Widgets help and privacy

Win11help · May 2, 2024

Hi, I was just wondering if the widgets use any sort of data on you?

Does it store any data on Microsoft servers or elsewhere other then locally?

For example, does the weather widget collects any information? If my location settings are off, does it share any of the picked locations with Microsoft or third parties?

Ghot · May 2, 2024

Copilot and privacy

Hi, I'm new to Windows 11 and I'm deciding weather I can trust and use certain features or not. At first, I was asking all these questions to co-pilot, but it basically lied and I don't trust it anymore: You You previously mentioned that nothing was stored, but I see my chat history. Isn't...

www.elevenforum.com

Anything you or your computer does, that uses someone's server or network... is accessible to whoever runs the server or network.

It's the same with cell phones.

antspants · May 2, 2024

Win11help said:
Hi, I was just wondering if the widgets use any sort of data on you?

Does it store any data on Microsoft servers or elsewhere other then locally?

For example, does the weather widget collects any information? If my location settings are off, does it share any of the picked locations with Microsoft or third parties?

You seem to be very concerned about computing and privacy/data. Seriously, what information is it you think Microsoft would get from you using a widget, that you like checking the weather? Computers and phones always know where you are (VPN or not). Just check your phone and go to Google’s search page, your location or thereabouts is probably noted at the bottom, at least it is in Australia.

This is just my opinion, but turning off location in Windows is really the equivalent of them asking “Do you want to know that we know where you are? If not, turn off location history and we can all pretend that we (Microsoft) don’t know”

Are you wanted by authorities?

antspants · May 2, 2024

Win11help said:
If my location settings are off, does it share any of the picked locations with Microsoft or third parties?

Technically that probably isn’t data as apposed to a preference so most likely wouldn’t fall under the data collection scope. I can’t see why Microsoft wouldn’t be able to say “6,000,000 like to use the clock to know what time it is in Texas”
That isn’t personal data, that’s statistical usage. Maybe.
If it kept a record saying “Win11Help” likes to know what time it is in Texas, that would be data collection.

But who knows what Microsoft does, not anyone in here that’s for certain.

Fabler2 · May 2, 2024

antspants said:
You seem to be very concerned about computing and privacy/data. Seriously, what information is it you think Microsoft would get from you using a widget, that you like checking the weather? Computers and phones always know where you are (VPN or not). Just check your phone and go to Google’s search page, your location or thereabouts is probably noted at the bottom, at least it is in Australia.

This is just my opinion, but turning off location in Windows is really the equivalent of them asking “Do you want to know that we know where you are? If not, turn off location history and we can all pretend that we (Microsoft) don’t know”

Are you wanted by authorities?

Totally agree

idgat · May 2, 2024

Win11help said:
Hi, I was just wondering if the widgets use any sort of data on you?

Really, your posts (this, and the AI one) about privacy are risible

If you're that concerned about the issue, why do you use a computer?

NOTHING is private

glasskuter · May 2, 2024

@antspants is so right. If you are going to use the internet, a certain amount of user data is collected by the players that make software and using the internet possible, whether it be Microsoft, a browser, a search engine like Google, a website like Amazon, in some cases even the developer of a application you choose to use. It may be your location, your browsing habits, or web searches. As users, we do not know who collects what and exactly how they use the data that is collected. What's more, as users, we never will. We agree to it when we all virtually sign their terms of use to use their service. It's the nature of the beast and if you become paranoid about it you'll drive yourself nuts.
There's only one way to 100% protect your privacy...that's to not use any device that has a GPS chip or connects to the internet in any way. They all call home.

Win11help · May 2, 2024

Thank you all for sharing your opinion on privacy.

Please do read my answer on the other thread if you want to read my opinion on it.

My goal here is to evaluate the risk vs benefit of using any tools.

For instance, I use a car because I need one even though I know car companies collect and sell all sort of data to third parties. In this instance, I don't have much of a choice unless I buy an old car, but I believe this will only be a matter of time before it is regulated.

In the instances that I do have a choice, I'd like to make the right ones according to my own values.

I'd appreciate if we could stay on topic without being fatalists on privacy online.

Thanks everyone!

glasskuter · May 2, 2024

Win11help said:
My goal here is to evaluate the risk vs benefit of using any tools.

But you ask direct questions about what data these tools collect and how the data is used. We're users just like you. We have no idea.
Maybe this will help in your decisions.

If you can understand the double talk and legal jargon, here's the services agreement. I can't.

Microsoft Services Agreement

data subject rights answers here Privacy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Still got questions, here's how to reach MS privacy team. Microsoft-Report a Privacy Concern

You might find this active forum thread of value. Windows 11 Telemetry

Win11help · May 2, 2024

glasskuter said:
But you ask direct questions about what data these tools collect and how the data is used. We're users just like you. We have no idea.
Maybe this will help in your decisions.

