It may not be a privacy problem, but it is a data usage/storage problem. We're back to the discussion recently about assumptions re the end user situation.
What is particularly appalling is the on-going data quota peer-to-peer issue. It's ok on your own home network, but not outside. That's just data quota theft. Jan >>From: Bruceb Consulting <<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]> >>Subject: Bruceb News - Microsoft Is Not Playing Nicely With Your Internet >>Connection >>Date: 15 September 2015 01:04:03 AEST >>To: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-0023574d5d80b85f6c5711a74fe6ac23-2883797?pa=33067612063&amx=6743722828>Like >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-7d3a6e14ce82d3ea4bda45e29d77b9a7-2883797?pa=33067612063&amx=6743722828>Tweet >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-948cafae97f20d0622a16da0e1bb8f00-2883797?pa=33067612063&amx=6743722828>Pin >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-2f73a01667d97919a831b36b4dfdc838-2883797?pa=33067612063&amx=6743722828>+1 >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-430819405f1c9c2d1e1e741d48e23a8b-2883797?pa=33067612063&amx=6743722828>in >> >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-b3e4e4d66333192662da39fadb801e97-2883797?pa=33067612063>Bruceb.com >> | >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-54190af6212bcc451a9b830e98a54576-2883797?pa=33067612063>Bruceb >> Favorites | >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-a9ac3bfd91e18ff41c2bbb88daeafb73-2883797?pa=33067612063>Bruceb >> News | >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-1df5d8dfd0295a69d499b9728526bb05-2883797?pa=33067612063>Contact >> >>September 13, 2015 >> >> >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-61769876d52883099aff570ad6d8a22d-2883797?pa=33067612063>Microsoft >> Is Not Playing Nicely With Your Internet Connection >> >> >> >> >> >>The tech press has been full of manufactured outrage and clickbait headlines >>about supposed >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-31f54be426d137e922974a0f3a02a82a-2883797?pa=33067612063>invasions >> of privacy built into Windows 10 by a wicked Microsoft. Most of it falls >>apart on close examination and turns out to be mundane and uninteresting I >>canât find the energy to be upset that Microsoft collects anonymous >>information about the way you use Windows to improve it and fix bugs, for >>example. >> >>But Microsoftâs eagerness to push Windows 10 upgrades is causing it to use >>poor judgment. Itâs not invading your privacy but it might be using your >>bandwidth inappropriately: first, by downloading gigabytes of Windows 10 >>setup files to your computer in the background, even if you havenât >>requested them or donât plan to upgrade; and second, by uploading Windows >>10 setup files and updates to other computers without asking permission. >> >>---------- >> >> >> >>THE TAKEAWAY >> >> >> >> >> >>You donât have to do anything. Donât panic. Thereâs one setting you >>should change after upgrading to Windows 10, but otherwise relax. This is >>just news, not a crisis. >> >>---------- >> >> >> >>Windows 10 update files are secretly downloaded >> >> >> >> >> >>A few days ago, >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-9a9ff983caf8c968eebeee07ea7767f4-2883797?pa=33067612063>The >> Inquirer reported that Windows 7 users were discovering a hidden folder >>named $Windows.~BT with 3.5-6Gb of setup files for Windows 10. The curious >>part was that they were discovered on machines that had NOT opted in to >>âreserveâ a copy of Windows 10 with the intrusive icon in the lower right >>corner of the taskbar. >> >>When asked, Microsoft confirmed that it was doing this on purpose. Its >>statement in full: âFor individuals who have chosen to receive automatic >>updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for >>Windows 10 by downloading the files theyâll need if they decide to upgrade. >>When the upgrade is ready, the customer will be prompted to install Windows >>10 on the device.â >> >>Itâs part of the functionality built into >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-8ade18a2950900b55867c25e816c5cbb-2883797?pa=33067612063>KB3035583, >> the update that created the annoying upgrade icon in the first place. The >>update was released through the Automatic Update system and was marked as >>âImportant,â which means it was installed automatically as part of a >>routine Patch Tuesday update several months ago. >> >>It wasnât understood until Microsoftâs statement last week that the >>update also downloads the Windows 10 update files and stores them in the >>hidden folder just in case you decide to upgrade some day. Microsoft >>acknowledged that it does that for âindividuals who have chosen to receive >>automatic updates through Windows Updateâ which is everyone, at >>Microsoftâs urging and as a best practice to stay secure. >> >>But it means the button to âreserveâ a copy of Windows 10 must be >>completely meaningless. It doesnât seem to make any difference whether that >>button was pushed or not, as the Windows 10 update files are downloaded >>regardless. >> >>You probably donât have any reason to worry about this but it reflects poor >>judgment and miserable communication by Microsoft. And it can have harmful >>effects in at least some cases: there are people with very small hard