Difference between revisions of "Windows"

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|description=A closed source operating system.
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|description=A closed source operating system by [[Microsoft]].
 
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'''[[Microsoft]] Windows''' is a widely used closed source [[operating system]].  
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'''Microsoft Windows''' is a widely used, by some considered more insecure,<ref>https://reclaimthenet.org/bill-gates-encryption/</ref><ref>https://linuxsecurity.com/features/must-read-articles/is-linux-a-more-secure-option-than-windows-for-businesses</ref><ref>https://vivaldi.com/blog/linux-more-secure-than-windows/</ref> closed source [[operating system]]. Starting with the Windows-95 version, claims were made that [[Microsoft]] is secretly collecting user data.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20030622093258/http://www.microsuck.com/content/ms-hidden-files.shtml saved at [https://archive.is/HHBsg Archive.is]</ref> The most commonly used alternative is [[Linux]].  
  
 
==Windows NT==
 
==Windows NT==
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In August 1999 Andrew D. Fernandes of Cryptonym Corporation discovered a variable in Windows NT 4 Service Pack 5 (which had been released unstripped of its symbolic debugging data) entitled "{{t|_[[NSA]]KEY}}". Microsoft stated that this was "simply an unfortunate name" connected to NSA export control and denied that it was a [[backdoor]] for the [[NSA]].<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20000520001558/http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/backdoor.asp</ref> The independent computer security  specialist [[Bruce Schneier]] did take a similar stand on the issue, basically confirming that it is rather unlikely that "NSAKEY" is part of a backdoor.<ref>[https://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram/archives/1999/0915.html#NSAKeyinMicrosoftCryptoAPI  NSA Key in Microsoft Crypto API?] saved at [http://web.archive.org/web/20150326063749/https://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram/archives/1999/0915.html#NSAKeyinMicrosoftCryptoAPI Archive.org] and [http://archive.is/https://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram/archives/1999/0915.html Archive.is]</ref>
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In August [[1999]] Andrew D. Fernandes of Cryptonym Corporation discovered a variable in Windows NT 4 Service Pack 5 (which had been released unstripped of its symbolic debugging data) entitled "{{t|_NSAKEY}}".<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSAKEY</ref> Microsoft stated that this was "simply an unfortunate name" connected to NSA export control <ref>"The term "NSAkey" merely documents that the software complies with American export and security regulations. These regulations are monitored by the NSA." - https://www.heise.de/news/Microsoft-Handlanger-des-US-Geheimdienstes-16789.html</ref> and denied that it was a [[backdoor]] for the [[NSA]].<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20000520001558/http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/backdoor.asp</ref> The independent computer security  specialist [[Bruce Schneier]] did take a similar stand on the issue, by saying that it is rather unlikely the "NSAKEY" is part of a backdoor.<ref>[https://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram/archives/1999/0915.html#NSAKeyinMicrosoftCryptoAPI  NSA Key in Microsoft Crypto API?] saved at [http://web.archive.org/web/20150326063749/https://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram/archives/1999/0915.html#NSAKeyinMicrosoftCryptoAPI Archive.org] and [http://archive.is/https://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram/archives/1999/0915.html Archive.is]</ref>
  
 
==Windows 10==
 
==Windows 10==
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* [[Mass surveillance]]  
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{{FA|Mass surveillance}}
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With the introduction of Windows 10 Microsoft changed a lot of privacy aspects of the operating system, which it back-ported to earlier versions.
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Microsoft had renewed its Privacy Policy and Service Agreement a couple of days after the launch of Windows 10. The organisation [[European Digital Rights]] (EDRi) did copy the text from both documents over into a text editor and ended with 45 pages of text to analyze: "Summing up these 45 pages, one can say that Microsoft basically grants itself very broad rights to collect everything you do, say and write with and on your devices in order to sell more targeted advertising or to sell your data to third parties. The company appears to be granting itself the right to share your data either with your consent “or as necessary”."<ref>[https://edri.org/microsofts-new-small-print-how-your-personal-data-abused/  Microsoft’s new small print – how your personal data is (ab)used] saved at [http://web.archive.org/web/20150729063056/https://edri.org/microsofts-new-small-print-how-your-personal-data-abused/ Archive.org] and [http://archive.is/qLRZx Archive.is]</ref> Owing to stronger privacy laws in the European Union, data protection authorities in Germany, France, Netherlands, Slovenia, Hungary, Spain and Great Britain had to look into the data sending behavior of Windows 10, concluding that it is possible to end most data transfer with the enterprise version, if not all.<ref>[https://www.lda.bayern.de/media/pm2017_06.pdf  Prüfung von Windows 10 im Unternehmensumfeld] saved at [http://web.archive.org/web/20171107011332/https://www.lda.bayern.de/media/pm2017_06.pdf Archive.org]</ref><ref>[https://www.lda.bayern.de/media/windows_10_report.pdf  Windows 10 Investigation Report] saved at [http://web.archive.org/web/20170927210831/https://www.lda.bayern.de/media/windows_10_report.pdf Archive.org]</ref> Also in 2015 allegations surfaced that Microsoft had backported the increased data collection to older version of the Windows operating system (7/8) via "recommended" patches/updates.<ref>[https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/microsoft-accused-of-adding-spy-features-to-windows-7-8/  Microsoft accused of adding spy features to Windows 7, 8] saved at [http://web.archive.org/web/20171201195552/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/microsoft-accused-of-adding-spy-features-to-windows-7-8/ Archive.org] and [http://archive.is/Ylujv Archive.is]</ref>
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The "Criticism of Windows 10" has it's own [[Wikipedia]] article.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Windows_10 saved at [http://archive.is/NiCUj Archive.is]</ref>
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==Windows 11==
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On the 26th or September [[2023]] Microsoft will introduce an "[[AI|AI powered]] copilot" to the operating system,<ref>https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2023/09/21/announcing-microsoft-copilot-your-everyday-ai-companion/</ref> "inspired by ChatGPT".<ref>https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/microsoft-copilot-brings-ai-to-windows-11-works-across-multiple-apps-and-your-phone/</ref>
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{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
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==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 21:42, 28 September 2023

