Dutch consumer organisation warns for 'hidden' privacy setting in Windows 10 Creators Update

The Dutch consumer organisation 'Consumentenbond' warns for the upcoming Creators Update for Windows 10 because of a 'crucial' hidden setting that enables personalized advertisements. The organisation discovered the setting in an Insider build of Microsoft's latest OS and decided to warns Dutch consumers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Microsoft will introduce new privacy settings with the Creators Update that should give users more control over what is shared with the software giant. Even after the installation it should be easier to change the most important privacy settings when the Creators Update is installed than with current Windows 10 versions..

Consumentenbond appreciates Microsoft's efforts but nevertheless warns for the Creators Update.  According to the organisation Microsoft has hidden a setting at the bottom of the privacy menu.

"Hover with the mouse on the right part of the screen and 'spontaneously a scrollbar appears, scroll downwards and only then it becomes visible. A privacy menu that contains a hidden setting that is already enabled, that's not really a setting!, '" the organization explains.

ADVERTISEMENT

The setting is 'relevant advertisements' that Microsoft describes as 'Let apps use advertising ID to make ads more interesting to you based on your app usage'. The feature allows Microsoft to track which software is used and to display targeted ads in the apps on the computer.

Consumentenbond calls for Microsoft to make the hidden setting visible so users don't accidentally approve with the advertising tracking on their computer.

In a statement Microsoft responded to the Consumentenbond that their conclusion is premature. The Insider builds are for collecting feedback, besides that, the company argues, there have been several revamps of the privacy settings screen and it continues to be in development.

ADVERTISEMENT

No posts to display