Microsoft is disgustingly sneaky: Windows 10 isn't an operating system, it's an advertising platform

[Karlston]

 

 

Don't believe what Microsoft tells you -- Windows 10 is not an operating system. Oh, sure, it has many features that make it look like an operating system, but in reality it is nothing more than a vehicle for advertisements. Since the launch of Windows 10, there have been numerous complaints about ads in various forms. They appear in the Start menu, in the taskbar, in the Action Center, in Explorer, in the Ink Workspace, on the Lock Screen, in the Share tool, in the Windows Store and even in File Explorer.

 

Microsoft has lost its grip on what is acceptable, and even goes as far as pretending that these ads serve users more than the company -- "these are suggestions", "this is a promoted app", "we thought you'd like to know that Edge uses less battery than Chrome", "playable ads let you try out apps without installing". But if we're honest, the company is doing nothing more than abusing its position, using Windows 10 to promote its own tools and services, or those with which it has marketing arrangements. Does Microsoft think we're stupid?

 

See also:

• Oh joy -- playable ads arrive in Windows 10
• How to disable ads in File Explorer in Windows 10

 

When Windows 10 first hit computers without a price tag, questions were asked about what the hidden cost might be. We've talked about the various telemetry, privacy-invading and tracking features that are to be found, and this is certainly part of the price one pays for a free operating system ... sorry, ad platform.

 

But as more and more ads have gradually crept into Windows 10, the implications of using Windows 10 become ever clearer. Microsoft has boasted about the millions and millions of computers that now have Windows 10 installed. These are not just additions to the user-base, they are consumers ready to be advertised at. It is a captive audience staring at screens all around the world -- perfect for pummelling with ads as there's nowhere to hide!

 

 

Microsoft is not only incredibly aggressive with its advertising, it is also disgustingly sneaky. Many of the various forms of advertising that can be found in Windows 10 can be disabled, but don't expect this to be easy, particularly if you're not completely au fait with the world of technology. The settings and toggles that need to be changed are far from obviously placed, and the misleading wording used (yes, we're looking at you OneDrive ads in File Explorer...) means many people would simply have no idea what the settings refer to even if they stumbled across them by accident. Seriously... who would think that in order to hide the OneDrive ads, you'd need to flick a toggle labeled Show sync provider notifications?

 

Over the months since the Windows 10's launch, poor users have been gradually pushed harder and harder. It's as though Microsoft is trying to see just how much it can get away with before people reach breaking point. The company is utterly shameless, and it's high time more people spoke out about it.

 

Microsoft has found itself in court on more than one occasion for anticompetitive behavior with Internet Explorer, and if its actions with ads are anything to go by it would appear that the company has learned nothing about stopping abusing its position. As each new layer of advertising has been revealed in Windows 10, Microsoft has managed to annoy and alienate more users. Each time there have been plenty of people to jump to the company's defense and stick up for what it is doing. But the sheer prevalence of ads in myriad forms is making Microsoft's actions indefensible.

 

It might feel as though we're going over old ground here, and we are. Microsoft just keeps letting us (and you) down, time and time and time again.

 

It's time for things to change, but will Microsoft listen?

 

Source: Microsoft is disgustingly sneaky: Windows 10 isn't an operating system, it's an advertising platform (BetaNews)

[steven36]

It's old news really

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/5xec80/is_nothing_sacred_advertisement_for_onedrive_in/

I never seen any ads on mine to disable since i  disabled everything  when i 1st installed it  i dont use onedrive noway lol,  but many say they dont see ads and many  say they do it just depends on certain factors i guess. if you read my link from reddit .

[Karlston]

9 minutes ago, steven36 said:

It's old news really

 

Yes and no. It's continuously being made worse by Microsoft who are clearly using the same strategy as with their infamous unconscionable GWX campaign.

 

That strategy is to, every now and then, push a little bit more to see how much users will tolerate.

 

Unless there’s a serious backlash through the usual channels, Microsoft will slowly keep making it worse. But, sadly for Microsoft, this strategy also gives current Windows 7/8/8.1 users even more reasons to stay where they are.

 

Could an “AdBlocker for Windows 10” become a killer product? Perhaps the AV companies could add that to their product.

[steven36]

7 minutes ago, Karlston said:

 

Yes and no. It's continuously being made worse by Microsoft who are clearly using the same strategy as with their infamous unconscionable GWX campaign.

 

That strategy is to, every now and then, push a little bit more to see how much users will tolerate.

 

Unless there’s a serious backlash through the usual channels, Microsoft will slowly keep making it worse. But, sadly for Microsoft, this strategy also gives current Windows 7/8/8.1 users even more reasons to stay where they are.

 

Could an “AdBlocker for Windows 10” become a killer product? Perhaps the AV companies could add that to their product.

