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Don't tell people to turn off Windows Update

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Re: Don't tell people to turn off Windows Update

#281

Post by a2decrow »

kbart wrote: post #169
dandare wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are probably right. In that case could not the president issue an executive order asking NSA to use the hack to protect everyone?

NSA doesn't have legal power outside USA. That still would be illegal hacking with potential political and/or legal backlash. I understand what you mean, but that's grey area at best.

They don't have any legal authority to spy on everyone either. Didn't stop them and after it went public, did anything meaningful happen about it?

Our German chancellor, Angela Merkel, went from "this is unacceptable and can't happen under any circumstances and there will be repercussions" to "please don't do it" after the Snowden leaks went public.

There is little political backslash and no legal one. The spy agencies (NSA, CIA, GSHQ, BND, #insertanotherhere) do whatever they want with little to no oversight. And if the public finds out about it, the first move is to legalize it by law and continue as before.

Re: Don't tell people to turn off Windows Update

#282

Post by danielbln »

vocatus_gate wrote: post #139
CydeWeys wrote: post #4

I love the way he's compared the people who tell you to turn off auto-updates with anti-vaxxers; it's quite an apt analogy. Microsoft shares part of the blame here for pushing features that the user clearly doesn't want through updates (especially to the major OS version). Look at the recent ads in Windows file explorer for one example. A lot of the advice to turn Windows Update off is a misguided response to Microso…

No. "Some of the blame"? Try "all of the blame." Windows Updates used to be pro-user. Now they're pro-Microsoft (pushing things Microsoft wants) and anti-user (routinely pushing 'features' no one wants or asked for). I disabled it a long time ago and haven't looked back. Get back to me when MS starts remembering their customers are human beings again.

Last year my Windows 10 box decided to just restart to apply updates. Problem is, I was still using the machine and was strapped into VR gear. Suffice to say I was not pleased.

Re: Don't tell people to turn off Windows Update

#283

Post by Declanomous »

viraptor wrote: post #176
noja wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I love the way he's compared the people who tell you to turn off auto-updates with anti-vaxxers; it's quite an apt analogy. This is a good analogy, but does it work in different circumstances? (Apologies for the derail) Over on Android , the apps have got so big (and the storage was until recently so small) that automatic updates _cannot_ be installed - the new apps are too big, the phone is full. What do we do the…

You're generalising over a whole bunch of devices with different specs. Sure, there was a problem with updates on the 8gb devices. But that was few hardware cycles ago, around 2.3. Now, those devices are around 1% usage, mostly have dead batteries and other components and it's hard to find a new Android device which lacks space for upgrades. What to do? Upgrade the hardware. It's not supported anyway. Modern Android…

I have this problem with a 16 GB flagship. Android alone uses 6.50 GB of my storage. I'm on Android 6.0.

Apps take up 6.32 GB of storage on my phone. The remaining space is taken up by the app cache. This isn't useless information like you'd expect, but it turns out it is data that is vital to the operation of my apps. I clear it fairly often, but it fills right back up again within a day.

Luckily I have an SD card slot, so I have space on my phone, but Google does not like expandable storage. Probably because they are a cloud organization or something.

I personally like to stay on a fairly new phone, but I think it is stupid that your phone can become obsolete within a few years. If the radios are still compatible with the cell towers, manufacturers should be obligated to support them. If you can't support your phones, don't churn out so many crappy phones.

I know times are different, but I used a Motorola Razr V3 from 2004 to 2011. It worked just fine for the entire time. Obviously internet sucked, but I was going to school in a place where the internet barely worked anyways.

If you just want a phone for texting, calling, and maybe as a GPS here and there, there is no good reason to buy a new phone other than planned obsolescence.

