It’s A Matter Of Honor

honor
noun
1.honesty, fairness, or integrity in one’s beliefs and actions:
a man of honor.

Last week Microsoft doubled down on trying to force Windows 10 on Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. This despite the outrage that has sprung up around the internet since GWX and it’s related telemetry issues came to fore.
In his blog post, Terry Myerson claimed “you can choose to upgrade or decline the offer”. That’s a statement the Washington D.C. spin doctors would love.
1 – By default Windows 7 and 8 downloads and installs updates to examine your computer and send that info back to Microsoft. They never ask you, they just do it.
2 – Starting next year, Microsoft will make Windows 10 a recommended update. Most folks computers are set to “Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates.” This means starting next year Microsoft will download Windows 10 to your computer WITHOUT ASKING YOU.

What they should have done.
One update, just one. The options could have been.
Windows 10 is now available as a free upgrade. Would you like to see if your device is eligible?
– Yes
– Not now, remind me in a week.
– No
If “Yes” then download, install, and run all the GWX stuff.
If “Not now” then ask again next week.
If “No” then do not download, install, and run all the GWX stuff and never bother me about it again.

How simple would that be?

Honor is simply the morality of superior men.
H. L. Mencken

Trust
I’m not a Microsoft hater. I’ve used their products for decades. Until now I’ve always trusted Microsoft to try their best to not screw up my PC. That trust is gone.
I also trusted them not to invade my privacy by sending my info back to their servers. I don’t care if it isn’t “personally identifiable”, I don’t care if it’s “annoymized”, I don’t care if Google, or Apple or anyone else is doing it. It’s wrong (and burying permission in the license doesn’t cut it either). You didn’t do it before, because IT”S WRONG. It’s my info and I don’t want to share it with you, PERIOD.

I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.
Sophocles

Honor?
Microsoft is well aware of the objections so many have raised over this issue. Instead of admitting their mistake, instead of apologizing they went one step further.
Their behavior isn’t just wrong, it’s dishonorable.

Links to some other article on this topic:
Next year’s Windows 10 auto-upgrade is MSFT’s worst idea since Vista
Microsoft will push Windows 10 even harder in 2016 — is the company being a bully?
Beware, Microsoft plans to push Windows 10 on even more Windows 7 and 8 systems

Ways to fight against GWX:
Remove And Block GWX In Windows 7
Destroy Windows Spying
WindowsLies/BlockWindows

The grand principles of virtue and honor, however they may be distorted by arbitrary codes, are the same all the world over: and where these principles are concerned, the right or wrong of any action appears the same to the uncultivated as to the enlightened mind.
Herman Melville