If you can understand the double talk and legal jargon, here's the services agreement. I can't.

Microsoft Services Agreement

data subject rights answers here Privacy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Still got questions, here's how to reach MS privacy team. Microsoft-Report a Privacy Concern

You might find this active forum thread of value. Windows 11 Telemetry

Thanks for actually helping! Lots of useful tool in there!

Fejinwales · May 3, 2024

My friend down the street is equally concerned but is genuinely paranoid about it. He refuses to use anything, even WhatsApp and he uses the Tor browser and temporary emails....

Personally I'm not really too concerned about the data going out as the ads coming in. Our data is being spread around like butter from everything we do, but recently I've read somewhere that Microsoft are going to force ads on me in Windows, and that is something I do not like, I assume, just like Google, that they will use my data going out to tailor ads. I tend not to worry about my basic data going out as it is simply a part of everyday life. I've altered all the settings I can in Windows to alleviate the issue of ads coming in, as that is more of a concern for me because I cannot stand ads, not unless they support a site of which I am a member, this site included (assuming it may have ads - I disabled uBlock as soon as I joined).

antspants · May 3, 2024

Fejinwales said:
My friend down the street is equally concerned but is genuinely paranoid about it. He refuses to use anything, even WhatsApp and he uses the Tor browser and temporary emails....

Personally I'm not really too concerned about the data going out as the ads coming in. Our data is being spread around like butter from everything we do, but recently I've read somewhere that Microsoft are going to force ads on me in Windows, and that is something I do not like, I assume, just like Google, that they will use my data going out to tailor ads. I tend not to worry about my basic data going out as it is simply a part of everyday life. I've altered all the settings I can in Windows to alleviate the issue of ads coming in, as that is more of a concern for me because I cannot stand ads, not unless they support a site of which I am a member, this site included (assuming it may have ads - I disabled uBlock as soon as I joined).

Bad news, Windows 11 users: ads are coming to the Start menu, but there’s something you can do about it

Windows 11 update: say hello to Start Menu ads

www.techradar.com

Microsoft starts stuffing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu

That's Why they are blocking StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-starts-stuffing-ads-in-the-windows-11-start-menu/

www.elevenforum.com

Fejinwales · May 3, 2024

antspants said:
Bad news, Windows 11 users: ads are coming to the Start menu, but there’s something you can do about it

Windows 11 update: say hello to Start Menu ads

www.techradar.com

Microsoft starts stuffing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu

That's Why they are blocking StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-starts-stuffing-ads-in-the-windows-11-start-menu/

www.elevenforum.com

I know, disgusting isn't it? I saw a YT vid yesterday with a tutorial on stopping all this c**p, at least as far as possible, not just in the Windows settings, but in Widgets, File Explorer, the Search Bar, Chrome and Edge too. Most of these I had already set, but there were quite a few that I hadn't. It took an age to precisely write them out in a text file so the instructions could be transferred. This was the primary reason I wanted to pause updates to what essentially amounts to forever. I really don't care if my OS, or any software I use is updated.as long as It works and does what I want it to as it is, Just like my primary Windows 7 desktop PC upstairs. And as long as it does that I never update anyway. Hopefully the settings I changed are now enough as currently I have no adds, and so I hope it will remain, as long as that hack to extend the pause in updates holds true I have until 2030.

Fabler2 · May 3, 2024

A good list of the settings to stop ads as much as possible in Windows, just for info:

How to disable annoying ads on Windows 11

Are you tired of ads on Windows 11? If so, you are not alone. Here's how to stop or at least minimize the frustration.

www.windowscentral.com

Fejinwales · May 3, 2024

Fabler2 said:
A good list of the settings to stop ads as much as possible in Windows, just for info:

Thanks, I have a funny feeling these might have been the ones who uploaded the YT video, all exactly the same ones as I did yesterday.

Ghot · May 3, 2024

Win11help said:
In the instances that I do have a choice, I'd like to make the right ones according to my own values.

In the instances where you "seem" to have a choice... you really don't.
Microsoft, via Windows has so many ways to collect data from you, that blocking one or two, just forces Windows to use a different method.

And every month, Microsoft can re-turn ON things you have turned OFF.
Microsoft has been writing Windows for 40 years. They're pretty good at it by now.

Believing you can block their data collection, may make you feel good, but nothing you do can really block all of it.

Maybe you should Google: Whack-a-mole and read about that.

Like so...

Whac-A-Mole - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Colloquial usage
The term "whac-a-mole" (or "whack-a-mole") is often used colloquially to refer to a situation characterized by a series of futile, Sisyphean tasks, where the successful completion of one just yields another popping up elsewhere.