Windows7/8 - Updates to hide to prevent Windows 10 Upgrade / Disable Telemetry

You don't know what you are talking about, have no experience in those fields, and don't know what the requirements are, your statements make that quite clear.

And, you are mixing issues, making things unclear, it's also a very visible tactic, it's easily seen.

Privacy, security, and protecting them goes in both directions, and you can be sure all those concerns are looking out for themselves, if run well.

 

Yes, it is a problem, from many directions, many sources, and is truely new virgin territory for regulation, finally, again.

It's been the Wild West out there for quite a while.

And, you are wrong, MS has no legal right to ask users to abdicate their obligation to protect their personal privacy for any reason, least of all the software.

 

Hyperbole, politicians, unrestrained precedents to commit wrongful acts against consumers for which there has been no prior standard of accountability... none of that matters as much as the fact that Windoze OS X sucks and is malicious by design. The way they built it requires extensive modifications to be made acceptable to consumers that possess little more than an average intelligence. While some people find it cool in a geeky kind of way, even their digital entitlement/hardware hash collection scheme is unethical when you stop and think about it. Maybe some of us don't want a digital thumbprint of our PCs stored on their activation servers indefinitely.

An EULA is a form of a contract of adhesion, wherein the consumers (end users) have no say in the drafting of the content and it is offered to them on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. Courts have historically given preference--and rightfully so--to the party that has no say in the matter, especially when the contract or one-sided "agreement" is mired in mumbo-jumbo, gotcha-clauses and voluminous quantities of fine print. When the author of the contract includes unconscionable elements (unrestricted data collection, behavior monitoring, telemetry, forced updates, etc.) they can, and should be, deemed unenforceable. It is against public policy and ordinary standards of decency for the author to assume the liberty to include provisions that are unreasonable and abusive. Those that actually read the fine print and understand it are likely to find it too preposterous to be believable... downright Orwellian, in fact.

The excuses offered by Micro$loth Kool-Aid drinking fanboys that Google and Apple have been doing it for years and Micro$loth isn't doing anything different are also irrelevant and would not likely be admitted as a defense. As mommy always said, " two wrongs don't make a right" LOL. However, an adverse outcome could affect Google and Apple and bring unwanted attention to them as well.

All we need is an ability to opt out of defaults and choose whether to grant them a right to monitoring, data collection and forced updates. The fact that Micro$loth doesn't allow that and end user tweaks and hacks are needed to circumvent those malware "features" is, on face value, an indicator that their predisposition toward self-serving atrocities runs very deep and emanates from core values that are, at best, questionable. We're talking about an operating system here, not a web browser and easily deleted (or blocked) cookies.

So, the Redmond Mafia reserves the right to report information they collect to the authorities as they deem expedient. Perhaps more will jump on the bandwagon and we will hopefully see a cascade of similar interventions like the CNIL's. Turnabout is fair play... consumers also reserve the right to report Micro$haft's questionable actions to the authorities as they deem expedient, and I'm glad to see the first authority step up to the plate to do the right thing... props to France's public servants in positions of power for doing the right thing for their constituents and calling their bluff... Checkmate. Now, somebody please recite the Miranda rights to Satya Nadella. " Book 'em Danno."

 

In the USA you can not sign away your basic rights. You can not sign away your right to life, to liberty, or anything else protected by laws and the constitution. Good luck with that EULA.

 

So if this is right then why has the USA government not put a stop to it. Maybe a little slow on the draw or maybe something to gain??

 

Every countries government is interested in what you have in your computer/tablet or phone Especially USA's government

 

besides government self interest someone has to break the law first for there to be action. Once files are handed over that shouldn't have been etc.. That is unless there is such a public outrage that it demands addressing. I mean it is not like they are asking you to sign away you first born child once they turn 2, we need some real public demand for action.

 

So is the ad hominem.

For the record, I do know what I'm talking about. It's my job.

 

You will get more experience, not to worry, it comes with time and effort, but it's worth it - for the perspective.

 

If you set up the party, why would you want to go in and shut it down?

 

There are natural rights and there are rights afforded by law.

Natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) are not granted by laws. They're inalienable. They're intrinsic. You have them because you exist.

Legal rights are granted by laws. Freedom of speech, of religion, assembly. Freedom from having your home searched without a warrant. And so forth. These rights can be signed away. They can be forfeited. If a police officer knocks on the door of your home, asks if he can look around, and you say "yes" then you forfeit your fourth amendment rights and the officer's search is entirely legal. Another example is sixth amendment right to trial by jury and the right to council. Both can be forfeited and it is entirely legal to do so.

 

An officer is an agent of the government, M$ is not. If M$ wants to search my home they need an approval (warrant/court order) issued from the government. Even if I let in my home they have no right to steal and/or give to others, data, workflow, work product(s) or otherwise.

Edit; I thought I covered both legal and intrinsic.

 

Or with the stroke of a pen by a dictator abusing the privilege of executive order to force an undesirable agenda that could never pass with a vote of the people (end users). Very similar to the Windoze OS X EULA conceptually. Micro$loth has an agenda and their customers are an obstacle when they refuse to drink the Kool-Aid. The underlying attitude and the driving force behind it is despicable. Forced entry, unlawful search and seizure... Redmond style! But, "you clicked 'accept' during Windows setup" can't fly... and it shouldn't be allowed to be an excuse for doing wrong things.

Touchet! But, M$ acts like they are.

 

Well they had best start not acting like a government before the real ones get jealous then come in and slap it down! Just try and take away their jobs without lining their pockets, who do they think they are?

 

The desktop/laptop is the last, best hope for privacy. Why should anyone give up on that? What is wrong with some people? With smartphones, and tablets running Android, and IOS which are nothing more than advertising platforms gathering information on everything you do, why would you install windows 10? I have read many articles on reputable sites, that claim they cannot completely shut down the data being sent to MS, so people claiming that they have it locked down are living in a false sense of security.

 

The bottom line is CONTROL! Once you give up on control, you will never regain it again. I have seen it with Samsung smartphones, and Android. Once upon a time, root and customizing your Android to your liking was like falling off a bicycle. Now, they are locking bootloaders, and changing file formats to hinder the control you have over your own device. That is why independent development has dropped massively within these communities. This is happening now with Microsoft, and the Windows operating system.

 

Welcome to the world of ex-Alienware owners. If they want to lock it down and block firmware mods, fine... then they can keep it and shove so far up their posterior orifice that they'll need to visit an oral surgeon rather than a proctologist.

And, that's exactly what happens when the only thing on the dinner menu is dog's excrement.

 

I'm glad that you brought up this point because it's a critical distinction. The Constitution of the United States stipulates what the federal government and to some degree state and local governments can and cannot do. It says little about what private individuals and corporations can do. And, relevant to the discussion, the Contract Clause specifically prohibits the government from interfering with private contracts. Such contracts include software license agreements even when such agreements permit activities that are forbidden to state and federal governments, even when such activities might be illegal without your consent.

A nit-pick about warrants: an agent of the government needs a warrant in order to legally search your home without your permission. You are perfectly within your rights to grant permission without being presented with a warrant. You can invite anyone you desire onto your land and into your home.

 

They may be allowed in but they are not allowed to steal. Next time you are at a party go through their medicine cabinet and then announce to the world the hosts suspected maladies. Before that wander to the home office so you can photograph all the private and important paper work to show any one who asks. While at it since we have been there before with an open invitation lets sneak over and make some sex tapes to give away to our friends. get where I am going here?

Edit; Here is a great example of things that can be done without permission or knowledge.

http://perezhilton.com/2016-07-22-kayla-renee-dubois-christopher-wimmer-ems-selfie

 

When you agree to Microsoft's terms you consent to that data collection. It's not theft when you give it away.

 

....and that is the main reason to stay as far away from Windows 10 as possible.

 

The argument here is since there is no way to 100% block the transmission of said data then it is theft. If you disable all telemetry and data collection it does not 100% stop the data flow to the servers. Therefore it is theft even where agreed upon data is sent.

 

This makes me wonder what else they are looking at. M$ is getting way out of control.

 

Whatever they want. The amount of connections overnight at idle is scary.

