Want a free copy of Windows Vista Ultimate? You’d better leave your privacy at the door, as Microsoft launch an incentive to let them spy on your every move through an invasive feedback program, which tracks everything you do, online or offline for 3 months.

Those who obey, can claim a free copy of Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate 2007, Money Plus Premium, Student with Encarta Premium, and Streets and Trips 2008. Users who yield to this orwellian program will have to fill out surveys at 2 week intervals, as well as having their daily usage tracked.

Looks like Microsoft are pulling out all the stops to get this information, and are counting on windows users to give up potentially sensitive information for a free gift.

What’s troubling about this, is that Microsoft reserves the right to collect personally identifyable information, such as your name, gender, email address, city, ZIP code, browsing and usage habits, and will pass this information on to third parties and affiliates including those in foreign countries, which are governed by privacy laws set out by the European Union among others. What’s more, once sent you will only have access to certain parts of that data.

For anyone who values free software over free will, you can sign up here.. http://wfp.microsoft.com/

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