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OK, I've just downloaded and started installing the OneDrive app on a Weven machine, and I've reached a page that says "Fetch your files from anywhere".
This gives me the option to "Let me use OneDrive to fetch any of my files on this PC".
Now, hold on. I want this app to govern a single directory, the OneDrive directory, not to have access to every file on the machine.
Note that that means "I do not want Microsoft's cloud service to have access to every file on my computer."
But this option is a simple Boolean toggle -- to "Let me" or not "Let me". No huge grinding of discs happens if I change it, so there are no permission changes, or the like.
So Onedrive is using the permissions inherent in my log-in to the machine to give itself access to all files on the machine, and the only thing that changes if I tick or untick the "Let me" box is My permission to access my files!
Whether or not I am allowed to access my files on my machine, Microsoft's cloud services have access to every file on the device. This is probably also true of all the the files on my phone and tablets.
Now, I know that Microsoft is a big US corporation, so is therefore completely trustworthy and has only my best interests at heart, but I think it likely that I will be removing OneDrive from every device I own.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Time ago someone here recommended me to use BitTorrentSync, I've used it for several purposes and it works very well, the idea of that software is that you spread your files across multiple devices (all yours usually) and no cloud is involved... Dunno if you already knew it, but if not it's worth taking a look into it.
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Joan Murt wrote: Dunno if you already knew it
I'd heard of it, but didn't realise it was quite so useful. Nice one.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Weird, my OneDrive installation only works from a root OneDrive folder. Anything outside of that shouldn't be included AFAIK?
EDIT: I'll point out that all my Windows machines are Windows 8.1 so OneDrive was already pre-installed as part of the OS, so I didn't get taken through a bunch of configuration screens 
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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If you go to the settings dialog, you'll find the option. I doubt that switching it off will remove MS's "permission" to access your files, though; it'll just stop you being able to access them remotely.
I find it quite disgusting the way the option is described here[^].
They should clearly state what access rights the program gives itself (or inherits). This is actually worse than the dirty tricks adobe pulls.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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From that site: "You can use a Mac to fetch files that are on a computer running Windows, but you can't fetch files that are on a Mac."
That's one of my machines covered, but it is disturbing to think about what could happen if (when?) they're hacked.
I guess it must have some special (hidden?) permission to read/write files? They can't have given it full admin rights, can they? 
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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The only thing I can think of is that they inherit the rights of the logged-in user -- so if you've got admin rights on your machine, so does MS.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Yes it looks like that as they can access network mapped drives too.
It's better than OneDrive having full admin rights, but it still seems like a risk if their side is hacked.
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Brent Jenkins wrote: they can access network mapped drives too.
I wonder how admins are aware that that is the case?
One employee installs OneDrive, and the whole company's Intranet is available to an outside agency.
That makes this pretty much the biggest security story in years.
I've installed DropBox and Google Drive on several work machines, over the years. I'm bluddy glad I never installed OneDrive.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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It's not entirely clear, I agree.
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Either play the game, or stop using computers and anything internet.
I agree with your concerns for privacy and such and anti-big tech companies, but come on, you know the drill.
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If they want to cause a bit of inconvenience, in order to check that people are using files that they've paid for/are allowed to use, fine -- as long as it's not too much of an inconvenience.
But if they decide that they have the right to access files that I have created, without asking me for permission to access those files, then MS and I have a problem.
It's a great way of getting the jump on the competition, too. If they can see all the code that is being written by everyone who uses OneDrive, they can claim copyright to all manner of things, and/or use their muscle to get the same products out quicker.
But of course, they'd never use insider information to kill competition, would they?
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Let me sum it up for you:
1. You use OS made by Microsoft that by definition has access to all "your" files.
2. It is usually preinstalled with antivirus made by Microsoft that actively accesses all "your" files.
3. Your machine runs dozens of background processes (most made by Microsoft) at system privilege that access all "your" files.
(most of 1-3 use also network for various purposes)
4. You install ONE more app made by Microsoft that ASK you if YOU want to access "your" files also from other devices.
What makes you think that mere checkbox at step 4 makes any difference in trust you have already shown?
If you are concerned what, when and how access any files on your machine write your own OS. Unless you at least can deeply understand every single line of linux kernel there is no other way.
--
"My software never has bugs. It just develops random features."
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Deflinek wrote: 1. You use OS made by Microsoft that by definition has access to all "your" files.
