Windows 8 is Online Based System

Definitely! A pattern that has existed for at least 15 years and has been continuously expanding in scope. No one needs access to all of your usage and activity records and all of your data in order to offer services, unless that service is a 24/7 babysitter. I wonder who would possibly want that? Maybe the ones who supposedly helped them secure Vista and 7 a while back (NSA)?

 

You think the NSA is behind the move to cloud storage?

 

I don't think that's a fair comparison. When you create an account, it explicitly tells you that it will sync your data if you use a Microsoft account. If you don't want to, you're given an option to create a local account only.

And even then, if you use an MS account, you can disable the syncing that you previously agreed to.

 

Have we forgotten the word optional? You don't have to make an MS account and you won't be held at gunpoint until you do. The move to the cloud was an attempt to lessen the costs of mostly business. It just happened to also be useful for other reasons too. It's not something that was pushed by the NSA or any other 3 letter agency. It is however making it much easier to control whatever data you may store in the cloud. It's much easier to go after hosting services and cloud providers and much easier to leave the user out of the loop. Look at how the MegaUpload case has gone down. Certainly they took out the "bad guys", but they also took and are keeping the more than likely completely legitimate files of innocent users to do it, along with getting courts to consistently agree to let them keep those files. It's the same effect that domain seizures have, you "get your guy", but you just took out hundreds of legal blogs and websites with him.

The cloud can be a very beneficial service to use, but I'm not certain yet that the risks of letting companies whose security practices you cannot control access and store your data and possible politics is worth that benefit.

 

But does it delete your synced data off of Microsoft's servers?

 

Even if they said they did there would be no way of confirming it and, of course, users would never believe it.

Don't make an online account. It's really so simple.

 

Wonder what Microsoft is going to do now that they know I want my "show hidden files" preference synced, damn, where's the delete button?

 

After turning off the sync options, my other computer (which has sync enabled) did not pull the data from the sync-deactivated computer. So, probably. I don't know if there's a backup. If there is, Microsoft will have a copy of my awesome space wallpaper forever. I hope they enjoy it.

Regardless, as has been said many times in this thread already, creating a microsoft account is purely optional. You have the option of using a local account which will not sync your data.

 

Just because something is optional doesn't mean it should be endorsed because as we have learned with Microsoft they won't always give you an option and when they've got enough mindless drones letting them do what they please they'll take choices away from the rest of us or have you seen the start button lately?

 

It depends on what you call "behind the move" to cloud storage. They may not have invented or actively promoted it, but it definitely fits their agenda.
The cloud is much more than just data storage. The trend is moving applications off of users PCs and onto cloud servers, which gives them the same control over access to software. Data stored on the cloud is easily accessed (or modified, deleted, denied access to, etc). It becomes easy to determine who does anything with that data, when they do it, what they do, from where, etc.

You can't view corporations, the various big industries, the NSA and other 3 letter agencies as separate entities with their own agendas. Look at megaupload right now, not as it applies to the individual being charged, but everyone else caught up in it. When a guy wants his videos back, they go thru all his files, looking for pirated material, child porn, etc, just because they can. For all of it's alleged advantages, the cloud takes away the users control. The more users rely on cloud applications, the more they lose control over those applications and/or access to them. When cloud applications start replace apps installed on the users equipment, expect to see a lot more "pay per use". Windows is going in that direction. At some point soon, I totally expect to see Windows unable to use apps that don't come thru their store.

 

unless you fear industrial espionage, are a political activist in a repressive regime or are on the NSA most wanted list i don't think there's anything to worry about.

the genie has been let out of the bottle a long time ago.

 

Yep, people's privacy and choice have completely been diminished so we may as well give up!

 

Or use an offline account.

 

How to answer this without getting the thread closed. The political activist label you just used. Those who participated in occupy wall street were classified as low level terrorists. NSA lists. The no fly list has over a million names on it. Your heritage or nationality can get you put on a list. There are more lists with more names on them than most of us want to admit. I'd bet that anyone who is not a total sheep is on their lists.

 

Until windows 9 (or 10, 11, etc.) where they decide people don't use offline accounts and do away with them.

 

That's how 1% controls 99%. The 99% either give up, don't try, or are too distracted with things that don't matter. "It's no big deal." or "It's just a button/choice/etc." Each little thing in itself is nothing. It's when you start adding them all together over an extended period of time that it becomes clear just what we've allowed the 1% to take away with no real opposition.

 

If the functionality is removed in Windows 9 or 10 or 11, then that's a complaint for Windows 9 or 10 or 11. It seems unfair to knock Microsoft for something they haven't even done.

 

If the functionality is removed in Windows 9 or 10 or 11, then that's a complaint for Windows 9 or 10 or 11. It seems unfair to knock Microsoft for something they haven't even done.

 

It's called a pattern of behavior. While MS has been adding security to the OS itself and eye candy for the user, they're consistently taking away choices from the user and showing a pattern of contempt for the users privacy. Pointing out that pattern isn't "knocking" MS. It's telling it like it is. Look at the requirements for their app store.

 

I don't see the logic behind saying that, because MS removed the Start Menu in Windows 8, that they'll remove local account functionality in Windows 9. New versions of an OS will naturally replace features from older versions (Start Menu -> Start Screen) and will sometimes remove features.

Aside from baseless speculation, do you have anything that would suggest Microsoft plans to remove local accounts in Windows 9?

 

Go rot in hell windows.... Helllllo sweet Linux.

Honestly I don't think this will happen. Too many users would be pissed off having have to pay monthly bill for windows, microsoft word, etc... People would simply move to free operating systems.

Just look at how security companies have initially flourished... Then eventually people got really sick and tired to paying for AVs and there is a bunch now that are quite good and free. Your average Joe can get away with free software and still secure his laptop better than having entire NIS or KIS or KAS or whatever...

 

Nop. I can have start menu back with many free apps. Microsoft isn't blocking these apps or suing their devs. The killswitch feature is already present in every other modern OS with relevant market share that implements online stores for apps (Android, iOS, etc), in Windows 8 it only works for "metro" apps downloaded and bought from the MS Store, and it's planned as a theoretical emergence last measure that will help in the fight against possible continuous prejudicial effects on the theoretical possibility of a malicious software surreptitiously entering the stores, bypassing its various security measures and being downloaded or bought by some customers. Actually, I'm sure you know all that, but you just prefer to scream against the "killswitch" as if it was going to be used in a totally different manner. Why? Because like some others here, you're totally paranoid and, of course, out of touch with the reality, and can't understand the simple fact that Microsoft would never do the way you're afraid it could do, and risk losing multiple billions with the various consequences. Wake up from this weird dream you're in.

 

As for transparent ways to monitor the usage and removal of your data, see: http://www.microsoft.com/privacy/products.aspx

I just don't see where they aren't honoring their compromises.

 

The great thing about the internet when it first arrived was how it gave power to individuals they never had before. I knew it was only a matter of time 'til the powers that be figured out ways to undermine it. Now it's slowly happening, like everything else, big brother has to control it.

 

Lose billions to who? Apple? They're doing the same things. Linux? Most users have no clue about it, where to get it, how to install it or use it, etc. Unless you're knowledgeable, you have 2 corporate products to choose from. I don't trust a killswitch on apps "for our safety" any more than I believe an internet killswitch is for national security. Open your eyes.

Sadly, a lot of it is beyond our control. That said, there are things we do control, starting with what we choose to use. There's more important things to base that decision on than eye candy, barely useful features, and being "with the times". These are not worth surrendering our privacy for.