Windows 10 sends data to Microsoft, despite privacy settings

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the user's
machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search, continue
sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services will
communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the user tells
them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data, said
to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for reasons
unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to a Microsoft
account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars Technica
editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them should
really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all clear that
Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...vacy-settings/

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the user's
machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search, continue
sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services will
communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the user tells
them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data, said
to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for reasons
unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to a Microsoft
account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars Technica
editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them should
really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all clear that
Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...vacy-settings/

It might be worse than you think. Draw you own conclusions.

http://localghost.org/posts/a-traffi...-of-windows-10
and
http://arstechnica.co.uk/information...-to-microsoft/
or
http://tinyurl.com/p6c76dc

--
Wildman GNU/Linux user #557453
C:\debug
a 100
mov ax,707
mov cx,1
mov dx,80
int 13

g 100

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 15:29:06 -0500
Wildman wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the
user's machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search, continue
sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services will
communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the user
tells them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data,
said to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for
reasons unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to
a Microsoft account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars
Technica editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them
should really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all
clear that Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...vacy-settings/

It might be worse than you think. Draw you own conclusions.

http://localghost.org/posts/a-traffi...-of-windows-10
and
http://arstechnica.co.uk/information...-to-microsoft/
or
http://tinyurl.com/p6c76dc


Yes, an un-disableable always-on keylogger is worse than I thought. If
this turns out to be true, I don't believe anyone will be using it.

It seems to me some brilliant attorney could figure out a way to file a
class action lawsuit against Microsoft, even though everyone that uses
Windows 10 accepted the terms of agreement.

Everyone expects some basic privacy, especially when it comes to their
bank account information, and personal chats.

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 15:51:33 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Yes, an un-disableable always-on keylogger is worse than I thought. If
this turns out to be true, I don't believe anyone will be using it.

It seems to me some brilliant attorney could figure out a way to file a
class action lawsuit against Microsoft, even though everyone that uses
Windows 10 accepted the terms of agreement.

Everyone expects some basic privacy, especially when it comes to their
bank account information, and personal chats.

How many people are actually going to read a 45 page eula?
What if you do read it and decide you don't agree? What if
you have purchased the retail version? Getting a refund
would be next to impossible because most retailers will not
refund money on software that has been opened. Will MS
refund your money? Yea, right.

A person could read the eula before making a purchase if
you could find it. Ever tried to find a eula on MS's
website? Good luck with that. You sometimes can find
them on 3rd party websites but there is no guarantee
the eula is completely original and up to date.

I agree that a legal case could be made but it would be
an uphill battle.

--
Wildman GNU/Linux user #557453
The cow died so I don't need your bull!

On 2015-08-13 4:51 PM, Johnny wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 15:29:06 -0500
Wildman wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the
user's machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search, continue
sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services will
communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the user
tells them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data,
said to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for
reasons unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to
a Microsoft account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars
Technica editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them
should really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all
clear that Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...vacy-settings/

It might be worse than you think. Draw you own conclusions.

http://localghost.org/posts/a-traffi...-of-windows-10
and
http://arstechnica.co.uk/information...-to-microsoft/
or
http://tinyurl.com/p6c76dc


Yes, an un-disableable always-on keylogger is worse than I thought. If
this turns out to be true, I don't believe anyone will be using it.

It seems to me some brilliant attorney could figure out a way to file a
class action lawsuit against Microsoft, even though everyone that uses
Windows 10 accepted the terms of agreement.

Everyone expects some basic privacy, especially when it comes to their
bank account information, and personal chats.

I think people are freaking out over nothing. The information being sent
is anonymous and only allows for better targeted ads and bug fixing. I
am against Microsoft facilitating data gathering for the NSA and the
FBI, but that only works if people uses Hotmail, OneDrive and Skype,
none of which I do myself, but what Windows does isn't as bad as people
are making it out to be.

If, however, you are very annoyed with this approach, you can always use
Linux if you don't feel that its use is a gigantic compromise.


--
A.M

Peter Köhlmann is such an exemplary Linux advocate that his family uses
Apple products.

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:58:29 -0400
"A.M" wrote:

On 2015-08-13 4:51 PM, Johnny wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 15:29:06 -0500
Wildman wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the
user's machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search,
continue sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services
will communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the
user tells them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data,
said to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for
reasons unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to
a Microsoft account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars
Technica editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them
should really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all
clear that Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...vacy-settings/

It might be worse than you think. Draw you own conclusions.

http://localghost.org/posts/a-traffi...-of-windows-10
and
http://arstechnica.co.uk/information...-to-microsoft/
or
http://tinyurl.com/p6c76dc


Yes, an un-disableable always-on keylogger is worse than I
thought. If this turns out to be true, I don't believe anyone will
be using it.