Google has Admob on Android and   iPhone  have more lucrative advertisers but they still have ads because people spend more money at apple there not as bad  welcome to the 2017 OS were if you dont want ads you need to use Open Source Linux  . They may keep getting worse too  as long as no one spends much money buying windows the store etc in Windows 10 No one rides for free unless its open source.

http://www.brihaspatitech.com/blog/10-popular-mobile-advertising-platforms-to-generate-more-revenue/

 

[lurch234]

17 minutes ago, Karlston said:

That strategy is to, every now and then, push a little bit more to see how much users will tolerate.

+1

And that's not mentioning the example they are giving to other companies. Just feed them crap with their dinner. They'll throw a fit but end up eating it anyways.

Some, here or at Malwarebytes forum or both , are comparing  MB with MS with v3 of their product.

 

17 minutes ago, Karlston said:

Could an “AdBlocker for Windows 10” become a killer product? Perhaps the AV companies could add that to their product.

 

They would probably get sued.

[steven36]

You can thank Google for giving Microsoft these ideas , tell Mobile became a threat they just sold windows why would you expect them too give away millions of copies and not expect something back when there competitors are getting away with it ? Only thing different Apple or Google dont charge you for the software they charge you  for the hardware . I never was dumb enough to buy windows no way I buy computers with windows on them  and Windows was already in the price , 

 

Smartphones  was  why Microsoft changed  Microsoft's Former CEO Says Disagreement With Gates on Smartphones Drove Them Apart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFe0S3F389w

When it was just Gates Microsoft was not worth very much . Steve Ballmer turned Microsoft into what they are today  but  Gates held him back and they fell behind there competitors .  Now Gates and Steve Ballmer left . The new Microsoft are trying to play catch up  with there competitors. What there doing is nothing new it's just new for Microsoft  there competitors have been doing it along time.

[straycat19]

I have never received ads on my Android phones so I can't comment on what Google is doing.  But if Microsoft is pushing ads on Windows 10 then they have a problem if you bought the OS retail.  I can understand them pushing ads on copies they gave away free but if you paid retail for it then you more than likely have cause to sue them.  Personally I have never seen any  ads on the copies of Windows 10 we are still testing.  We will never consider an upgrade until they release a stable, reliable OS that isn't having the core changed every couple of months.  A lot of large organizations are going back to the old dumb terminals where there is no software installed on the 'computer' at all, everything is run from the servers which means users can't download or install anything which makes the system secure.  The only reason a lot of organizations didn't switch 5 years ago was the cost but with Microsoft's current pricing it makes sense to switch rather than going to Windows 10.  Plus the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is less because the desktop support staff can be totally eliminated and hardware repair staff drastically reduced. On the other hand we have a quote on replacing 15,000 windows computers with MACs, which is still an option we are looking at.

 

 

[steven36]

1 hour ago, straycat19 said:

I have never received ads on my Android phones so I can't comment on what Google is doing.

You dont have to see anything for Google to make money because they make money in the background harvesting you're data  .Google makes all there money from data on there OS they dont even charge vendors nothing for it.  There you go with things you can see again , If people could see what was really going with Android , Windows 10  and IOS  and OSX  in the background  they may would go in shock but they encrypt the data so you really have no idea what there doing .

 

The biggest Problem with OS are not ads you can see no way  at lest on windows I have tools were I can sniff them out and  block Microsoft's traffic  if it were not for 3rd party tools i would just use Linux all the time . What Google does is it  gives away analytics to devs  and that's how they get paid even if they charge you for the app, they pay Devs money for collecting data. for them. Google  makes ads they are a ad company  so Google OS is a advertising platform .

 

Even on Windows Google analytics is a big problem  . A lot of free and shareware apps use them  and people use these proprietary software apps and Google are paying these devs to collect you're data i block Google analytics  system wide in my firewall now.

 

 

Guess what Microsoft makes ads too and Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 are a advertising platform. because they have Windows store But in windows 10  you can remove the store. Really It's nothing new I thought everyone knew this by now ? so do I suppose to be in AWW about it?. I been reading about these  ads showing up in windows 10 all month,  I dont have any here it may been some kind of update they installed?

 

 

[IronY-Man]

Nothing with the LTSB version that I'm on with privacy measures up and checked !

[bigcid10]

I don't have any ads on my windows 10 OS

[Ryrynz]

This article is so cringe worthy.. I don't know why this would surprise anyone given the nature of this capitalist economy.

It's almost like advertising actually fucking works or something.. who would've knew it?

[steven36]

It would not been so  bad if they posted the whole story  that just many people dont have ads that do but Betanews have been writing Anti Windows 10 news for along time now click bait articles  to get hits in there comment section they like for people to  fight in there comment section . Really this is no big deal when  you 1st install windows 10 they have apps with ads and stuff  on the start menu you just remove the apps  if you dont want too buy  them to remove the ads .

 

Beta News are Hippocrates  they post about some OS having ads so the can generate ad revenue from there own site. Most any news blog  is ad infested So it's OK for these blogs that write this click bait too do it  but not OK for Microsoft? Of course  you can use and ad blocker so you dont see them but fact is they still have ads, but  also these windows 10 ads there talking about in the OP can be disabled from file explorer settings.