Microsoft: Difference between revisions
edited the intro, added the aquisition of Github and removed some irrelevant info about how rich its IPO made early staff |
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In the case United States v. Microsoft Corp., 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000)<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/87/30/2307082/</ref>, Microsoft's Conduct taken as a whole is described as "deliberate assault upon entrepreneurial efforts that, could well have enabled the introduction of competition into the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems". Further, "Microsoft's anticompetitive actions trammeled the competitive process through which the computer software industry generally stimulates innovation and conduces to the optimum benefit of consumers". | In the case United States v. Microsoft Corp., 87 F. Supp. 2d 30 (D.D.C. 2000)<ref>https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/87/30/2307082/</ref>, Microsoft's Conduct taken as a whole is described as "deliberate assault upon entrepreneurial efforts that, could well have enabled the introduction of competition into the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems". Further, "Microsoft's anticompetitive actions trammeled the competitive process through which the computer software industry generally stimulates innovation and conduces to the optimum benefit of consumers". | ||
=== | === Windows<!-- Reluctant to add this one unless we have more reports of this online, but I did find some microsoft support articles that mention Factory Resets happening with windows updates: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/216587/why-a-factory-reset-without-my-permission-during-a -->=== | ||
==== Forced Updates ==== | |||
Beginning with Windows 10, updates were no longer able to be selectively chosen by the end user, instead updates are automatically scheduled when your computer is inactive, or before the system is shut down.<ref>https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300077576/did-microsoft-just-backtrack-on-forced-updates-for-windows-10</ref> This has also led to some systems being rendered unusable due to bugged updates that cannot be avoided<ref>https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windows-10-update-is-bricking-pcs-uninstall-this-right-now</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-update-bricked-my-bios-thought-to-be/a1f0ebc7-d20d-459f-9956-72a3f98ca432</ref>. Some users have resorted to disabling updates in Window's registry editor<ref>https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/how-to-stop-win10-update.html</ref>, while accomplishing its goal, it does have the caveat of not being to receive security updates, which can make those systems vulnerable to attack. | |||
=== | ==== Resetting preferences/settings during updates ==== | ||
During some Windows updates, the preferences users have set on applications that they have installed will end up being factory reset<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/n1hoz0/windows_please_stop_changing_my_settings_with/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-updated-and-reset-all-of-my-settings/529ffb03-edd4-4be2-9412-50e3271fa8fe</ref><ref>https://www.minitool.com/news/windows-settings-are-reset-after-reboot.html</ref>. Users have reported this to go so far as resetting permissions for apps<ref name=":1">https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-update-reset-my-computer-settings/e58bcee8-f4c9-40ef-a452-1dc5db7c45d9</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/y0ksm0/why_are_my_settings_changed_after_every_update/</ref><ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/why-do-updates-remove-personalization-settings/0f1badb2-7486-4d31-b687-39913795aa8f</ref>, which can be extremely risky for insecure software. <!-- From evidence I have found from the Discord server and my own experience, the frequency happens in larger amounts for older hardware. Preferences I set up for Greenshot, VisualStudio, Aseprite, and more get reset and it has even corrupted my data for WinAMP. I will refrain from directly mentioning it in this article until I find more public documentation. | |||
- James --> | |||
=== | === Edge=== | ||
Microsoft Edge is a Chromium-based web browser that comes preinstalled with any version of Windows from Win 10 and later. It is the successor to Internet Explorer. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ | |||
!Controversy | |||
!Year started - Year Ended | |||
!Background Info | |||
!Aftermath | |||
!Related Article | |||
|- | |||
|Inability to delete | |||
|2018 - N/A | |||
|During major updates for Windows, users have been reporting their installations of Edge being reinstalled to their devices without their consent.<ref>https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-microsoft-edge-chromium-installing-automatically-windows-10</ref> | |||
|No change | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|Importing content from other browsers without consent | |||
|2020 - ? | |||
