Tuesday, 1 December 2015

Windows 7 and 8 Joined Surveillance


Barely subsided recent scandal with "spying" for the Windows user 10 as the internet rumors that Microsoft is also introducing mechanisms for transferring data in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Experts believe that the OS does not monitor users, and analyze their data improve services and display advertising.
Immediately after the release of a new version of the Windows operating system, many users and 10 publications drew attention to the large amount of data about the user is sent to the server of the Microsoft. However, it mentioned even the beta testers of the new OS a year earlier.

Among the information to be transmitted proved to search queries, user location, visited sites, as well as other confidential information.

Discussion turned around and a voice assistant Cortana, who collects contact data users, as well as information about calls and messages. When you try to shut Cortana access to the servers on which information is sent, the voice assistant simply refuses to run and gives an error. Full list of addresses to which "collaborates» Cortana, published portal Habrahabr.ru citing Czech researcher.
Resonance around Windows 10 made it to draw attention to the administration of torrent trackers. Some of them have decided to block users of Windows 10, decided that the new OS will begin the removal of pirated content on computers.
Attend to Windows policy 10 and Russian lawyers, sent a request to the complaint to collect confidential information to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation. Lawyers worried that data about their customers can be obtained by third parties. They therefore proposed to introduce the option to disable user data when installing the system for government agencies and institutions where important privacy information.
Strict policy Microsoft's data collection in Windows 10 made the specialists in the field of cyber security to pay attention to earlier versions of the OS.
Portal Arstechnica.com said that in April this year, Microsoft has added to Windows 7 and 8, "Diagnostic tracking service" to collect data about the problems in the OS and third-party applications, participating in the program Applications Insights. These data fall into the hands of developers to improve their products. However, some users of the forum noted that the service consumes considerable resources of computer memory, as well as traffic loads.
Recall that at the default setting "Update Windows» operating independently sets all recommended updates to your computer. One of these recent updates for Windows 7 and 8, was the package of KB 3068708 titled "Update for a more comfortable user experience and diagnostic telemetry."
Name alarming. However, it is unclear what kind of information sends Windows, because the data sent to the server Microsoft, encrypted and sent through the protocol HTTPS.