Windows data collection

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Seem like there have been updates on Windows 7 and 8 that allow Microsoft to spy users of theirs old OS.
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/08/28/microsoft-intensifies-data-collection-on-windows-7-and-8-systems/
I considering more and more to only using Linus; enough is enough!

There is another update to Windows 7 and 8, it's called Windows 10.

They need this data to fight piracy, fight terrorism, fight drugs, and crime.
Also it lets Microsoft build better software.

This is also how Google knows what to do about Android (Google collects far more data from Android than Microsoft ever has from Windows).

Anyone who rallies against data collection must be an  user.

At least Google's data collection has some use-- it provides the revenue for them to give out lots of free software and it has practical applications like filling out my search so I don't have to. Microsoft's data collection is for nothing more than control-- if they actually used it to make windows a more custom product for the end user I could understand, as it is now they just collect it like a greedy little leprechaun for who knows what purpose. If they need to develop better software there's a less intrusive and better method-- fire Steve Ballmer and the lack of innovation he trickles down.--From a lifelong windows user.

Google free software to get you to use it, so they can get even more data, which in turns raises their profits and revenue.
Google does it all out of pure profits.

Microsoft started collected data after all the complaints of them not taking user activity into account.

Steve Ballmer isn't CEO and step down in 2013, after a 13 year long massive power struggle with Bill Gates (Bill Gates kept call rough shots over him on nearly every decision). It was Gates that forced him out in order to keep his goodwill with the board. It ruined their best friendship and Ballmer refused to talk to Gates.
Funny enough it was the buyout of Nokia's hardware business that was the final straw, after the board and Gates told him to negotiate and complete the Nokia deal.
He felt he was back stabbed.

Satya Nadella has been CEO since February 4th 2014.

Ah yeah, I vaguely remember the bru-ha-ha now. That being said, that's a minor point to the main point: Microsoft doesn't innovate with the data they collect. Bug fix perhaps, but innovate no, I can't think of a single Windows feature that's revolutionary and have to have since f'in Windows 95 added 32-bit support to the consumer line. It's all slow incremental progress with no vision. If apple didn't have nazi-level xenophobia towards 3rd party hardware I'd switch to them. Likewise, if a lot of software companies started supporting a mainstream Linux branch I'd switch to that. But no I'm stuck with clunky old windows because it's the only platform that has wide software support and the ability to build a computer with one's own hardware choices.

Let's put it this way, why is it every time I reinstall windows I have to turn off the same services every single time barring me slipstreaming a custom install? Couldn't their massive amount of data collection just figure out the crap I never use, link it to my account, and just do all that tedious crap in the background on install. Oh wait, it could-- but that would actually be using that data for the benefit of the end-user.

Yes, google uses that data for profit, that's how they develop software-- it is a business after all. It's pretty obvious that if you use their services it's sold in bulk to advertisers or used to their advertiser's benefit, and hell probably a lot of other places. But like I said, I get something out of that exchange-- the ability to use a whole ton of Google software for free should I chose. Microsoft on the other hand takes data and gives nothing back, not even a reach around-- and yes, raw information is a commodity these days so I view it as a type of theft they're able to get away due to having a monopoly in the PC operating system market.

My housemate was one of the first to get the free Win10 upgrade, and he got rid of it about two weeks later when he discovered that the OS itself was really nothing more than a big piece of spyware that had the secondary function of operating computer hardware. He went back to Win8. --He hates Linux after a few unfreindly experiences with it back in the early 2K's.

Unless you play a lot of games that doesn't run natively on Linux, I strongly suggest switching over. You'll have a lot more control over everything and none would be spying on you. It's also more secure. It's not really harder to install than Windows, and updating it is also very simple ( though it depends a little on what distro you are using. ) And installing stuff is way easier. Just one line in the terminal, hit enter and you're done!

Also a tiny thing : Linus is the name of the guy who started it ( Linus Torvalds ) Linux is the name of the actual kernel / group of operating systems.



Where do you get these claims from? If Microsoft spyed on people to this level... That would be freaking scary. But I do think people would find out of that very easily. Unless MS found a way to send information and hiding it from any packet sniffer.

As others noted; Google has clearer reasons for collecting data. Sure, it IS bad that they do collect data. But at least I know what they use it for. And Google offers a lot of great, free services. I would also assume they contribute a lot more to open source softwar than Microsoft ( or Apple for that matter )

Why do they have to be Apple users? What makes them think Apple doesn't spy? What sets Linux apart from MS and Apple is that it's all open source. It's all maintained by the people. Anyone can look at ALL of the source code. And the code added to Linux passes through several tiers ( I think it's 3 ) before it's accepted into the main code. All of this happens out in the open. So in effect, the code can and will be scrutinized by a huge number of people. That doesn't happen at MS or Apple.