Windows 10 privacy, markmonitor

[Joker__TPB]

But I'm not experiencing any problems with using the original version of 8.1 when it first came out without any updates

Then there you go, just stick with 8.1 without any updates. and get spied on

[jessewest]

Get spied on? How? I said I didn't install any updates at all

[RobertX]

The guy's playing with you, jessewest.

Still though, you don't really need to not install updates to Windows 8.1, especially if you didn't pirate it.

I know Microsoft's track record, but I still think they're that stupid as to piss off their customers. I pirate software on my completely-pirated Windows 7 and the cops didn't knock on my door.

[Hears knock on door.]

Oops, hold on, let me check the door.

[jessewest]

I won't take chances installing updates if Microsoft is putting updates out there that allow them to scan your hd...

Windows works fine without any damn updates. All you need is driver updates

[RobertX]

And that's what I don't have. No compatible drivers for the video card that's embedded into my system's motherboard. Thus I erased it.

Windows 7 and Linux Mint can use them, Windows 8.1, or 8 for that matter, didn't.

Back to the privacy: GNU/Linux, at least Linux Mint, makes a good show of keeping my privacy. However, I have been caught several times for torrenting using that OS. Time to step up and get a VPN.

[Joker__TPB]

So what do you plan to do Jesse? Are you going to stay with Windows, move to Linux, get a pizza, what is your plan of action to protect your privacy?

[jessewest]

I think I'll be safe with win 8.1 if I stay away from updates.

[Joker__TPB]

Yosh! good choice

[RobertX]

Joker, be soft on Jess. Switching from Windows to GNU/Linux is a big step. Even I had trouble doing that.

GNU/Linux is not another Windows OS, it's its own OS. You have to learn the foundations, the philosophy, and a new way to see your computer's capabilities. I was lucky as when I switched, I used Ubuntu. At that time, Ubuntu was revolutionary. It's going downhill at the time I stopped using it, but before, it held my hand through all the complicated stuff. It wasn't completely easy, but it was not hard.

If you are to switch, jessewest, get Linux Mint. I'm not the developer or some paid shill, I'm a user and I'm sure many people can provide testimonials to this great OS, something which Ubuntu was. Ubuntu is now sending userdata to its phone-home servers, thus compromising your privacy.

Here's the URL: www.linuxmint.com

EDIT: Here's a writeup of Ubuntu's Spying Crapware: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/ubuntu-spyware.en.html

[Joker__TPB]

This guy doesn't even want to budge. I love and respect Linux for what it stands for, but I can't force people to use it. Jesse, if you really want true privacy, get a Linux distribution. I don't want you to be paranoid, but you have to be safe on the internet. I want you to keep doing what you've been doing, but with caution.

Moving to Linux is a big step (I know), but it all comes down on how much you want to be secure. Linux is the most customizable OS out there, you can add what you want, and remove whatever you don't like. No version of Windows is ever going to change that.

Now, I don't know what is in your hard drive (and I think I don't wanna know), but you gotta take to measure of how you should protect it. If your just torrenting games,movies,books,music, that's good. All you need is a good VPN, a chain of proxies, and that's it your safe 99.9% . But if your dealing with stuff like stolen bank accounts, snuff films, black mail, whistle-blowing, red-rooms, bit-coin mining exploits, you have to protect your self a bit more than what your doing now. You have to take into account that Windows is easily exploitable in so many ways, its not worth it. 

I really do hope you make the move to Linux in the near feature.

EDIT: I agree with Robert that Ubuntu is crap, if you decide to move, get Linux Mint or Fedora or even FreeBSD.