It seems to me some brilliant attorney could figure out a way to
file a class action lawsuit against Microsoft, even though everyone
that uses Windows 10 accepted the terms of agreement.

Everyone expects some basic privacy, especially when it comes to
their bank account information, and personal chats.

I think people are freaking out over nothing. The information being
sent is anonymous and only allows for better targeted ads and bug
fixing. I am against Microsoft facilitating data gathering for the
NSA and the FBI, but that only works if people uses Hotmail, OneDrive
and Skype, none of which I do myself, but what Windows does isn't as
bad as people are making it out to be.

If, however, you are very annoyed with this approach, you can always
use Linux if you don't feel that its use is a gigantic compromise.



I do use Linux Mint full time, and as I have said, I only installed
Windows 10 to see how low Microsoft has stooped this time.

I don't feel like I should be discussing it, unless I have it installed
on my computer, and what you are saying is only your opinion, people
with the technical ability are telling us what information Microsoft is
really getting.

On 2015-08-13 7:11 PM, Johnny wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:58:29 -0400
"A.M" wrote:

On 2015-08-13 4:51 PM, Johnny wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 15:29:06 -0500
Wildman wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the
user's machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search,
continue sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services
will communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the
user tells them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data,
said to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for
reasons unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to
a Microsoft account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars
Technica editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them
should really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all
clear that Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...vacy-settings/

It might be worse than you think. Draw you own conclusions.

http://localghost.org/posts/a-traffi...-of-windows-10
and
http://arstechnica.co.uk/information...-to-microsoft/
or
http://tinyurl.com/p6c76dc


Yes, an un-disableable always-on keylogger is worse than I
thought. If this turns out to be true, I don't believe anyone will
be using it.

It seems to me some brilliant attorney could figure out a way to
file a class action lawsuit against Microsoft, even though everyone
that uses Windows 10 accepted the terms of agreement.

Everyone expects some basic privacy, especially when it comes to
their bank account information, and personal chats.

I think people are freaking out over nothing. The information being
sent is anonymous and only allows for better targeted ads and bug
fixing. I am against Microsoft facilitating data gathering for the
NSA and the FBI, but that only works if people uses Hotmail, OneDrive
and Skype, none of which I do myself, but what Windows does isn't as
bad as people are making it out to be.

If, however, you are very annoyed with this approach, you can always
use Linux if you don't feel that its use is a gigantic compromise.



I do use Linux Mint full time, and as I have said, I only installed
Windows 10 to see how low Microsoft has stooped this time.

I don't feel like I should be discussing it, unless I have it installed
on my computer, and what you are saying is only your opinion, people
with the technical ability are telling us what information Microsoft is
really getting.

Except that these "technical" people haven't divulged much of anything
right now. At best, they are theorizing about what Microsoft might be
doing with the data. As far as I can tell, the information is simply
being used to build a better portrait of the user so as to make them
more profitable to the company issuing the free operating system by
targeting better ads and providing more pertinent help when requested by
the user as well as helping to solve whatever widespread problems might
arise. I wouldn't worry about it at all but would indeed encourage
anyone to get rid of a Microsoft-branded account. We _know_ they monitor
OneDrive, Outlook and Skype whereas we have no reason yet to believe
that Windows is doing anything immoral.

--
A.M

Peter Köhlmann is such an exemplary Linux advocate that his family uses
Apple products.

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the user's
machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search, continue
sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services will
communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the user tells
them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data, said
to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for reasons
unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to a Microsoft
account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars Technica
editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them should
really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all clear that
Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...osoft-despite-
privacy-settings/

Certainly Microsoft can identify any users machine. Each machine has a
unique identity linked to the Windows 10 licence. If the machine is
logged on using a Microsoft account then the users identity is known.

Those of us on the Microsoft Insider Program who were previewing the
various pre-release builds were well aware of the data gathering which we
were agreeing to as part of the development process.

My fear was that having demonstrated the capability to closely monitor a
users machine during the development phase would this cease on general
release. How much of the monitoring could be genuinely turned off by the
user.

I am quite happy to use windows 10, but with Firefox + various privacy
plug-ins, Thunderbird mail, and Duckduckgo as the search engine in
Firefox.

