mosspa
until Microsoft officially denounces and removes the spyware and user information it collects, I won't upgrade any system of mine that has sensitive data on it. I upgraded all the computers in my lab, and I have found it to be excellent. However, the data snooping it does really annoys me. I've found a utility written by a couple hackers in Germany that allegedly turns all the spyware off, and I've installed it on one of the lab computers that I can monitor constantly. Maybe I'll upgrade the computers in my studio when I am convinced that Microsoft isn't 'watching' my data!
There are plenty of ways to disable the telemetry functions in Windows 10...just ask the internet. Also FYI, I've been told by people who know more about this stuff than me that some of the updates to Windows 7 are installing the telemetry software. The difference is that while Windows 10 has explicit ways to disable it, Windows 7 doesn't.
Bear in mind that it's also a losing battle, because the Chromes and Googles of this world are tracking you, with no assistance from Microsoft or Apple required. It's almost impossible to use the internet and opt out of the surveillance grid that's been set up for various types of data collection. It's also almost impossible to keep your data from being accessed by hackers. For this reason, I turn on some telemetry functions (like alerting Microsoft to potential security breaches and phishing sites) while turning off others.
FWIW over a decade ago before any of this online tracking from Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc. was happening, I was very involved in the Musicplayer.com web site. One person made a joke about the president at the time (Bush) in one post in one forum. It was interpreted as hostile, and the next morning, two federal agents were at his door and spent several hours grilling him before they were satisfied he was just some online dude. This has been going on for a long time and I don't see it ending any time soon...perversely, I see Microsoft collecting data on things like potential security breaches as ultimately being able to provide perhaps more protection for us, not less.
Like any tool, data collection has the power for good or evil. Imagine if, for example, Cakewalk had the ability to monitor how you use SONAR. If they find 90% of the users do mostly MIDI-based projects, that would influence product development just as much as if they found out only 10% do mostly MIDI-based projects. But there's a difference between anonymous market research and control. Unfortunately humans are pulling the levers, so you have every reason to be skeptical.
Meanwhile, Windows 10 is just a drop in the bucket compared to all the various sites snooping around my data. Then again, it has some cool aspects. When I booted up yesterday Windows asked if I liked the sign-on picture or would I like to see more. I clicked more and the next time I booted up, there was a beautiful picture of a grassy green field. If Microsoft is using their data to give me more of the computing experience I want, no problems at this end.