# PING Hackers and Torrenters: Win 10 can Disable your Pirated Software **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 17, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077 "2015-08-17T14:59:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/1 "2015-08-17T14:59:25Z")
> **[Computing | TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/computing)** > > All TechRadar pages tagged 'Computing' > [@](#): > > Section 7b – or “Updates to the Services or Software, and Changes to These Terms” – of Microsoft’s Services EULA stipulates that it “may automatically check your version of the software and download software update or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorised hardware peripheral devices.” > > This means that, if you use Windows 10, a Windows phone, or any of Microsoft’s other services, Redmond can disable any games you’ve pirated or devices you’ve unlawfully hacked. While its harder to justify pirated software, do we really want our OS’s disabling our modified X Box controllers? Or even snooping through our computers? Is it even legal? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/2 "2015-08-17T15:03:18Z")
I should add: If a hacker got control of this software, might they not have complete and total access to our computers? Could this possibly be a worse idea? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/3 "2015-08-17T15:44:41Z")
What? Microsoft coding security breaches into their own software? Unpossible! ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/4 "2015-08-18T02:47:14Z")
I call bullshit, and I think it’s incredibly presumptuous to interpret a line in a EULA as saying that Microsoft cares at all about whether you have pirated non-Microsoft software. That doesn’t mean that it might not be a legitimate security concern, but you can’t make assumptions about it (for example the sometime scary-sounding warnings when you install Android software). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/5 "2015-08-18T12:24:49Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > While its harder to justify pirated software, do we really want our OS’s disabling our modified X Box controllers? Or even snooping through our computers? Is it even legal? Bear in mind that the express install of Win10 gives MS permission to read your email, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/6 "2015-08-18T17:52:49Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Bear in mind that the express install of Win10 gives MS permission to read your email, just in case. Unless they were searching through our files how could they find content that they would disable? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/7 "2015-08-18T17:59:11Z")
The point I was trying to make is that by default, Windows 10 tracks every single thing you do with your computer and reports it back to Microsoft so they can sell the information to advertisers and send you specifically-targeted advertising based on your computer use. And that’s the most optimistic way of putting it. They are searching your files, and your browsing history, and your application use. They’re reading your email and tracking how long you spend on each page, and what websites you go to, and in what order. Tracking whether or not I’m doing something that’s actually illegal would be the least of the things that I’d be worried about, as I don’t do any of those illegal things. Your mileage, may, of course, vary. And Microsoft will know. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/8 "2015-08-18T19:14:52Z")
There is a reason the upgrade is free, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/9 "2015-08-18T19:29:46Z")
And optional. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/10 "2015-08-18T22:04:43Z")
Does it do any good to not log in to the Microsoft stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/11 "2015-08-19T12:53:46Z")
It is possible to cut out a lot of Win10’s snooping by doing a custom install and cutting Win10 off at the knees whenever you get the chance, but this particular excitement may be separate from that. Since they’re talking about it as “something we have to do to support the law,” it may not be possible to opt out of it without buying a Mac or Linux. Or, you know, don’t break the law. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/12 "2015-08-19T15:44:24Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > The point I was trying to make is that by default, Windows 10 tracks every single thing you do with your computer and reports it back to Microsoft That is a lot of bandwidth. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/13 "2015-08-20T22:00:40Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Since they’re talking about it as “something we have to do to support the law,” it may not be possible to opt out of it without buying a Mac or Linux. > > Or, you know, don’t break the law. What I’m hearing is, I should switch to Linux. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/14 "2015-08-23T13:07:19Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > What I’m hearing is, I should switch to Linux. Linux proponents have been saying that for a while now. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/15 "2015-08-23T14:50:59Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > There is a reason the upgrade is free, folks. But it’s not going to be free a year from now. Will Microsoft strip these features when windows 10 goes paid? Somehow I doubt that. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/16 "2015-08-23T15:03:32Z")
Is it the home version, that will not network? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/17 "2015-08-24T07:27:30Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Since they’re talking about it as “something we have to do to support the law,” it may not be possible to opt out of it without buying a Mac or Linux. Because Apple is [well known](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HumancentiPad) to have benevolent TOSes? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/18 "2015-08-24T12:33:36Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Because Apple is [well known](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HumancentiPad) to have benevolent TOSes? News to me; I’m not a Mac guy. Every time I turn around, Mac peeps are beating the “Better than Windows in Every Measurable Way” drum pretty darn hard, so I just figured they were less totalitarian in their government-desired data-gathering. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/19 "2015-08-24T21:43:54Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > News to me; I’m not a Mac guy. Every time I turn around, Mac peeps are beating the “Better than Windows in Every Measurable Way” drum pretty darn hard, so I just figured they were less totalitarian in their government-desired data-gathering. I would be more interested in Apple devices if they were manufactured in the United States rather than China. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077/20 "2015-08-25T16:44:49Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > But it’s not going to be free a year from now. Will Microsoft strip these features when windows 10 goes paid? Somehow I doubt that. That’s because they are creating a ticking clock to try and get as many people to upgrade as possible. If it’s free forever, you could always put off the upgrade. Oh, and that part of the license doesn’t refer to Windows 10. There’s a reason why it only talks about games, and not software, and why it uses the word counterfeit. The services covered are stuff like Xbox Live. Not even the App Store is covered by that–though it has a similar line about Microsoft being able to disable illegally gotten apps. The line is basically Microsoft saying they can put out updates that disable whatever mods you make to your Xbox (360/One) that let you play pirated games. You know, just like Sony and Nintendo do all the time. Or at least, that’s what the hacker circles I’ve seen say. (I keep up, even though I don’t really pirate anymore–outside of abandonware or as a way to play games I’ve bought on Steam without actually trying to install it.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ping-hackers-and-torrenters-win-10-can-disable-your-pirated-software/728077.md?page=2)