I don't know as much about this as I should, but these seem to be the basics: - late 20th century google started data mining websites in a novel way. Everyone thought it was a good thing. - around 2005 Google introduced gmail for free, but openly told everyone they were going to data mine the emails to see what kind of things the owner of the mailbox was interested in. - since then Google has gotten more and more aggressive and now appears to mine gmail mailboxes to build a profile about non-gmail users as well. It also is scanning blogs, blog comments, LinkedIn and Twitter. Basically anything they can actually see they data mine. Along those lines they offer Google analytics as a free service that gives them great visibility into people's web browsing activity even if they somehow manage to avoid using any Google services themselves and also avoid interaction with anyone with a gmail account. - as of yesterday(Aug 1), Microsoft has officially joined the game: Microsoft Privacy Statement https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement/default.aspx Microsoft Services Agreement https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/servicesagreement/default.aspx These new policies grant Microsoft broad data mining rights into your computer. Simply using any of the below services means you accept the new agreement: Account.microsoft.com Advertising.microsoft.com Bing Apps Bing Desktop Bing Dictionary Bing in the Classroom Bing Input Bing Maps Bing Navigation Bing Reader Bing Rewards Bing Search app Bing Toolbar Bing Torque Bing Translator Bing Webmaster Bing Wikipedia Browser Bing.com Bing Bingplaces.com Choice.microsoft.com Citizen Next Cortana Default Homepage and New Tab Page on Microsoft Edge Device Health App Groove HealthVault Maps App Microsoft account Microsoft Family Microsoft Health Microsoft Translator Microsoft Wallpaper Microsoft XiaoIce MSN Dial Up MSN Explorer MSN Food & Drink MSN Health & Fitness MSN Money MSN News MSN Premium MSN Sports MSN Travel MSN Weather MSN.com Next Lock Screen Office 365 Consumer Office 365 Home Office 365 Personal Office 365 University Office Online Office Store Office Sway Office.com OneDrive.com OneDrive Onenote.com OneNote Outlook.com Picturesque Lock Screen Pix Lock Skype in the Classroom Skype Manager Skype Qik Skype WiFi Skype.com Skype Smart Search Snipp3t Spreadsheet Keyboard Sway.com Translator UrWeather Windows Live Mail Windows Live Writer Windows Movie Maker Windows Photo Gallery Xbox and Windows Games published by Microsoft Xbox Live Xbox Music Pass Xbox Music Xbox Video
From what I can see Microsoft's new invasion of privacy is basically retroactive. The only way to avoid it is to quit using any of the above if you currently do. I often use bing, skype, Microsoft store and office365.
=== Hopefully using openSUSE reduces some of Microsoft's and Google's effectiveness, but all of us interact with users of Google and Microsoft services. What steps can openSUSE as a project and as individuals do to reduce our Google and Microsoft visible footprint? Is it too late to try? Greg -- Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-project+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, email: opensuse-project+owner@opensuse.org