 

If so then the argument is specious.

If you agree to allow Microsoft to collect that data (for example: as a prerequisite to installing and using Windows 10) and then you take steps to prevent some or all of that collection then it is you who is technically in the wrong. It is you who is technically in violation of the terms of your agreement with Microsoft.

 

Or, at the very least, read the full terms before agreeing to anything.

 

You are allowed by included options to stop features that supposedly use the telemetry. While this does seem to lower the amount of data transmitted even removing 100% of functions where telemetry is needed does not stop the data leakage. You can argue this all you want, it is theft. M$ will eventually get their hands slapped at the very least.

 

Wow, you got that part correct

Fortunately, since noone in the US can give up their right's by any kind of agreement, making that agreement null and void, you are actually not in violation of any agreement.

It's an invalid "agreement" or "contract" from the start.

You notice that there is no actual statement of exchange, value for value, you aren't trading away anything for the "free" nature of the software.

There is no binding contract or "agreement for the exchange of goods or services".

All that legal mumbo jumbo aside. It's really dumb to install software like this.

You are warned about everything they intend to do in the EULA.

That they are coming after everything you have on that computer, will have on that computer, or will do on that computer, and after anything that can be sensed by video or audio within range of that computer. Don't forget about the network it sits on, it's theirs too.

Why in the world would anyone be dumb enough to install Windows 10, fully knowing the ramifications of that action?

It still amazes me

But, it's a good indicator as to just how naive, dumbed down, and uncaring to the environment around them that we have all been conditioned to over a very long long long time.

But, it's never to late to look up, realize these things, and take action to stop sinking deeper.

Don't outsmart yourself and think you can stop it by running it, Windows 10 is getting smarter all the time.

 

Well... maybe it is. Maybe not. The validity of shrink-wrap licenses is still inconsistent, valid in some states, invalid in others. Likewise non-disclosure agreements. So I'm going to stop short of making assertions about the validity of these kinds of agreements either way. That's one of the things the courts are for.

 

For Microsoft, it looks like it will start in an International Court.

 

I've always been intrigued by the "blackphone"... a bit off-topic, but it's a smartphone marketed to privacy minded individuals.
https://www.silentcircle.com/products-and-solutions/devices/

 

Is this thread going to stay active with respect to Telemetry? Anyone know if Simplix intends to keep their update pack & list up to date? Thanks.

 

http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-more-details-on-the-end-of-get-windows-10-and-whats-next/
"We are pleased with our progress to date but aren't breaking out these numbers"

Am reading the GWX as a fiasco, they expected much higher figures... Even with free upgrade + numbers of new pc's, 10 (seemingly so far) not managing to even match xp + 8\8.1, and 7 very much alive. And for the future, how many will replace their os by paying for 10 when they didn't even want it for free...

 

So Guys, we are finally after 29th July, do we need still worry of the virus updates? It would be nice to turn back on the auto updates.

 

I don't think we are on a "Auto-Update" relationship level with Microsoft, they have burned that bridge, and it's not been rebuilt.

No acknowledgement of offense nor offer of reconciliation has been made by Microsoft.

I would review each and every patch for need of use and applicability to your situation. I have done this for years myself professionally, and do the same for my personal computers.

In all other situations, business, government, military, you never "Auto-Update", that is an anomaly of "Consumer" use.

"Auto-Update" should never have been recommended for home use either.

It's a sad truth that computers aren't simple on/off appliances, and aren't something that can be managed and maintained by inexperienced persons.

If you can't trust the source of the updates, which Microsoft has proven that they can't be trusted, you need to verify each and every update before applying it.

The operator of a consumer computer has the same considerations and responsibilities as any professional, only they don't have the expertise to do the job well.

 

Well said, and there will most likely, well never, be acknowledgement or reconciliation from MS.

 

You can still upgrade to win 10 for free lol https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade

"For the general public, the free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ends on July 29. However, if you use assistive technologies, you can still get the free upgrade offer even after the general public deadline expires as Microsoft continues our efforts to improve the Windows 10 experience for people who use these technologies."

