Windows Vista Privacy Statement
For information about prior releases of Windows Vista, selected software that is part of the operating system, or related services, please refer to Privacy Statements for additional features and services on the right.
For information about specific features, please refer to Supplemental privacy information for Windows Vista features on the right.
View the privacy notice highlights
Last Updated: November 2006
Microsoft is committed to protecting your privacy, while delivering software that brings you the performance, power and convenience you desire in your personal computing. Please read the Windows Vista Privacy Statement below and also any supplemental information listed to the right for additional details about many of the data collection and use practices of Windows Vista, and Microsoft services that you may use.
This disclosure focuses on features that communicate with the Internet and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. It does not apply to other Microsoft sites, services and products.
Collection and use of your personal information
The personal information we collect from you will be used by Microsoft and its controlled subsidiaries and affiliates to provide the service(s) or carry out the transaction(s) you have requested or authorized, and may also be used to request additional information on feedback that you provide about the product or service that you are using; to provide important notifications regarding the software; to improve the product or service, for example bug and survey form inquiries; or to provide you with advance notice of events or to tell you about new product releases.
Except as described in this statement, personal information you provide will not be transferred to third parties without your consent. We occasionally hire other companies to provide limited services on our behalf, such as packaging, sending and delivering purchases and other mailings, answering customer questions about products or services, processing event registration, or performing statistical analysis of our services. We provide those companies the minimum personal information they need to deliver the service, and they are prohibited from using that information for any other purpose.
Microsoft may disclose personal information about you if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) comply with the law or legal process served on Microsoft; (b) protect and defend the rights of Microsoft (including enforcement of our agreements); or (c) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, users of Microsoft software or services, or members of the public.
Personal information collected by Microsoft software, sites and services may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents maintain facilities, and by using Microsoft software, sites or services, you consent to any such transfer of information outside of your country. Microsoft abides by the safe harbor framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of data from the European Union.
Collection and use of information about your computer
Internet enabled features will send information about your computer ("standard computer information") to the websites you visit and web services you use. This information is generally not personally identifiable. Standard computer information typically includes information such as your IP address, operating system version, browser version, your hardware ID which indicates the device manufacturer, device name, and version and your regional and language settings. If a particular feature, software or service sends information to Microsoft, standard computer information will be sent as well. The privacy details for each Windows feature and Microsoft software or service listed here will disclose what additional information is collected and how it is used.
Your choice and control
You can choose whether to use or disable features of Windows Vista that transfer personal information over the Internet. You also can decide what personal information you wish to provide. A variety of controls are also available for features that transfer other types of information over the Internet. To make Windows Vista work better with the Internet, some features that do not collect personal information are turned on by default. You can choose to disable these features. For details about the information collection, uses, and choice provided by a specific feature or related product or service, please click on the link provided in the list on the right.
Security of your information
Microsoft is committed to protecting the security of your information. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. For example, we store the information you provide on computer systems with limited access, which are located in controlled facilities. When we transmit highly confidential information (such as a credit card number or password) over the Internet, we protect it through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol.
Changes to this privacy statement
We will occasionally update this privacy statement to reflect changes in our products and services and customer feedback. When we post changes to this Statement, we will revise the "last updated" date at the top of this statement. If there are material changes to this statement or in how Microsoft will use your personal information, we will notify you either by prominently posting a notice of such changes prior to implementing the change or by directly sending you a notification. We encourage you to periodically review this statement to be informed of how Microsoft is protecting your information.
For more information
Microsoft welcomes your comments regarding this privacy statement. If you have questions about this statement or believe that we have not adhered to it, please contact us by using our web form.
Microsoft Privacy
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington 98052
