Windows 10 (Photo : Reuters)
Is Windows 10 really so intrusive that some groups got spooked and banned the new Microsoft operating system from their sites for the purpose of protecting their privacy. Torrent tracker iTS, for instance, locked out Windows 10 users from their site.
According to ZDNet, iTS was alarmed by Microsoft's unified services agreement that notifies Windows 10 users: "We may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices."
For BitTorrent tracker iTS, agreeing with the terms of conditions gives Microsoft the master key and invade the privacy of millions of users.
""Windows 10 is nothing more than a spy tool that will keep track of every action, email, conversation, video, picture, or anything else that you do on your computer," the group was quoted by ZDNet as saying.
Over-reading
As of this week, PCs on Windows 10 will be unable to access torrents hosted on iTS but Gizmodo said in a report that the group may have over-read the terms of agreement it cited. It could be that the literature mentioned is specifically for the integrated Xbox services within Windows 10 and to begin with the service is designed to scan for pirated copies of game titles, the report added.
"More importantly, there's no evidence that Microsoft is actually shipping details of your files and applications back to its servers for analysis," Gizmodo said.
Reconfigurable privacy options
It should be noted too that Windows 10's privacy settings are not greyed out and therefore users can tinker with the options and adjust to what would make them comfortable, according to Computer World, adding that the privacy concerns on the OS were somewhat overblown.
The software is far from perfect but Computer World reminds that "in many cases you can change the defaults to make the operating system work more to your liking." And this includes the privacy settings that can be totally reconfigured to suit a user's taste or concept of privacy.
In the end, torrent trackers may find it unnecessary to block machines running on Windows 10 from their sites. It would be best to better understand how the software works and behaves then make adjustments instead of shutting it out.