"We are not restricting the free upgrade offer to specific assistive technologies. If you use assistive technology on Windows, you are eligible for the free upgrade offer."

http://www.ghacks.net/2016/07/29/you-can-still-grab-a-free-windows-10-upgrade-after-july-29-2016/ say they don't even check if you use assistive technologies.

 

Yes (in regards to Windows Telemetry). Dunnow about Simplix.

Since I just purchased a Surface Pro 4 I've been updating some of my older apps for the new system. One of them is "Ultimate Windows Tweaker" from a site called The Windows Club. I've been using it with Windows 7 for years to tune out a few minor annoyances in 7 like removing the "shortcut" string from shortcuts. The version for Windows 10 adds an entire pane dedicated to controlling many of the phone home subsystems in Windows 10 including Telmetry and Cortana. I think it's worth checking out.

 

That does not surprise me one bit . It's just an other way to get you to upgrade to W10. They have to do something since W10 is on 19% of computers and W7 is at 49%.

 

Sure, you can turn auto updates back on. You can trust your soul (computer) to the devil (M$) again.

Something else not widely covered, is the first signal to the end of an era?
http://www.extremetech.com/computin...-first-time-in-years-windows-7-falls-below-50

Also Windows 7 Oct 2010;
http://gs.statcounter.com/#desktop-os-ww-monthly-201010-201010-bar

Edit; according to stats counter Windows from the intro of even W8 back in 7/12 held 88% or so of the market share and was steady until the intro of W10, now they have declined to 83% and it is getting worse.

 

Its funny on two points. The first has got to be the comments below....OMG, people thought we are bad about slamming windows 10. The other is the absolute laughable stat that shows there are
more Wndows XP users, then there are 8.1

 

Enterprise customers are a significant fraction of Windows deployments and quite a lot of them are still using Windows XP and will continue to use it, and it's still a revenue stream for Microsoft.

 

It depends on what stats you look at how the numbers stack up. If you look at market share alone, (my preferred view,) they change a little bit. The needle is moving a little bit for them, but not for the right reasons. Gaining market share in tiny fractions for no reason than that is what comes preinstalled on new consumer PCs is not really a victory for them. To the contrary, I think it more accurately heralds their abject failure. Things are not looking good for the Redmond Mafia. They seem to aspire to become more like Apple. When we consider that Mac OS X holds a minuscule and almost statistically irrelevant (less than a 5%) market share it really underscores the depth of their tragic stupidity. One would have thought they might have jotted down a few take-ways and learned some valuable lessons by the dismal failure of Windows 8.X. Clearly, the company is composed of decision-makers that fall into the " not the sharpest tool in the shed" category. They are not paying attention to what is important to their customers, or necessary for their own success, and it may end very poorly for them... and, they would absolutely deserve that fate.

https://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=0

 

Using the same site for 2012 the net share was 91.48 where as for 2016 88.37%. still a slide off in market share. I am willing to bet with cramming Cortana down users throats now too that the market share over time will crawl away even further.

You are right, why when you have over 90% of the market do you try and emulate what the guy that has 5% of that market?

 

They're not. Microsoft aren't trying to be like Apple.
They're trying to be like Google:
https://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=1

Or, more accurately, they're trying to take a slice of that pie away from Google.

 

Whatever the case may be, they need to stop trying to be something they're not and burn more calories on getting back to being the Microsoft (yes, I actually spelled it correctly that time) that most us of used to admire. They had a good thing going and now it's unraveling because they are distracted by trivial pursuits and delusions of grandeur that are out of scope with what made them the technology super-power giant.

 

And they have failed at that miserably. Now if they had done this to Windows phone only it could and really was, excusable (this is not their first attempt at getting into the mobile market). M$ is the one drinking the Kool aid and they expect us to do so as well.

 

Yup. Because they can't compete in that market, and the people making these decisions haven't figured it out.

 

I used to admire Microsoft as well. I loved the advances they were making in the OS, and their peripherals were some of the best on the market. I think I laid down $250 bones
for that Vista keyboard. I think it was called Wireless entertainment keyboard 8000. Came with a slick mouse, and was backlit. That thing was really cool