When it comes to Windows 10 and privacy, there are lots of things that you need to consider. Probably the best starting point before you even begin to upgrade an existing system or set up Windows 10 on a new one is to read through the Privacy Policy and Service Agreement.
Yes, that is lots of text even if you only read the summaries that Microsoft provides. Please note that the two documents are not exclusive to Windows 10 but apply to Microsoft. You do find "Windows" listed under the privacy statement however.
There you find the following key information:
- Microsoft creates a unique advertising ID for each user on a device running Windows 10. This can be turned off in the Privacy Settings.
- What you say or type may be processed by Microsoft, for instance by the operating system's Cortana service or by providing spelling correction.
- Windows supports a location service that allows apps and services, such as Find My Device, to request your location in the world. This can be turned off in the Privacy settings.
- Microsoft syncs some Windows settings automatically when you sign in to a Microsoft account. This is done to provide users with a personalized experience across devices. Data that gets synced includes installed apps and their settings, web browser history and favorites, passwords and wireless network names, and addresses of shared printers.
- Telemetry data is collected by Microsoft. This includes installed software, configuration data and network and connection data. While some of it can be turned off in the Settings, not all can.