Concept.png Windows 
(Operating system)Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Windows darkblue 2012.svg
A closed source operating system by Microsoft.

Microsoft Windows is a widely used, by some considered more insecure,[1][2][3] closed source operating system. Starting with the Windows-95 version, claims were made that Microsoft is secretly collecting user data.[4] The most commonly used alternative is Linux.

Windows NT

In August 1999 Andrew D. Fernandes of Cryptonym Corporation discovered a variable in Windows NT 4 Service Pack 5 (which had been released unstripped of its symbolic debugging data) entitled "_NSAKEY".[5] Microsoft stated that this was "simply an unfortunate name" connected to NSA export control [6] and denied that it was a backdoor for the NSA.[7] The independent computer security specialist Bruce Schneier did take a similar stand on the issue, by saying that it is rather unlikely the "NSAKEY" is part of a backdoor.[8]

Windows 10

Full article: Rated 3/5 Mass surveillance

With the introduction of Windows 10 Microsoft changed a lot of privacy aspects of the operating system, which it back-ported to earlier versions.

Microsoft had renewed its Privacy Policy and Service Agreement a couple of days after the launch of Windows 10. The organisation European Digital Rights (EDRi) did copy the text from both documents over into a text editor and ended with 45 pages of text to analyze: "Summing up these 45 pages, one can say that Microsoft basically grants itself very broad rights to collect everything you do, say and write with and on your devices in order to sell more targeted advertising or to sell your data to third parties. The company appears to be granting itself the right to share your data either with your consent “or as necessary”."[9] Owing to stronger privacy laws in the European Union, data protection authorities in Germany, France, Netherlands, Slovenia, Hungary, Spain and Great Britain had to look into the data sending behavior of Windows 10, concluding that it is possible to end most data transfer with the enterprise version, if not all.[10][11] Also in 2015 allegations surfaced that Microsoft had backported the increased data collection to older version of the Windows operating system (7/8) via "recommended" patches/updates.[12]

The "Criticism of Windows 10" has it's own Wikipedia article.[13]

Windows 11

On the 26th or September 2023 Microsoft will introduce an "AI powered copilot" to the operating system,[14] "inspired by ChatGPT".[15]


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References

  1. ↑ https://reclaimthenet.org/bill-gates-encryption/
  2. ↑ https://linuxsecurity.com/features/must-read-articles/is-linux-a-more-secure-option-than-windows-for-businesses
  3. ↑ https://vivaldi.com/blog/linux-more-secure-than-windows/
  4. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20030622093258/http://www.microsuck.com/content/ms-hidden-files.shtml saved at Archive.is
  5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSAKEY
  6. ↑ "The term "NSAkey" merely documents that the software complies with American export and security regulations. These regulations are monitored by the NSA." - https://www.heise.de/news/Microsoft-Handlanger-des-US-Geheimdienstes-16789.html
  7. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20000520001558/http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/backdoor.asp
  8. ↑ NSA Key in Microsoft Crypto API? saved at Archive.org and Archive.is
  9. ↑ Microsoft’s new small print – how your personal data is (ab)used saved at Archive.org and Archive.is
  10. ↑ Prüfung von Windows 10 im Unternehmensumfeld saved at Archive.org
  11. ↑ Windows 10 Investigation Report saved at Archive.org
  12. ↑ Microsoft accused of adding spy features to Windows 7, 8 saved at Archive.org and Archive.is
  13. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Windows_10 saved at Archive.is
  14. ↑ https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2023/09/21/announcing-microsoft-copilot-your-everyday-ai-companion/
  15. ↑ https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/microsoft-copilot-brings-ai-to-windows-11-works-across-multiple-apps-and-your-phone/
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