's one of many problems with Microsoft. For those who find that they can't live with them; or, work around them there's:

START->Settings->Update & Security->Recovery->Go back to Windows 8.1->Get started

(or whatever previous Windows version you had prior to installing WIN10)

That Recovery option will be available for a month after the upgrade.

[Pamela]

Windows 10 is spying on almost everything you do. I suppose that was inevitable. Data, especially personal (private) data is big business.

Here’s how to opt out from 10's more egregious espionage.

[be-bop]

" Egregious Espionage".

Weren't they a band in the 70's

[xoxoxoBruce]

I believe you're thinking of Erogenous Espionage, but I could be mistaken.

[Gravdigr]

I thought that was more of a zone...

[Undertoad]

Took a shot at the upgrade this morning, result: about 5 hours of lost time

I forgot that I installed a new SSD on my system, migrated Windows to the new one but left the old one on the system. This must have confused Win10 as it tried to engage the old SSD in the upgrade.

The draw of having two SSDs was too great; but now I pay the price.

Win 10 decided that I had a bad setup that needed to be recovered. But to get to system repair was turrible; because I didn't have a CD Rom drive, and had to try to create recovery media on USB on a dying laptop, and boot that.

Win 10 system repair just put it back in Win 7 on reboot. It must have known. "Oh we gave this a try, I guess we shall punt gracefully."

I am going to try to remove the old SSD before trying the upgrade again

[sexobon]

From Forbes / Tech:

[Microsoft Admits Windows 10 Automatic Spying Cannot Be Stopped

Last week changes to the Windows 10 upgrade path mean it is going to become increasingly difficult for any non-techy users to avoid being pushed to Microsoft MSFT +1.85%’s new operating system. But given Windows 10 is better than Windows 7 and Windows 8, why would that be a problem? Because of policies like this…

... Speaking to PC World, Microsoft Corporate Vice President Joe Belfiore explained that Windows 10 is constantly tracking how it operates and how you are using it and sending that information back to Microsoft by default. More importantly he also confirmed that, despite offering some options to turn elements of tracking off, core data collection simply cannot be stopped: ...

... it does seem strange that it has taken Microsoft so long to come clean and admit core Windows 10 background data collection processes cannot be stopped. Instead it gave the impression that turning off all user accessible spying options in Windows 10 settings would provide owners with full privacy – that’s tantamount to spying. ...

... Windows and Devices Group head Terry Myerson recently confirmed Windows 10 Enterprise users will be able to disable every single aspect of Microsoft data collection.

This comes in combination with Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise users’ ability to permanently disable automatic updates which are forced upon consumers and shows the growing divide between how Microsoft is treating consumers versus corporations

... The good news: even if Belfiore states you cannot switch off everything, editing your privacy settings will disable the worst of these. ...

... The bad news: despite Belfiore’s pledge “to continue to listen”, Microsoft’s actions (including the impending Windows 7 and Windows 8 upgrade pressure) suggests the company’s recent love for Big Brother tactics is only going to get worse before it gets better…

[Dude111]

Yes they are doing whatever they can TO TRY AND FORCE AS MANY PPL AS THEY CAN onto this spying garbage!!

[Undertoad]

I've been running Win10 at work for the last 2 weeks and....

...it's generally very good. I hereby endorse this product or service. I will retry the home install.

I am not afraid

[Gravdigr]

Pass.

[xoxoxoBruce]

This was suggested for MS-10 users.

Hi imgurians ! After posting a way to force your computer to update to Windows 10 (http://imgur.com/gallery/96I8rKx), I'm gonna show you how to protect your personnal information. As you may know, Windows 10 is free (you have 1 year to download it). So many people upgrades their computer. But the Truth about Windows 10 is that there's a lot of process that retrieve your personnal data to "enhance the experience on the Windows OS". So how to block that ?

Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc . You will find a file named hosts . Open the file with Notepad (You must execute Notepad as an administrator) and add this following lines:

127.0.0.1 local
127.0.0.1 vortex.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 vortex-win.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telecommand.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 oca.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 sqm.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 redir.metaservices.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 choice.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 choice.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 reports.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 services.wes.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 sqm.df.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 watson.ppe.telemetry.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.appex.bing.net
127.0.0.1 telemetry.urs.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 telemetry.appex.bing.net:443
127.0.0.1 settings-sandbox.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 vortex-sandbox.data.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 survey.watson.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 watson.live.com
127.0.0.1 watson.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 statsfe2.ws.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 corpext.msitadfs.glbdns2.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 compatexchange.cloudapp.net
127.0.0.1 cs1.wpc.v0cdn.net
127.0.0.1 a-0001.a-msedge.net
127.0.0.1 statsfe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net
127.0.0.1 sls.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net
127.0.0.1 fe2.update.microsoft.com.akadns.net
127.0.0.1 diagnostics.support.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 corp.sts.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 statsfe1.ws.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 pre.footprintpredict.com
127.0.0.1 i1.services.social.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 i1.services.social.microsoft.com.nsatc.net
127.0.0.1 feedback.windows.com
127.0.0.1 feedback.microsoft-hohm.com
127.0.0.1 feedback.search.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 rad.msn.com
127.0.0.1 preview.msn.com
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ads.msn.com
127.0.0.1 ads1.msads.net
127.0.0.1 ads1.msn.com
127.0.0.1 a.ads1.msn.com
127.0.0.1 a.ads2.msn.com
127.0.0.1 adnexus.net
127.0.0.1 adnxs.com
127.0.0.1 aidps.atdmt.com
127.0.0.1 apps.skype.com
127.0.0.1 az361816.vo.msecnd.net
127.0.0.1 az512334.vo.msecnd.net
127.0.0.1 a.rad.msn.com
127.0.0.1 a.ads2.msads.net
127.0.0.1 ac3.msn.com
127.0.0.1 aka-cdn-ns.adtech.de
127.0.0.1 b.rad.msn.com
127.0.0.1 b.ads2.msads.net
127.0.0.1 b.ads1.msn.com
127.0.0.1 bs.serving-sys.com
127.0.0.1 c.msn.com
127.0.0.1 cdn.atdmt.com
127.0.0.1 cds26.ams9.msecn.net
127.0.0.1 c.atdmt.com
127.0.0.1 db3aqu.atdmt.com
127.0.0.1 ec.atdmt.com
127.0.0.1 flex.msn.com
127.0.0.1 g.msn.com
127.0.0.1 h2.msn.com
127.0.0.1 h1.msn.com
127.0.0.1 live.rads.msn.com
127.0.0.1 msntest.serving-sys.com
127.0.0.1 m.adnxs.com
127.0.0.1 m.hotmail.com
127.0.0.1 preview.msn.com
127.0.0.1 pricelist.skype.com
127.0.0.1 rad.msn.com
127.0.0.1 rad.live.com
127.0.0.1 secure.flashtalking.com
127.0.0.1 static.2mdn.net
127.0.0.1 s.gateway.messenger.live.com
127.0.0.1 secure.adnxs.com
127.0.0.1 sO.2mdn.net
127.0.0.1 ui.skype.com
127.0.0.1 www.msftncsi.com
127.0.0.1 msftncsi.com
127.0.0.1 view.atdmt.com

When it's done, register and reboot your computer !
I hope this post is usefull, and sorry if I make some English mistakes !

[Happy Monkey]

I noticed that apps.skype.com was in there. I'm sure skype steals your data as much as any other app, but if you actually use skype, I suspect you'd want to keep that.