Microsoft Pushes New Privacy Interface to Older Windows 10 Versions

Microsoft Pushes New Privacy Interface to Older Windows 10 Versions

Microsoft is pushing a new privacy settings prompt that debuted in the Creators Update to older versions of Windows 10. And while they’re not saying so, one can only assume that they are doing so to meet the needs of privacy complaints from around the globe.

“Given the Windows 10 Creators Update provides the latest security protections to help keep you safe, we want to help update your device as soon as possible,” Microsoft Director of Program Management John Cable explains. “If you have not already taken this update, starting this week, we will [now] prompt you to review your privacy settings.”

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As you may know, Microsoft was able to satisfy privacy concerns from regulators and privacy watchdogs from around the globe via a new privacy settings configuration screen that debuted in the Setup routine for the Windows 10 Creators Update. So those who purchase a new Windows 10-based PC or upgrade to the Creators Update need to review and accept those settings before they can continue.

I’ve described this superficial tomfoolery as “privacy theater,” but it worked: The French regulators who touched off this silliness announced this week that Microsoft was no longer violating French privacy laws.

So now Microsoft is pushing this privacy settings review screen to users of older versions of Windows 10 too. That is, you no longer have to be running Windows 10 version 1703—the Creators Update—to be prompted to review your privacy settings. I suspect the slow rollout of the Creators Update is the reason why.

And, yes, you will still need to review your privacy settings again when you do upgrade to the Creators Update.

Microsoft is also reminding users that the initial version of Windows 10—retroactively named version 1507 as it was released in July 2015—is no longer supported. This means it will no longer receive the monthly security updates that Microsoft describes as quality updates. That is, it is unsafe to use this version of Windows 10 and you should upgrade immediately. It’s free to do so, of course.

 

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Conversation 14 comments

  • skane2600

    01 July, 2017 - 4:14 pm

    <p>Seems foolish of MS to not release security updates for all versions of Windows 10. The potential damage to their reputation would not be assuaged by saying that people should have upgraded to the latest version. </p>

    • warren

      01 July, 2017 - 8:34 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#134846"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>They have released a security update for the original release of Windows 10. It's called the Creators Update. Use it. No excuses.</p>

      • skane2600

        01 July, 2017 - 11:19 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#134883"><em>In reply to warren:</em></a></blockquote><p>I was talking about good corporate strategy, not my personal situation, but now that you mention it Creators Update won't complete on my PC. No excuse for that.</p>

    • rameshthanikodi

      01 July, 2017 - 11:05 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#134846"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>Actually older versions of Windows 10 continue to get security updates, for up to two years after its release. And in that two years, take some time off to upgrade to the newer version of Windows 10.</p>

      • skane2600

        01 July, 2017 - 11:23 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#134939"><em>In reply to FalseAgent:</em></a></blockquote><p>It so sweet that everyone wants to make this about me, but I'm talking corporate strategy. Remember that recently MS released a security update for Windows XP so they're not entirely unaware of the damage to their reputation even when their customers should have moved on.</p>

        • rameshthanikodi

          02 July, 2017 - 10:56 am

          <blockquote><a href="#134953"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>lol. People like you are the reason why Microsoft should have never set a precedent by releasing the update for XP. If it is out of support, it is out of support. Move on. It doesn't matter what OS you use – iOS, Android, Linux – everything falls out of support and you have to upgrade to be secure. Microsoft's security policy is the most lenient of all of them.</p>

          • skane2600

            02 July, 2017 - 12:04 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#135008"><em>In reply to FalseAgent:</em></a></blockquote><p>Still fixated on me I see. It's not about me, it's about good business practice. For what's it's worth I've done all the updates except Creators because it crashes on my PC. </p>

    • MikeGalos

      02 July, 2017 - 10:56 am

      <blockquote><a href="#134846"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>So what you're saying is they should issue optional patches specifically for people who don't install optional patches.</p>

      • skane2600

        02 July, 2017 - 12:06 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#135007"><em>In reply to MikeGalos:</em></a></blockquote><p>Putting words in other people's mouths is beneath you.</p>

        • MikeGalos

          03 July, 2017 - 10:49 am

          <blockquote><a href="#135030"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>It would be. But what I did was translate yours out of Fanboi into English. Think of it as a friendly service.</p>

          • skane2600

            03 July, 2017 - 11:00 am

            <blockquote><a href="#135223"><em>In reply to MikeGalos:</em></a></blockquote><p>Fanboi? And what pray tell do you imagine I'm a fan of? I call them like I see them. Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, Linux etc I don't care. You tried to spin what I said and everybody knows it.</p>

  • PeteB

    03 July, 2017 - 12:04 pm

    <p>So a different UI on the same old settings. Still no telemetry OPT OUT.</p><p><br></p>

  • Minok

    06 July, 2017 - 1:43 pm

    <p>Of the Win10 installed user base, which user groups get to opt out of taking an update and are still sitting on 1507? Small enterprises that got in early? My enterprise is just now wrapping up the move to Win10 project that reviewed our huge raft of corporate applications and will be moving to Win10 on new machines (the refresh cycle) and slowly rolling out OS upgrades over he coming year(s), though i've never experienced an OS upgrade without a hardware change.</p>

  • Jody Valencia

    31 July, 2017 - 3:16 am

    <p>Guys who wanna windows 10 key go link# https://plus.google.com/u/0/112109591609784503202 to get.</p>

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