“Concerns over Windows 10 and the amount of data it collects via the Windows Store could prompt users to switch to Mac according to a new survey,” Ian Barker reports for BetaNews.
“The study conducted by OnePoll on behalf of security and privacy advice and comparison website Comparitech.com finds that 61 percent of the US public who regularly use Windows would at least consider switching to Mac,” Barker reports. “In the UK the figure is even higher at 67 percent, with 15 percent saying they would definitely consider swapping. Only 33 percent in the UK and 39 percent in the US say that they would not contemplate switching operating systems.”
Read more in the full article here.
“The poll results come shortly after France ordered Microsoft to remedy multiple privacy failings in its newest operating system,” Paul Bischoff reports for Comparitech.The French National Data Protection Commission cited three specific cases where it found the operating system’s collection of user information to be excessive:”
• the Windows Store collects data on the apps users download and time spent on each one without permission;
• Windows 10 installs an advertising identifier by default, which allows Microsoft to monitor browsing and target users with ads;
• the Windows Store authentication, which allows users to set a 4-digit PIN in lieu of a password, does not restrict the number of attempts to enter the correct code.
“All of these issues set off alarms among privacy experts shortly after the operating system was released just over a year ago,” Bischoff reports, “so while France’s order is new, the problems with Windows 10 are not.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote last September:
People who value privacy and security use Apple products.
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s cutting-edge ‘differential privacy’ is opt-in – June 24, 2016
Apple’s cutting-edge ‘differential privacy’ offers unique option for technology users – June 20, 2016
Apple’s use of cutting-edge tech will peek at user habits without violating privacy – June 16, 2016
Apple unveils iOS 10, the mother of all iOS releases – June 13, 2016
Apple previews major update with macOS Sierra – June 13, 2016
These issues are what motivated me to switch from Windows 10 to Linux
More than 80 per cent of languishing Mac Pro suffering pro users would upgrade to Windows (or Hackintosh) boxes for upgradeability. Jes sayin’…
… if only the software that they relied on to do their work was Mac native and had all the capabilities that the Windows software did.
Sorry, but Apple has let the Mac platform languish too far. The result is second-class apps in many areas. Until Apple addresses this, they will never recapture the most lucrative pro markets. And no, don’t claim that Apple takes in all the PC revenue. Dell is private and doesn’t have to report earnings. They are competing well against Apple’s stale Mac hardware, believe me.
Which software are you talking about?
TBH, you come across as an opinionated dick and have nothing to back it up. so let’s see then what you’ve got.
It takes thin skin to be so offended by my accurate observations, russ.
I don’t think I should have to do your homework for you. But fine, if you want to play ball, please name a finite element program for the Mac that is used by any Fortune 500 company. Engineering, science, mathematics, biology, medical, manufacturing, lab data recording … all are firmly entrenched in Windows because Apple has never offered consistent support. Everything from CNC mills to Bernina computer-controlled sewing machines requires Windows software to run it.
One more for free: Compare Quicken for Windows with Quicken for the Mac. See any differences? I knew you could.
Look, Apple is the only company that can turn this around. Instead Cook seems to have time for all kinds of politics and social events. If you can’t see the problem, then open your eyes.
Mike. Wrong. Dell reported on earnings up until Ithaca to sell the company and gave back a pittance to the shareholder.
Dell, like the other pc makers make pennies on the dollar. That is why it’s a race to the bottom.
Going private does not change costs. It only hides the losses.
Your simplistic thinking is noted. You have no idea how much money Dell is putting into product development and acquisitions. In case you haven’t heard, Dell just completed the biggest acquisition in the history of computers with its purchase of EMC for ~$62 billion.
EMC alone brings in ~ $6 billion net per quarter.
You say Dell hardware is on a race to the bottom. Yeah, some of it is. But most of it isn’t — at least, no moreso than Apple. Meanwhile Apple has decided it wants to make headphones, phones, sealed one-port consumer grade Macs, and rent low-bitrate music files — all off the profit that comes from skimming 30% off the distribution of 3rd party apps.
What is holding back Dell is its reliance on Windows. What is holding back Apple is its poor leadership.
It’s a no-brainer to me. Of course, we Apple users are dismissed as being “smug” fanboys.
Be smart, if you have to suffer with Winblows, at least stick with Winblows 7. At least there you have a smidgen of control.
As of a few months ago there was no way to completely turn off all the data collection in Windows 10. Even manually switching off certain data collect didn’t work. One solution was to switch off some of the collection in the registry. It was found after certain OS updates that some data collection was turned back on. Then the registry would have to be altered again. I wonder if they fixed these issues? Can Microsoft be trusted any longer?
I also find it interesting that Microsoft recently purchased LinkedIn. Are they going to sell users’ profiles to employers? I’m sure an employer would love to know if their employees have a disease, or are about to get a divorce, or watch porn five hours a night, or play shooter video games six hours a night, or want different employment, etc.
No, Microsoft cannot ever be trusted.
My experience of assisting Windows users to make the switch is that most of them simply do not believe that Macs really do offer more privacy or security.
They are so accustomed to Microsoft and Google making untrue claims about such things that they assume all manufacturers are like that. They’ve heard it all before and don’t want to be fooled yet again.
The biggest hurdle is getting them to believe that Apple really does protect user’s privacy.