Last night, I was trying to go to bed and clicked for my computer to shut down. Instead, it popped up saying there were updates ready to be installed. Being me, I said okay to the updates, figuring it was going to take a few minutes and I could crawl into the warm comfort of my bed.<\/p>\n
TWO HOURS LATER I was finally able to find my bed and I was glad.<\/p>\n
Only this morning, when I turned on my computer, there was something new on the Lock Screen. A little pink circle with “Tap the circle and say ‘Microsoft stock quotes'” or something like that.<\/p>\n
Turns out, the newest update has added Cortana to my lock screen. Which enables anyone with my computer to tap the circle and access things from the Internet, call up my calendar, and VIEW ALL MY PICTURES.<\/p>\n
So yeah, go into Cortana and shut off some or even all of the privacy-killing settings if you have any plans to use your laptop\/computer\/device outside of your home.<\/p>\n
Otherwise anyone can access your stuff, and they won’t even need to steal your passwords to do it.<\/p>\n
Oh, and did you know that Cortana keeps a record of your browsing history? That it keeps a stealth copy of your stuff for ease of access? I shut that down too.<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
Seriously, what’s the deal with everyday programs beginning to act like freemium apps? If I wanted assholes to have access to all my stuff, I’d post everything on the Internet.<\/p>\n
So Microsoft, if you’re out there, if you’re listening, please, please, PLEASE stop trying to invade my privacy in the most underhanded ways possible. If you’re going to be evil, just be evil. Stop trying to make it my fault that you’re stealing my stuff.<\/p>\n
It’s getting to the point that I’m considering jumping operating systems. The only thing stopping me is that I want my programs to work on my laptop and I’m lazy. But if things continue on as they are…<\/p>\n
I’ll have to break up with you Microsoft. Not because I really want to. But because you’re abusing the fuck out of my trust. <\/p>\n