A word of caution for everybody in the US, but particularly PC users

[cactuswatcher]

Last night I switched on my computer and got yet another blurb for Windows 10 come up. This one was more insistent than the rest saying my computer was scheduled for update to Windows 10 on Monday. I don't need or want an upgrade on this old computer (one of the last sold with Windows 7). It took a little doing to find my way into the screen where I could cancel the "upgrade."

The thing is I don't know how many Windows 7 and 8 computers that Microsoft suddenly decided to change to Windows 10 at the same time without their owners requesting it. It could be millions. It could be a more reasonable number. I don't think it was a fluke that the notice of the upgrade came on a Friday night with the upgrade supposed to come on a holiday. I wouldn't be surprised if the Internet is a giant mess Monday and Tuesday morning when perhaps millions of computers in the US are trying to download the exact same thing from Microsoft. Maybe when the computers come on the owners will have the option to say no again. But the number of people who decide 'why the heck not' could be enough to create a huge mess.

Comments

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Oh, joy. I just dug deeper, and Microsoft wants to force Windows 10 on everyone. But to actually use it you have to agree not to sue them for any reason, but go to arbitration. Just nonsense. I know legislation is in the works to make that kind of contract illegal going forward, and that may be Microsoft's real interest in switching everyone now.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

I should add I don't think Microsoft is expecting trouble, just wanting to cover their asses in case the worst happens.

[atpo-onm.livejournal.com]

It is a bit of a puzzle to me why they are so adamant on pushing the newest OS this way-- it's behavior really quite unprecedented in the industry outside of the criminal element, i.e., the malware / adware people.

They had to know that it would provoke a furious reaction among users (and it has), so what is behind it?

With the caveat that I only trust internet info sources so far, even normally reputable ones such as CNET, I was struck by one response I found that, while listing a large number of Wndows Update downloads that relate to the Win 10 "update", a number of them were referred to as "telemetry".

That is-- progrms that run in the background that return user information to Microsoft. These aren't remotely new, and when you click on acceptance of most license agreements, you agree to the collection of usage data that supposedly the company utilizes to make future improvements in the product. These collections are not supposed to go so far as to collect personal data or become keyloggers that literally read back anything you type.

But they could. If I wanted to be paranoid (not always a bad thing, truthfully), I'd look at the recent snafu between Apple and the US regarding unlocking Apple's encrypted files and use of those by terrorists or criminals. Apple wouldn't back down.

Perhaps Microsoft has decided to be more, shall we say, flexible in this regard? And extensive "telemetry" built into the core of Win 10 might help along those lines?

"I'm not paranoid-- they are all spies!!"

-- famous line from the film "The President's Analyst"

( And he was right, BTW )

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

It's no secret Windows 10 has all kinds of ways for Microsoft to track what you are doing if you don't carefully turn it all off. OneDisk(TM) is just an easy way for them to scan everything you do. The list of things on your phone, pad or computer they want to be able scan all the time is staggering: your location, your Photos, voice stuff as you record with your devices, key-loggers, what you click on. It can all be turned off, which is no doubt how they stay legal. But there is so much of it that you are never sure you got it all. Reports say that some of the updates have turned things back on without reporting it to the user.

I have one computer that has Windows 10. It runs fine. But I never use that one connected to the net.

It may be all for the purposes of advertising, but if Microsoft has it someone worse could break in and use it all.