Re: Don't tell people to turn off Windows Update

#284

Post by pritambaral »

II2II wrote: post #261
noja wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I love the way he's compared the people who tell you to turn off auto-updates with anti-vaxxers; it's quite an apt analogy. This is a good analogy, but does it work in different circumstances? (Apologies for the derail) Over on Android , the apps have got so big (and the storage was until recently so small) that automatic updates _cannot_ be installed - the new apps are too big, the phone is full. What do we do the…

A more accurate analogy would be going to the doctor to get vaccinated, only to discover that it comes with a dental checkup and cleaning. Some people are going to love that. Others are going to wonder why they got something that they did not ask for. A few are going to become paranoid and claim that the doctor also injected a brainwashing drug (even if there is no grounds for their claim). Microsoft needs to deliver…

"dental checkup and cleaning" sounds much more benign than "multi-GB download of an entirely different OS"

Re: Don't tell people to turn off Windows Update

#285

Post by jondubois »

I disagree with the article. I think it's better to get hacked once every 2 years than to suffer through 2 years of Windows updates. The updates that Microsoft considers urgent are actually not urgent at all; most security issues typically affect a limited subset of users.

Re: Don't tell people to turn off Windows Update

#286

Post by bigbugbag »

jorams wrote: post #110

In recent years, Microsoft has been pushing automatic updates more and more. At the same time, the updating experience just hasn't gotten any better. My Linux install never urges me to update. Updates come out many times a day, and I can ignore them entirely for as long as I want. My Windows install continually urges me to update. It makes them increasingly hard to ignore, to make sure I install them. The idea behind…

> Browsers these days install updates without even asking the user, and complaints about that are rare.

Until the browser decide to break something you used (see firefox and alsa support on linux, or firefox and australis, or firefox the upcoming drop of non web extension extensions, ...). Automatic update should be limited to critical security and not significantly alter or break user experience.

> Meanwhile, every time I update my Linux installations, it's painless.

You're lucky you did not have to deal with upgrading ubuntu, or linux mint update packs, or used a distro like sidux, or have been hit by a systemd bug preventing the system from booting making evident that systemd also broke the emergency shell used to fix things. Updating a linux system is usually less painful than a windows one, but it is not as flawless as your experience paints it. With the advent of systemd it is now more windows like requiring reboot and tightly coupled versions.

Re: Don't tell people to turn off Windows Update

#287

Post by a2decrow »

ebiester wrote: post #265
a2decrow wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But they don't. Autism is the product of having a differently wired brain than a non-autist does. It's something you're born with, not something you can get later. Certain medications used by pregnant women can result in children being autistic, but I seriously doubt that this extends to any vaccines as well. Perhaps some really exotic ones maybe, but common vaccination definitely not. Source: I am autistic, read up…

That's a mistranslation of the above post. The poster intended to say that Microsoft's updates can be legitimately harmful whereas modern vaccines aren't.

Thanks for pointing it out.

It's one of the downsides of autism that understanding the intent of other people can be hard or impossible, so I'm always grateful for hints like that.

Re: Don't tell people to turn off Windows Update

#290

Post by Declanomous »

simias wrote: post #211
viraptor wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your last paragraph is confusing. It seems those people rely on your support. Are you really saying you'd rather deal with potential results of them not upgrading than with the upgrade failures? I'm assuming that if they come to you with one, the also do with the other.

Well it's just that one position is more comfortable than the other. If they don't update and have an issue then it's on them. If I insist they turn on Windows update and then something goes wrong then it's on me. It's a bit cowardly but as a Linux/BSD guy I just can't stand doing Windows support anymore. Every version is worse than the last, everything is dumbed down to the max and when something goes wrong you're s…

The best part about not using Windows outside of work is that I can now legitimately tell 99% of the people I know that I don't know how to use their system (Windows or OS X).

You don't get free service from lawyers, accountants, doctors, or mechanics, I don't see why people expect free help from me. I used to help people, but I've realized how limited my free time is, and I prefer not to spend time doing work-like activities outside of work.

I will direct people to the appropriate resource if they ask for advice though.

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