Windows 10 could ‘out’ you to parents

Young people using Windows 10 could be at risk of being “outed” to their parents after visiting LGBT support websites, users have warned.

The new operating system’s “activity reports” feature is enabled by default for users who have set up registered family accounts.

Windows 10 was rolled out last month as a free upgrade for users of Windows XP, 7 and 8 and allows parents to create accounts with controls for their children. Windows will email a comprehensive report to parents on a weekly basis detailing the websites their child visited, which apps they used and how many hours per day they spent on the PC.

Parents will be privy to the browsing histories of their children even if users try to clear them or browse anonymously.

The feature also flags up search terms and blocked content that users tried to access.

Members of the LGBT community have warned that the feature – which could reveal young people’s sexual fantasies to their parents – may be dangerous as well as embarrassing.

A Microsoft spokeswoman said the feature was introduced to help parents keep their children safe online.

“Customers can adjust their Windows 10 privacy settings at any time,” she added.

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