Germany warns: You just can't trust some Windows 8 PCs

[Gary]

Authorities at Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) later clarified that it was the Trusted Computing specs in Windows 8 in conjunction with the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip embedded in the hardware that creates the alleged security issue.

A machine that contains a Trusted Platform Module and runs software adhering to the Trusted Computing specifications is, arguably, under the control of the vendor – in this case Microsoft. It also identifies the machine to the vendor, meaning that users' identities can be linked to their machines as well as their online activities. As Redmond is a US firm, opponents to the protocols argue, users' data is theoretically accessible to US spooks in the National Security Agency via the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as Die Zeit points out.


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/23/nsa_germany_windows_8/

[Technical Ben]

If it's in the hardware now, I'd guess it makes little difference if it's MS OS or not.

[D-Dan]

I agree with Gerrmany, which is why I refuse to use any closed system unless I absolutely have to (work, for example). At least with my system I decide who knows what, and when, rather than a faceless corporation located somewhere else on the globe.

[Gary]

I agree with Gerrmany, which is why I refuse to use any closed system unless I absolutely have to (work, for example). At least with my system I decide who knows what, and when, rather than a faceless corporation located somewhere else on the globe.

I think the NSA might disagree