Windows 12 won't pull me away from Linux unless Microsoft fixes these 5 things
Windows 12 has been the subject of leaks and speculation, which can be totally fun to discuss and imagine. But let’s be honest, folks -- that operating system is not likely to arrive this year. In fact, it could still be several years away. On a positive note, however, that should give Microsoft plenty of time to make sure the OS is actually worth using.
As a regular Linux user, I have some very serious demands if I’m ever going to consider switching, and Microsoft has a golden opportunity to get things right. Here are five things the company needs to deliver before I even think about going with Windows 12.
Building trust in telemetry data [Q&A]
With the increasing importance of observability in digital operations, businesses need to ensure the reliability and relevance of their telemetry data in order to maintain system and application performance, debug, troubleshoot, respond to incidents and keep their systems secure.
We spoke to Tucker Callaway, CEO of Mezmo, to discuss the strategic considerations and concerns enterprises face in managing and optimizing their telemetry data.
The latest beta version of Intel graphics drivers collect telemetry by default, including web visits
There is always an element of risk involved in using beta software, particularly beta versions of drivers. But the latest pre-release GPU driver from Intel comes with a very unpleasant payload.
Run through the Intel Graphics Driver install without paying sufficient attention, and it will install in "typical" mode. This automatically signs you up for the Intel Computing Improvement Program (CIP), a telemetry feature which collects a huge amount of data including information about the websites a user visits.
Audacity says it is 'deeply sorry' for privacy policy fiasco, publishes lengthy update and explanation
The development team behind Audacity learned the hard way that people do not take kindly to the introduction of telemetry, particularly when communication is poor.
Over the last few months, there has been a very public debacle involving Audacity's proposed changes to its privacy policy. It resulted in the software being branded "possible spyware" and led to explanations, apologies and backtracking. Now the team behind the open source audio editor has published its updated privacy policy along with a lengthy explanation about various elements of it and an apology for the "significant lapse in communication".
Audacity branded 'possible spyware' after controversial privacy policy update
Popular open source audio editor Audacity has become rather more familiar with controversy recently than it is probably comfortable with. Concerns built up following the software's acquisition by Muse Group and subsequent changes to telemetry and privacy settings. With the latest changes to its privacy policy page, the controversy continues.
Having already faced a fierce backlash and backing down a little in its plans, Audacity now finds itself hit with the label of "possible spyware" by an independent publisher covering open source software. FOSS Post even advises users to uninstall Audacity as soon as possible.
Windows 10 users need to brace themselves for more irritating nags from Microsoft
Windows 10 users are not strangers to seeing annoying popups, ads and other irritants from Microsoft. The company has a long history of badgering people with nags about its services via pop-up messages and entries in the Start menu or taskbar. With an upcoming version of Edge, this is something that's set to continue.
In the latest dev build of Microsoft Edge, there is evidence that Microsoft is going to display a message to users inviting them to "make the web work for you". This is the company seeking permission from people to use their browsing histories and activities "to personalize Microsoft Edge and Microsoft services". In other words: telemetry.
Audacity bows to public pressure and says it will NOT collect telemetry data from users
Perceived invasions of privacy never go down well, as many software developers have discovered. Microsoft has received quite a backlash in response to telemetry in Windows 10, and the recent announcement that the audio editor Audacity was planning to do the same prompted a fierce reaction from users.
Audacity's new owner, Muse Group, has bowed to pressure from users and privacy advocates, announcing that the planned telemetry collection will no longer be going ahead. The company is blaming "communication mistakes" and public "misunderstanding" for the negative response to its previous data collection announcement.
Audio editor Audacity has the audacity to add telemetry collection -- and users are not happy
Whatever the reasons behind it, the inclusion of telemetry collection in software never goes down well -- as Microsoft knows all too well from the reaction to Windows 10 telemetry. Now, open-source audio editor Audacity has taken the decision to add such data capture into the software.
The development team stresses that telemetry exists solely to "identify product issues early", but there has already been quite a backlash. The sharing of data with Google and Yandex has not gone well.
Linux-based Raspberry Pi OS is secretly installing a Microsoft repo
Raspberry Pi owners are being warned that the officially supported Raspberry Pi OS installs a Microsoft repo without notification.
A recent update to the Debian Linux-based operating system -- previously known as Raspbian -- secretly installs a Microsoft apt repository that can call home to the company's servers. For anyone concerned about telemetry in general, or who is trying to avoid contact with the Windows maker, this is clearly not good news and raises questions about trust.
Ashampoo AntiSpy Pro will protect you against all sorts of telemetry
If you are using a computer, the companies that make the software you use every day are probably gathering data about you. While some of this is obvious -- there is a reason you see the ads you do online, after all -- some of it is more covert.
Software from the likes of Google, Microsoft and other big names include telemetry components that can invade privacy by collecting personal data. Instead of manually working through settings, or tinkering with the registry, you can turn to the newly released Ashampoo AntiSpy Pro to help protect your privacy.
Microsoft 365's 'Productivity Score' raises serious privacy concerns
Microsoft has attracted the attention of privacy campaigners over the Productivity Score feature of Microsoft 365. The tool uses telemetry to enable employers to track the activities and performance of workers.
The analytics tool has been criticized for being a serious invasion of privacy, as it gives employers the ability to closely monitor individuals. One data privacy researcher describes it as "turn[ing] Microsoft 365 into a full-fledged workplace surveillance tool".
Microsoft releases experimental PowerToys v0.24.0 with video conference mute
For utility lovers keen to live on the cutting edge, Microsoft has released an experimental build PowerToys v0.24.0.
While this is largely a bug-fixing release, it does see the addition of the video conference mute tool which allows for the instant cut-off of video and audio across all chat and video conferencing tools. This release also sees the addition of telemetry for settings.
Using the HOSTS file to block Windows 10 telemetry? Microsoft now flags it as a severe security risk
The telemetry features that are built into Windows 10 have people falling into one of a few camps. There are those who don't even know what telemetry is, those who know but don’t care that Microsoft is gathering data from their computer, and those who know what it is and consider it to be a massive invasion of privacy.
For anyone who counts themselves in this last group, there are numerous settings, tools and techniques that can be used to block telemetry in Windows 10. One of the more ingenious is making use of the HOSTS file (used to resolve hostnames), but now Microsoft has updated its Defender tool so this is detected as a "severe" risk, specifically "SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack".
Microsoft previews new tool to control Windows 10 telemetry
For many people, the telemetry data collected by Windows 10 is an unacceptable invasion of privacy, and numerous tools have sprung up to give users control of just what information is collected and sent back to Microsoft. Now the Windows maker has a preview of a new tool for controlling Windows 10 telemetry data -- or diagnostic data as the company prefers to call it.
While Microsoft is eager for everyone to leave telemetry settings alone, its new tool gives some users a greater degree of control over things.
Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.16.1 with numerous bug fixes and added telemetry
It's only a week since Microsoft released PowerToys v0.16.0 which included four new utilities. Now there's another update available which brings a number of bug fixes, but also something of a surprise.
This is a very minor increase in version numbering, so you'd be right not to expect anything too exciting. However, the addition of telemetry to one of the utilities is something users will want to be aware of.
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