Locally, and in plain view. They cannot move my files across the Internet without my express permission.
Deflinek wrote: 2. It is usually preinstalled with antivirus made by Microsoft that actively accesses all "your" files.
Locally, and in plain view. They cannot do anything at all with my files without my express permission.
Deflinek wrote: 3. Your machine runs dozens of background processes (most made by Microsoft) at system privilege that access all "your" files. (most of 1-3 use also network for various purposes)
None of these can move my files across the Internet without my express permission.
I think you're missing a simple point, here.
OneDrive is a cloud-based service that moves your files across the Internet, and copies them to wherever it feels like copying them.
At no time does it ask if it may touch any files other than those which you expressly insert into the OneDrive service, and it particularly makes no mention of the fact that it can stealthily copy such files across the Internet.
You only find out that it is accessing All Of Your Files is when it asks you if you want it to let you look at its copies of your files.
That's why you don't hear so many complaints from the NSA, any more. Microsoft allows them access to data on their US servers, so they already have unrestricted access to every file on every device that uses OneDrive.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Mark_Wallace wrote: That's why you don't hear so many complaints from the NSA, any more. Microsoft allows them access to data on their US servers, so they already have unrestricted access to every file on every device that uses OneDrive.
Call me naive here, but wouldn't they only have the files that you'd placed in your OneDrive folder.
The fetch functionality looks like it reads the requested files (and I'd assume a list of sub-folders/files) at the time when they're needed?
Government agencies (or hackers) could still access your files remotely though with the credentials stored at Microsoft, providing your machine is switched on and connected to the internet.
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Brent Jenkins wrote: at the time when they're needed
That's what we need defined.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Don't take me that serious My intention was to reply to your concerns whenever to trust Microsoft for accessing files over network.
Mark_Wallace wrote: Locally, and in plain view. They cannot do anything at all with my files without my express permission.
Actually they can but choose not to without your permission.
Don't expect azure backup of your entire HD after you agree to use that feature. It will let you browse and download files on demand in case you want access but forgot to put it to OneDrive folder.
I prefer more control about what is accessible from network so I would never turn it on, but I can see how it may be desired for some people.
On the other hand if anyone would like to spy on your files then asking you for permission to do so would be just silly
--
"My software never has bugs. It just develops random features."
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Deflinek wrote: Actually they can but choose not to without your permission.
Because if they did, they would be uninstalled globally, and condemned by every sys-admin guy on the planet.
Deflinek wrote: It will let you browse and download files
Not just "you"; anyone with access to the OneDrive servers (which are obviously completely unhackable).
The only persion they seem to be willing to prevent getting remote access to your files is you.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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...on which version of VS we use, and I answered 2010, because I haven't needed any of the extras in 2012 or 2013, don't run "real work" on betas, and didn't want the SHOUTY MENU or Dark Side interface.
A customer calls up and says "can you look at this code we had written for us? There are a couple of bugs, and we can't contact the guy who wrote it." Of course I will! (Time is Money, after all!  )
It's in VS2013 isn't it...care to guess what I was downloading and installing overnight?
Yep: VS 2013 community edition. 
OK, time to change the vote. Assuming it ever finishes "getting things ready, thanks for your patience" that is.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Welcome to the club...
SHOUTING MENU - Tools/Options/Environment/Turn off upper case in the menu bar
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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That will have to wait until it finishes "getting things ready", if it ever does.
I'm assuming this doesn't happen every single time you start the damn thing!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Download, install and first run is painfully long, but after that 2013 and 2015 loads much faster than older versions...Microsoft added a background extension/solution loader that makes it happen...
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter wrote: first run is painfully long,
Just how painful?
I ask, because it is still "getting things ready" two hours later... 
Perhaps "Thanks for your patience." needs a couple of extra words: "incredible" is one which springs to mind.
What the heck is it doing? it's using CPU and memory (but only about 5% CPU) and no I/O I can see. Oh well, let's see if it ever finishes...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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I remember that there was a problem with update 4 - you may find the thread about it, it was in the lounge...
Two hours is definitely wrong!
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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ALT+TAB?
ALT+TAB!
Two bl**dy hours because it hid the sign in dialog behind Chrome? I'll kill the stupid **4%$£ ^7^% &*^^ing %$^£" Elephanting sunshine who wrote that ^&*%$ !
Ooo....and breathe...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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