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:41:38 -0500
John Aldred wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the
user's machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search, continue
sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services will
communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the user
tells them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data,
said to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for
reasons unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to
a Microsoft account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars
Technica editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them
should really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all
clear that Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...osoft-despite-
privacy-settings/

Certainly Microsoft can identify any users machine. Each machine has
a unique identity linked to the Windows 10 licence. If the machine is
logged on using a Microsoft account then the users identity is known.

Those of us on the Microsoft Insider Program who were previewing the
various pre-release builds were well aware of the data gathering
which we were agreeing to as part of the development process.

My fear was that having demonstrated the capability to closely
monitor a users machine during the development phase would this cease
on general release. How much of the monitoring could be genuinely
turned off by the user.

I am quite happy to use windows 10, but with Firefox + various
privacy plug-ins, Thunderbird mail, and Duckduckgo as the search
engine in Firefox.

If Microsoft is using a keylogger it doesn't matter what you are using.

Johnny wrote on 08/13/2015 4:51 PM:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 15:29:06 -0500
Wildman wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the
user's machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search, continue
sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services will
communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the user
tells them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data,
said to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for
reasons unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to
a Microsoft account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars
Technica editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them
should really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all
clear that Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...vacy-settings/

It might be worse than you think. Draw you own conclusions.

http://localghost.org/posts/a-traffi...-of-windows-10
and
http://arstechnica.co.uk/information...-to-microsoft/
or
http://tinyurl.com/p6c76dc


Yes, an un-disableable always-on keylogger is worse than I thought. If
this turns out to be true, I don't believe anyone will be using it.

It seems to me some brilliant attorney could figure out a way to file a
class action lawsuit against Microsoft, even though everyone that uses
Windows 10 accepted the terms of agreement.

Everyone expects some basic privacy, especially when it comes to their
bank account information, and personal chats.

Quite impossible. No brilliant attorney would attempt to do so knowing
full well that an arbitration ruling rarely overturns a TOS usage
agreement (don't recall one ever against MSFT)

--
...winston
msft mvp windows experience

Wildman wrote on 08/13/2015 5:51 PM:

Getting a refund
would be next to impossible because most retailers will not
refund money on software that has been opened. Will MS
refund your money? Yea, right.

Yes.


A person could read the eula before making a purchase if
you could find it. Ever tried to find a eula on MS's
website? Good luck with that.

Not aware of Google or Bing or Yahoo search ?

https://www.google.com/search?q=Windows+EULA
- first item


I agree that a legal case could be made but it would be
an uphill battle.

It would be legal climb ending up in arbitration.


--
...winston
msft mvp windows experience

A.M wrote:
On 2015-08-13 7:11 PM, Johnny wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:58:29 -0400
"A.M" wrote:

On 2015-08-13 4:51 PM, Johnny wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 15:29:06 -0500
Wildman wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the
user's machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search,
continue sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services
will communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the
user tells them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data,
said to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for
reasons unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to
a Microsoft account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars
Technica editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them
should really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all
clear that Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...vacy-settings/
It might be worse than you think. Draw you own conclusions.

http://localghost.org/posts/a-traffi...-of-windows-10
and
http://arstechnica.co.uk/information...-to-microsoft/
or
http://tinyurl.com/p6c76dc

Yes, an un-disableable always-on keylogger is worse than I
thought. If this turns out to be true, I don't believe anyone will
be using it.

It seems to me some brilliant attorney could figure out a way to
file a class action lawsuit against Microsoft, even though everyone
that uses Windows 10 accepted the terms of agreement.

Everyone expects some basic privacy, especially when it comes to
their bank account information, and personal chats.
I think people are freaking out over nothing. The information being
sent is anonymous and only allows for better targeted ads and bug
fixing. I am against Microsoft facilitating data gathering for the
NSA and the FBI, but that only works if people uses Hotmail, OneDrive
and Skype, none of which I do myself, but what Windows does isn't as
bad as people are making it out to be.

If, however, you are very annoyed with this approach, you can always
use Linux if you don't feel that its use is a gigantic compromise.


I do use Linux Mint full time, and as I have said, I only installed
Windows 10 to see how low Microsoft has stooped this time.

I don't feel like I should be discussing it, unless I have it installed
on my computer, and what you are saying is only your opinion, people
with the technical ability are telling us what information Microsoft is
really getting.

