BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

Microsoft Upgrades Windows 10 Powers Of Control [Updated]

This article is more than 8 years old.

Update 15/02/2016: following discussions with Microsoft and 3 Monkeys Zino (3MZ), Microsoft's official press agency in the UK, 3MZ has confirmed it was at fault for the supply a misleading quote from Microsoft and that no Windows 10 updates have been announced for 2016 which will offer increased telemetry control.

The full quote 3MZ supplied formed the basis for this article and reads as follows: "Our enterprise feature updates later this year will enable enterprise customers the option to disable this telemetry, but we strongly recommend against this.”

3MZ confirms it extracted the quote from a longer 2015 Microsoft blog post and gave no indication it came from there or that the actions it describes as being in the future had already taken place in 2015. 3MZ has stressed Microsoft was not at fault for this and has asked to publicly relay the following apology which it issued to me in email correspondence:  

"Hi Gordon

We are sorry you feel this way. As we have explained, none of this was intentional and we apologize for not having been clear enough on the context around the statement we provided you. This was a mistake which clearly led you to write your article and for that we’re truly sorry.

Having read and re-read all the correspondence and reviewed all the facts and information we have access to, we stand by our apology.

To be crystal clear this is between 3MZ and you, and has nothing to do with Microsoft.

Angie

Angie Moxham, Chief Monkey and Founder, 3MZ"

Update 13/02/16: Microsoft has confirmed the statement issued to me came from a 2015 blog post and does not relate to plans for 2016. An update will be posted to this story following conclusion of talks. 

Update: 11/02/16: I have been alerted to very similar wording Microsoft used in a September blog post (you'll find it seven paragraphs in) also regarding stronger telemetry controls. The statement given to me was clear the context for the updates is 2016, so I've enquired whether the repetition of language is purely coincidental. The post will be updated. 

---

Earlier this week a Voat thread started something. It detailed extensive Windows 10 background telemetry making thousands of connections every hour to Microsoft servers. It did this with every accessible tracking option disabled and even a third party telemetry blocker installed. I took this data to Microsoft and it declined to comment, but now the company has had a change of heart.   

Contacting me again a Microsoft spokesperson explained the company now wanted to speak about the issue. In short: Microsoft is taking action. It has decided to release updates “later this year” which will enable users to fully control all background telemetry and data tracking and, if desired, disable it completely. Microsoft also asked me to stress that disabling these background operations is something it would “strongly recommend against”.

So should we get out our party hats and cheer? Yes and no.

The big win here is a victory for choice. It is a move which gives users complete control over what their operating system does in the background - for better or worse - and that openness is to be applauded. So too is the company’s decision to go back and rethink its stance.

But it is also important to put this decision in full context. Not all background telemetry and data sharing is bad, far from it. This so called ‘phone home’ behaviour (conspiracy theories aside) is primarily about monitoring the health of your operating system and providing Microsoft with anonymised real time data to make ongoing improvements. I fully recognise Microsoft’s strong recommendation against disabling all of it.

Yet ‘No’ must mean No. As it stands giving users what appear to be pages of detailed telemetry control options only for them to find out numerous telemetry functions will still continue at pace does nothing to build confidence and trust in an operating system. This is especially true for many users who are still adjusting to Windows 10’s vise-like control over updates which comes as part of Microsoft’s pledge to move Windows to a SaaS (software as a service) model.

Other important takeaways from Microsoft’s telemetry alterations? While it may change in future, for now full control over telemetry is currently only being brought to Windows 10 Enterprise. This means users of Windows 10 Home and Pro, typically consumers and small businesses respectively, will still need to cede control. Whether you like it or not, Microsoft spells this out in the Windows 10 EULA - its house, its rules.

But regardless, Microsoft’s decision here has to be commended and it reminds me of the more open and collaborative way the company used to behave. Yes there remains a very long way to go but, fingers crossed, it’s a start…

___

Follow Gordon on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

More On Forbes

Microsoft Reveals Real Cost Of 'Free' Windows 10

Microsoft Abandons ‘Windows 8’: Everything You Need To Know

Microsoft Warns Windows 7 Has Serious Problems

Why Microsoft Says Windows 10 Upgrades Cannot Be Stopped

Massive Windows 10 Update Has 10 Great Secret Features