Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 Privacy Statement
Windows 8
Last updated: August 2012.
In this page
Your information
Your choices
Uses of information
How to contact us
These highlights of the full Windows 8 and
Windows Server 2012 Privacy Statement (“Windows Privacy Statement”)
explain at a high level some of the data collection and use
practices of Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 (“Windows”). They
focus on features that communicate with the Internet and aren't
intended to be an exhaustive description. They don't apply to other
online or offline Microsoft sites, products, or services.
This privacy statement has four sections:
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Highlights (this page)
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Statement, which is the full Windows Privacy Statement that includes links for Windows features that have their own standalone statements
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Features Supplement, which describes the features that have privacy impact in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
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Server Supplement, which describes the additional features that have privacy impact in Windows Server 2012
For more information on how to help protect your personal computer, your personal information, and your family online, visit our Safety and Security Center.
Your information
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Certain Windows features may ask you for permission to collect or use information from your PC, including personal information. Windows uses this information as outlined in the full Windows Privacy Statement, as well as in the Features Supplement and the Server Supplement.
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Some Windows features can, with your permission, share personal information over the Internet.
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If you choose to register your software, you'll be asked to provide personal information.
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Windows requires activation to reduce software piracy and help ensure that our customers receive the software quality they expect. Activation sends some information about your PC to Microsoft.
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You can choose to sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account, which lets you sync Windows settings and automatically sign in to apps and websites. When you create a Microsoft account, you’ll be asked to provide some personal information.
Your choices
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Windows offers you a variety of ways to control how Windows features transfer information over the Internet. More information about how to control these features is in the Features Supplement and the Server Supplement.
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To help improve your experience, some features that use the Internet are turned on by default.
Uses of information
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We use the information collected to enable the features you're using or provide the services you request. We also use it to improve our products and services. In order to help provide our services, we occasionally provide information to other companies that work on our behalf. Only companies who have a business need to use the information are provided access to them. These companies are required to keep this information confidential and are prohibited from using it for any other purpose.
For more information about our privacy practices, go to the full Windows Privacy Statement. Or, you can write to us using our web form.