14 DAY TRIAL // It's not a secret that many accused Microsoft of trying to spy on its users with Windows 10, and the settings that are enabled by default in the new OS are said to be the living proof of that, but in a new blog post rolled out today, the software giant clearly explains this is not the case.
Windows boss Terry Myerson says Windows 10 was designed “with two straightforward privacy principles in mind,” so that it collects information that can help the company make the product work better for you and you are always in control of what you share.
Myerson admits that some information is collected from users' computers, including anonymous device ID, device type, and application crash data, which the company can use to improve the operating system and software running on it.
But Myerson explains that no files or private content is sent to Microsoft, so information that can directly identify you, such as name, email address, or account ID, stays right there on your PC. What's more, everything is encrypted “in transit to our servers and then stored in secure facilities,” so no one besides Microsoft can access it.
Data needed to improve Windows 10
The Windows boss then went on to explain how this collected information can help improve Windows 10.
“Aggregate data showed us that a particular version of a graphics driver was crashing on some Windows 10 PCs, which then caused a reboot. This driver was not widely used, but still the issue was impacting customers. We immediately contacted the partner who builds the driver and worked with them to turn around a fix to Windows Insiders within 24 hours.”
“We used the data on Insiders’ devices to confirm that the problem was resolved, and then rolled out the fix to the broad public via an update the next day - all-in-all, this data helped us find, fix and resolve a significant problem within 48 hours.”
Myerson also said that personal information might be collected if you keep Cortana on, but this is only needed because “we aspire to deliver a delightful and personalized Windows experience to you.” You control what data is collected though, he added, and you can always change the settings if you don't want to send something to the company. Although he didn't mention what personal information can be collected, this includes typed text, browsing history, and spoken commands for Cortana.
And last but not least, the Windows boss also emphasized that no email or other communication content is scanned by the company to deliver targeted advertising, “unlike some other platforms,” which is a clear reference to Google and how the company scans Gmail content for better ads.
Overall, this new statement is supposed to reassure Windows 10 users that their data is fully secure when installing the new operating system. And yet, Myerson failed to answer one big question: why is Windows 10 phoning home even when you disable all tracking services and data collection processes?