Privacy is important, andwe should fight for it.
Ivesaid that many times.
But when Windows 10 launched, I welcomed Cortanadespite some concerns from privacy activists.
Heres how I continue to advocate for a safer, privacy-focused Internet and still use these awesome free tools.
But thats not enough.
Getting ads in front of you that you dont mind seeing is only part of the battle.
Youre trading away your privacy fornothing but the right to see relevant ads.
And yet, people swallow that logic.
They even trot it out as a defense when questioned.
Part of the problem is weve been conditioned to believe that our data has no value.
Were getting these services for free.
Youve heard it before: Well Facebook/Google/Apple/Microsoft/[insert company] gives it away, so stop complaining.
That limited definition of free keeps us from understanding the real exchange we make when we use free services.
Of course, we dont live in a perfect world.
But both of those more invasive examples that I just mentioned?
Theyre awesome tools in their own right, and I actually use them both.
Wediscussed similar concerns when OS X Yosemite came out.
Well, it starts with understanding that privacy, and personal data are essentially currency in todays Internet economy.
In short, Im buying Windows 10, paying for Google Now, and subscribing to Unroll.me.
Instead of opening my wallet, Im paying in information.
Its not a perfect tradeoff, but its one I go into with both eyes open.
There are some features, like broad location access, for example, that I keep turned off.
I dont let apps use my advertising ID, and I dont send logging data back to Microsoft.
I use otherprivacy protecting tools to keep control over my other data.
I do the same with my Android devices and Google Now.
Maybe youd prefer to go Linux and only use open-source, privacy-focused everything.
At this point, youre probably sayingWell sure, I can do that!
But not so fast.
Making that choice requires actual thought, not just acquiescence to whatever you or your friends already use.
Once you give up that information, that currency, its out of your control and gone forever.
Even So, The Web Needs Your Help
So where does this leave us?
You shouldnt have to play with a dozen checkboxes just to ensure your phone number isnt public.
You shouldnt have to learn to code just to see if a Chrome extension is spying on you.
We should all look for options that improve on the privacy and features of the tools we use.
Support companies and organizations that respect your privacy, and encourage the companies willing to listen to their users.
This doesnt mean you shouldnt use Windows 10, either.
Illustration by Tara Jacoby.
