14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 Preview’s user tracking features came as a big surprise to many, but since this early build of the operating system is mostly about collecting feedback and data from those who give it a shot, experts and security companies agree that this is actually nothing to worry about.
Microsoft’s Windows Technical Preview privacy statement revealed quite a lot of untold details about the way the new testing version of the operating system works, confirming that in some cases Redmond is also getting info regarding not only users’ files, but also their keystrokes and clicks.
As far as David Johnson, a Forrester Research analyst, is concerned, Microsoft is doing the same thing as other companies on the market do, trying to collect feedback that would in the end help it improve its software in a way that would better improve the consumer experience.
At the same time, he says, Microsoft is also trying to see what customers accept, although we have to mention that if this is indeed true, the company is trying quite a risky strategy.
Microsoft also trying to protect itself
Of course, the privacy statement that was revealed last week is proof that Microsoft is actually trying to protect itself from any complaints that might come from consumers who find out that they’re being tracked with the help of Window 10 Preview.
The fact that Microsoft hasn’t made it clearer that users’ activities could be monitored after installing Windows 10 Preview is probably the only bad thing, but the company has anyway emphasized that nobody should install this release on their main machines.
"They're testing the waters for what their customers will accept, and making sure that they are protecting themselves from any future blow-back that would arise if they collected such information without telling anyone," the analyst was quoted as saying by ComputerWorld.
Tracking services to be removed in full version
Even though we heard that Microsoft would remove the tracking services in the final version of Windows 10, the analyst says that this isn’t yet clear and the only thing that the company is expected to do is making the privacy policy clearer for everyone.
"Hopefully it will include clearer boundaries for what they will or will not use the data they collect for," Johnson said.
"This is personally identifiable data, which is different than they used to collect for things like patching and software quality in the past. Their customers have good reason to know exactly what the boundaries are for its use."
Microsoft hasn’t commented too much on the Windows 10 privacy sage, so we’re still waiting for an official statement on this.