|Users have reported on frequent occasions that Edge has imported user data from browsers such as Chrome and Firefox without first requesting consent from the user.<ref>https://www.komando.com/news/microsoft-edge-caught-importing-data/</ref> <!-- Could we get another source added here? --> | |||
|Unknown if it still occurs<!-- Hey can someone verify if it still is happening? --> | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|Resetting primary browser | |||
|2017 - N/A | |||
|Windows has frequently been resetting the default browser to Edge<ref>https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/default-browser-keeps-changing-to-edge/25e2939d-4674-40ab-b05a-6161e2297976</ref>, despite going against user requests<ref name=":1" />. While there are methods to disable this<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/15zbjar/default_browser_keeps_changing_to_microsoft_edge/</ref>, it is tedious to achieve, especially for non-technically inclined users. | |||
|Continues to happen | |||
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|} | |||
=== Windows 11 === | === Windows 11 === | ||
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During 2024, Microsoft unveiled Recall<ref name=":0">https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-reveals-ai-powered-recall-feature-to-transform-windows-11s-searchability-while-confirming-hardware-requirements</ref>, marketed as a way to search through what you have done on your computer. This sparked controversy<ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-controversial-recall-feature-for-windows-11-could-already-be-in-legal-hot-water</ref>, especially among security experts<ref>https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/Privacy-and-security-risks-surrounding-Microsoft-Recall</ref> who worried about the security of screenshots<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-ai-feature-investigated-by-uk-watchdog-over-screenshots-13141171</ref>, since it could easily document private information like Social Security Numbers, bank account information, and passwords, as well as user browsing behavior. There is also a python script called "TotalRecall"<ref>https://github.com/xaitax/TotalRecall</ref> that collects the screenshots and descriptions of them proving the danger of Recall<ref name=":0" />. This feature was delayed after backlash<ref>https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns</ref>. | During 2024, Microsoft unveiled Recall<ref name=":0">https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-reveals-ai-powered-recall-feature-to-transform-windows-11s-searchability-while-confirming-hardware-requirements</ref>, marketed as a way to search through what you have done on your computer. This sparked controversy<ref>https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-controversial-recall-feature-for-windows-11-could-already-be-in-legal-hot-water</ref>, especially among security experts<ref>https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/Privacy-and-security-risks-surrounding-Microsoft-Recall</ref> who worried about the security of screenshots<ref>https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-ai-feature-investigated-by-uk-watchdog-over-screenshots-13141171</ref>, since it could easily document private information like Social Security Numbers, bank account information, and passwords, as well as user browsing behavior. There is also a python script called "TotalRecall"<ref>https://github.com/xaitax/TotalRecall</ref> that collects the screenshots and descriptions of them proving the danger of Recall<ref name=":0" />. This feature was delayed after backlash<ref>https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns</ref>. | ||
=== Microsoft account dark patterns when installing Windows<!-- Tone, and needs sources -->=== | === Microsoft account dark patterns when installing Windows<!-- Tone, and needs sources May be deleted, see discuss tab for details -->=== | ||
[[File:MSInstall.png|thumb|An image of a Windows 10 installation, to illustrate the effort required to make an account unattached to a Microsoft account.]] | [[File:MSInstall.png|thumb|An image of a Windows 10 installation, to illustrate the effort required to make an account unattached to a Microsoft account.]] | ||
Numerous [[wikipedia:Dark_pattern|dark patterns]] have been implemented in the form of vague language and a confusing user interface which hides the option to create an account without a Microsoft account under sub-menus and small text. The dark patterns in the Windows installation menu have been in place since Windows 10 was launched in 2015 and continue into the Windows 11 installation process. | Numerous [[wikipedia:Dark_pattern|dark patterns]] have been implemented in the form of vague language and a confusing user interface which hides the option to create an account without a Microsoft account under sub-menus and small text. The dark patterns in the Windows installation menu have been in place since Windows 10 was launched in 2015 and continue into the Windows 11 installation process. | ||