Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant and Windows 8 Setup privacy statement

Upon launch of Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant or Windows 8 Setup, we check to see if there are any updates available to ensure you are running and downloading the most up-to-date version. If updates are found, we automatically download and install them on your PC. The types of updates that can be downloaded include:

Installation updates
Important software updates for installation files to help ensure a successful installation.

In-box driver updates
Important driver updates for the version of Windows that you are installing.

When determining compatibility in Upgrade Assistant, we collect certain information about your potential upgrade experience, such as the capabilities of your computer hardware, the devices connected to your computer, and the programs installed on your computer. Occasionally, program publisher information might contain information such as the publisher’s name or publisher’s email address.

We send information regarding your currently installed version of Windows to Arvato Digital Services, LLC ("Arvato"), in order to recommend an edition of Windows 8 to purchase in Upgrade Assistant or download in Setup. Arvato is a third-party company who hosts the electronic product catalog and purchase experiences for Upgrade Assistant and Windows 8 Setup. In order to recommend an edition of Windows 8 for purchase some information will be sent to Arvato including:

If you choose to purchase, all of the billing information will be collected and processed by Arvato, the seller of record for this program.

The information we collect from you will be used by Microsoft and its controlled subsidiaries and affiliates to enable the features you are using and provide the service(s) or carry out the transaction(s) you have requested or authorized. Specifically, we use the information collected to determine the right drivers for your PC and to determine compatibility of your PC, programs, and devices with Windows 8. Arvato uses the information to determine which edition of Windows 8 to recommend for purchase in Upgrade Assistant or download in Setup. This information is also aggregated for statistical analysis. It may also be used to analyze and improve Microsoft products and services. If you purchase Windows 8 in Upgrade Assistant, all of the billing information will be collected and processed by Arvato, the seller of record for this program. Your billing contact information (such as billing address, phone number and email) may be provided to Microsoft for customer support purposes; your full credit card number will not be.

In order to offer you a more consistent and personalized experience in your interactions with Microsoft, information collected through one Microsoft service may be combined with information obtained through other Microsoft services. We may also supplement the information we collect with information obtained from other companies. For example, we may use services from other companies that enable us to derive a general geographic area based on your IP address in order to customize certain services to your geographic area.

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 answering customer questions about products or services or performing statistical analysis of our services. We will only provide those companies the personal information they need to deliver the service, and they are prohibited from using that information for any other purpose.

Microsoft may access or disclose information about you, including the content of your communications, in order to: (a) comply with the law or respond to lawful requests or legal process; (b) protect the rights or property of Microsoft or our customers, including the enforcement of our agreements or policies governing your use of the services; or (c) act on a good faith belief that such access or disclosure is necessary to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, customers, or the public. We may also disclose personal information as part of a corporate transaction such as a merger or sale of assets.

Information that is collected by or sent to Microsoft by Upgrade Assistant or Setup may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries, or service providers maintain facilities. 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, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland.

When you use software with Internet enabled features, information about your computer ("standard computer information") is sent to the websites you visit and online services you use. Microsoft uses standard computer information to provide you Internet enabled services, to help improve our products and services, and for statistical analysis. Standard computer information typically includes information such as your IP address, operating system version, browser version, and regional and language settings. In some cases, standard computer information may also include hardware ID, which indicates the device manufacturer, device name, and version. If a particular feature or service sends information to Microsoft, standard computer information will be sent as well.

When you run Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant or Windows 8 Setup from the web, the information described above will be sent to Microsoft and Arvato. Additionally, if you choose to purchase Windows 8, your billing information will be collected by Arvato.

Microsoft is committed to helping protect 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.

We will occasionally update this privacy statement to reflect changes in our products, services, and customer feedback. When we post changes, 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 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.