Except that these "technical" people haven't divulged much of anything
right now. At best, they are theorizing about what Microsoft might be
doing with the data. As far as I can tell, the information is simply
being used to build a better portrait of the user so as to make them
more profitable to the company issuing the free operating system by
targeting better ads and providing more pertinent help when requested by
the user as well as helping to solve whatever widespread problems might
arise. I wouldn't worry about it at all but would indeed encourage
anyone to get rid of a Microsoft-branded account. We _know_ they monitor
OneDrive, Outlook and Skype whereas we have no reason yet to believe
that Windows is doing anything immoral.


http://www.techworm.net/2014/10/micr...very-move.html

Johnny wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:58:29 -0400
"A.M" wrote:

On 2015-08-13 4:51 PM, Johnny wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 15:29:06 -0500
Wildman wrote:

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:47:18 -0500, Johnny wrote:

Some of the information sent back to Microsoft can identify the
user's machine.

By Zack Whittaker for Zero Day | August 13, 2015


Some Windows 10 features, such as Cortana and Bing search,
continue sending data to Microsoft, even when they are turned off.

New analysis by Ars Technica showed that some apps and services
will communicate with the software giant's servers, even when the
user tells them not to by the software's various privacy settings.

In one example, a Windows 10 machine would periodically send data,
said to be used for OneDrive, the company's cloud service, for
reasons unknown -- even on a local account that isn't connected to
a Microsoft account.

"It's not clear why any data is being sent at all," wrote Ars
Technica editor Peter Bright in a blog post Thursday.

Cut!

"Disabling these services for those who don't want to use them
should really disable them," said Bright. "And it's not at all
clear that Windows 10 is doing that right now."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...vacy-settings/

It might be worse than you think. Draw you own conclusions.

http://localghost.org/posts/a-traffi...-of-windows-10
and
http://arstechnica.co.uk/information...-to-microsoft/
or
http://tinyurl.com/p6c76dc


Yes, an un-disableable always-on keylogger is worse than I
thought. If this turns out to be true, I don't believe anyone will
be using it.

It seems to me some brilliant attorney could figure out a way to
file a class action lawsuit against Microsoft, even though everyone
that uses Windows 10 accepted the terms of agreement.

Everyone expects some basic privacy, especially when it comes to
their bank account information, and personal chats.

I think people are freaking out over nothing. The information being
sent is anonymous and only allows for better targeted ads and bug
fixing. I am against Microsoft facilitating data gathering for the
NSA and the FBI, but that only works if people uses Hotmail, OneDrive
and Skype, none of which I do myself, but what Windows does isn't as
bad as people are making it out to be.

If, however, you are very annoyed with this approach, you can always
use Linux if you don't feel that its use is a gigantic compromise.



I do use Linux Mint full time, and as I have said, I only installed
Windows 10 to see how low Microsoft has stooped this time.

If you think linux is immune to privacy violations you should rethink.
I am a linux user. Question in any os how does it update? Or even know what
to update? have you compared the gnome desktop to windows 8, 8.1 and 10?

can you not see the similarity's!

I don't feel like I should be discussing it, unless I have it installed
on my computer, and what you are saying is only your opinion, people
with the technical ability are telling us what information Microsoft is
really getting.

Dino posted this via
:

http://www.techworm.net/2014/10/micr...ssion-watch-ev
ery-move.html

If they publish a sex-book based on my exploits with the stewardesses (PC:
"Flight Safety Attendants", but that includes the guys and I only do the
ladies) from KDEN, KAPA, KBJC, KFTG, KBDU and KEIK, they're going to have a
*big* problem because I video record and archive every interlude - mostly
to protect myself from potential false accusations of "rape", etc., but
also to refamiliarize myself with returning ladies I haven't seen in a
while - and I own the exclusive rights to these videos and the all the
intellectual content therein, IAW the releases that I surreptitiously -
whoops, "discretely" - have the ladies sign when I know they're too
preoccupied to read the content.

So, MSFT *can* "watch every move"; but they'd better NOT distribute or
publicize any of it!

TGIF

--

I AM Bucky Breeder, (*(^; and,
It's like Yogi Berra always used to say:
"The future ain't what it used to be!"

http://tinyurl.com/ocnqvgq

On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:58:29 -0400, "A.M" wrote:

I think people are freaking out over nothing. The information being sent
is anonymous and only allows for better targeted ads and bug fixing.

How can the information be both anonymous and used for targetted ads?
Those two conditions seem mutually exclusive to me.