drives >>who are upset that the update files are using precious storage space; and >>there are people with limited bandwidth who are upset that their connection >>is slowed down by the download. In the worst cases, the download has used up >>the available bandwidth for people on metered connections. >> >>This one doesnât make any sense. If you push the âReserveâ button, you >>should get the upgrade files in the background. If you donât push the >>button, you shouldnât get the files. The upgrade icon and notices already >>made Microsoft look overeager, but downloading the files for people who >>havenât asked for them crosses the line and makes Microsoft look deceptive >>and sneaky. >> >>---------- >> >> >> >>Windows 10 update files are secretly uploaded >> >> >> >> >> >>After you install Windows 10, your computer begins uploading Windows 10 setup >>files to other computers on the Internet using technology that closely >>resembles >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-8ffd8f31723d1ccb6d4905a0cdba3499-2883797?pa=33067612063>BitTorrent. >> >>â<https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-a278ccd33eb5b66f021e66de129bd8ec-2883797?pa=33067612063>Windows >> Update Delivery Optimizationâ turns your computer into part of a >>peer-to-peer network delivering updates to others. Like torrents, many >>computers contribute small portions of the updates and the receiving >>computers assemble them into their final form. Itâs anonymous and secure. >> >>Itâs also using your Internet connection to help Microsoft by reducing the >>load on its servers. You werenât asked about this. Itâs turned on by >>default in Windows 10 Home and Pro, and the setting to turn it off is deeply >>hidden. Itâs not limited to Windows 10 upgrade files; Microsoft will >>continue using your connection in the future to distribute future updates and >>apps from the Windows Store. >> >>Microsoft has no business using your upstream bandwidth without your >>knowledge for something that does not benefit you. If you have lots of >>bandwidth and choose to help out a worthy cause, thatâs great! The worthy >>cause might be helping Microsoft keep computers up to date, or it might be >>the >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-798e699bc155d80bc2915711575f9566-2883797?pa=33067612063>search >> for extraterrestrial intelligence. The choice ought to be yours. >> >>Iâd suggest limiting the uploads to PCs on your local network, or turning >>this feature off altogether. Go to Start / Settings / Update & Security / >>Windows Update and select Advanced Options. Use the toggle to turn Delivery >>Optimization off. Youâll still get updates and apps from Microsoft normally. >> >>This isnât a crisis and it doesnât invade your privacy. Itâs just >>another example of the importance of the setting chosen as the default for an >>operating system feature. If this was turned off by default and Microsoft >>encouraged you to turn it on as an act of good will, they would deserve >>congratulations for ingenuity. Instead they look devious. >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-f088169e9ba092c9b9d7400c751f47d8-2883797?pa=33067612063> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-7e61c9144920d00d99de376fc4b52e0c-2883797?pa=33067612063> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-a08cad1e522feeb9b5720d08fff4cced-2883797?pa=33067612063> >>Bruceb Consulting is one of the leading IT consulting firms in the North Bay, >>providing computer consulting and IT support to law firms, small businesses, >>and individuals - onsite in Sonoma County and Marin County, and remotely for >>clients all over California. >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-c2e377f09a083370eb8827bb51522f7e-2883797?pa=33067612063>Bruceb.com >> | >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-a6c18df097879bb5d34b4793eb14b1cc-2883797?pa=33067612063>Bruceb >> Favorites | >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-0751960017e112e24da7dd465ac31bd0-2883797?pa=33067612063>Bruceb >> News >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-5c15774b46453fce41b356a50762a48b-2883797?pa=33067612063> >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-4eb38009d82b6b51722c7d0f80d81f7d-2883797?pa=33067612063> >> >>©2015 Bruceb Consulting | 708 Gravenstein Hwy N PMB 180 | Sebastopol, CA >>95472 | (707) 703-1601 >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-df8771180edcf97e814b55b4af274b6b-2883797?pa=33067612063&amx=6743722828>Web >> Version >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242821-50d5b17447f8b225d7d79fb8890d39cf-2883797?pa=33067612063&amx=6743722828>Subscribe >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/redirects/1442242822-1f318fb8075205324c999c005fc57b44-2883797?pa=33067612063&amx=6743722828>Forward >> >><https://go.madmimi.com/opt_out?fe=1&pact=33067612063&amx=6743722828>Unsubscribe >> > >I write books. http://janwhitaker.com/?page_id=8 > >Melbourne, Victoria, Australia >[email protected] >Twitter: <https://twitter.com/JL_Whitaker>JL_Whitaker >Blog: www.janwhitaker.com > >Sooner or later, I hate to break it to you, you're gonna die, so how do you >fill in the space between here and there? It's yours. Seize your space. >~Margaret Atwood, writer > >_ __________________ _ _______________________________________________ Link mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
