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Windows 11 users are tired of MS account requirements creeping into everything

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Re: Windows 11 users are tired of MS account requirements creeping into everything

#241
post #119

I enjoy windows 10 hugely now that it is out of support. It became way better when microsoft started tormenting the users of win11 instead of win10, and now that windows update doesn't bring new catastrophes and unexpected reboot, the OS is finally not interfering with usage anymore.

You are not worried about 0-days and other malware?

From definition, a 0-day is not patched in any system because it's not known. But back to your real question.

The biggest attack vectors are the browser, the mail client and direct network access. I would never use outlook, edge or connect my computer directly without NAT or firewall to the open internet. And would never open a website without a add blocker.

You can count all other known big attacks(on unpatched Windows 7!!!) on one hand.

1) Remote execution via Wifi Stack

2) Remote execution via True Type Fonts

3) 0-Click code execution via USB Stick Icon processing

Windows update instead gives AT LEAST Microsoft a steady remote code execution on your and millions of other computers. It's a really interesting attack target when you go big. Why I should trust M$ to get the security there right?

Re: Windows 11 users are tired of MS account requirements creeping into everything

#243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are not worried about 0-days and other malware?

ESU updates are free for private users. So till november 2026 or so everything is fine. Then I will probably have to switch to Linux.

Only if you accept signing in with a Microsoft account.

Re: Windows 11 users are tired of MS account requirements creeping into everything

#244
post #221

A couple of years ago Microsoft bought the SwiftKey keyboard app (for iOS). Recently the other shoe dropped: they introduced a requirement to be logged in "for data backup", you get a banner on top of the keyboard that cannot be permanently turned off. I am so tired of this relentless user-hostile push for accounts, logins and pervasive tracking.

Apple is very strict about keyboard extensions so I am surprised it is allowed. They require it to be functional even if you don't allow any data sharing back to the app, let alone a cloud account, but I guess banners make it past?

Re: Windows 11 users are tired of MS account requirements creeping into everything

#245

Don't MacOS users all have apple.com accounts? I hear no complains though. BTW, where do I create an account to for my Linux?

It's not really needed at all for macOS, but remains mandatory for even free apps on iPhone/iPad, so yes virtually all users have one. Same goes for free macOS App Store apps but that's not the only or even most common way to install stuff.

Re: Windows 11 users are tired of MS account requirements creeping into everything

#246
Install Windows IoT. It's for internet of things devices and has more strict updating procedures than conventional Windows.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/product-family...

Functionally it's the same and have heard good things. In any case I will be switching to Linux for my gaming Desktop soon. I will still have Windows for the odd multiplayer game that isn't well supported by Proton.

Re: Windows 11 users are tired of MS account requirements creeping into everything

#248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I installed it on a VM the other day, and trust me it was only because my job, which pays me, required it. I couldn't believe it was trying to get me to sign in to a Microsoft account to finish installation. I had to look up some arcane way to skip it. The article I read listed other methods, many of which no longer work so it seems they really want you to log in. Then it was showing me shit like the FTSE 100 price r…

Moving 15 years back puts you into glory Win7 days. IIRC, the spam started with win8 which was released ~13 years ago and was very mild at first

That's an interesting dividing line, and I think also needs to be compared against big companies setting opt-in/out defaults or the "Yes/Maybe later" patterns. What I find curious is that there's been the opportunity for spam for a lot longer, in a way the Win8 live tiles were an evolution of the widgets that first appeared in Vista, and they introduced active wallpaper along with IE4 (or was it Win98?) although that opportunity would have been much less effective as internet availability was much less.
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