By the way AMW..... my notes on the testing I did are on the full release version. Not a beta, not one of the insider program releases, etc. Its a normal install of the full pro version on a domain joined desktop. My prior career was IT (I burned out, had MCSE, Cisco CCIE, Citrix certs, Security+, StorageTek (Oracle), Check Point CCSE, and a few others) as the senior network engineer for a major hospital with around 3200 desktops and 150 or so servers so I'm also very well versed. We have two business here (we also have an ambulance service) at my shop (another member here, DrCas can vouch for all this) with about 30 desktops, 36 drive fiber SAN, and 5 servers running a Windows Server 2012 active directory domain. With the other side of the business, as the guy who manages everything up here regarding computer systems, I have to take privacy and security very very seriously as I have to have all sorts of HIPPA compliance documentation and procedures in place at all times and readily available for inspection by law.
The one test desktop I installed Windows 10 Pro on by default was just a complete mess regarding privacy and security. Have you read the new official Microsoft Privacy Policy? This is a direct quote - and its NOT regarding the law enforcement aspect you mention.... (as a prior net admin I also was compelled to turn certain data over to LE more than once). The law enforcement aspect of data systems is always going to be there.
"We will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to protect our customers or enforce the terms governing the use of the services."
That's pretty damn ambiguous in my opinion. In other words their determination of "good faith" is 100% up to them and its 100% in at their discretion to change their "terms governing the use of the services" at any time they feel like it. Try searching Google for "Windows 10 Privacy". You might find that this is quite a big issue..... For a large corporation like the hospital I worked for, to deploy Windows 10 with its default configuration would not only be a total nightmare it would actually violate many Federal laws regarding HIPAA Privacy and Compliance.
Yes of course Microsoft has already made certain deployment tools available like the ADK so that companies can customize a Windows 10 image and make a custom installation media. With the ADK one can strip out much of the most concerning crap as well as pre-load certain other things like application, drivers, domain membership info, mapped printers, etc, etc. My point in my prior post was that 99% of those who will be installing Windows 10 will have no idea that they can get something like the ADK tools and even if they did they would have a very difficult time figuring out how to use them. As such 99% of users will simple click away, next, next, next, next, etc without even reading what Windows 10 letting them know during the install. Things like Cortana, Windows Updates using YOUR bandwidth to upload updates to other random people, location awareness, and so much more is so very invasive of ones privacy that you really should be concerned in my personal opinion. Then again, I greatly value my privacy.
Take a peek.....
https://www.google.com/search?q=Windows+10+privacy
There is no need to provide specific links. Anyone can simply ready away and form their own opinion. I think many though, if they read up a little, will probably be looking very close at adjusting some of the default settings in Windows 10....
Oh and as mentioned. Windows 10 is ONLY free to users of a valid, installed and activated, Windows 7 or Windows 8 installation. After 1 year there is a cost. Microsoft has also clearly stated that Windows 10 is the last major Windows release, ever. There will be no more major Windows releases. From here on out Windows will simply be updated and upgraded in place always building upon the current Windows 10 foundation. I have seen no mention of them moving to a monthly pay subscription model. You will still buy Windows once (or most will simple buy a PC with Windows included).
