I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC • Hacker News Board

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#271

Post by ad404b8a372f2b9 » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:38 PM UTC

xyst wrote: post #249

Haven’t used Windows as a main driver for awhile. Windows XP (and maybe Windows 7 after a few updates) was the last usable update for me. The only reason I keep a Windows 10 license is for the occasional gaming session on a custom build pc. Some commenters report heavy dark patterns when trying to create a local account, but the experience is somewhat less burdensome on the “Pro” edition of Windows 10. If I recall co…

Same, Windows 7 was still usable for me but after I found out they reactivated telemetry behind my back in an update I gave up all Microsoft products for good.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#272

Post by toyg » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:39 PM UTC

nix23 wrote: post #247

alpaca128 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft really is one of the worst examples in the dark pattern department that I've ever seen. Same with their email service, where you can register an account without issues and after a few weeks of use I was presented with an unskippable input field for my phone number. Don't want to give MS your phone number? Too bad, better hope you don't need those emails anymore.

I really don't get it. Microsoft has an OS and a Cloud (Azure and Windows) and make pretty much good money with it, but both have a great need for privacy. I really don't get what Microsoft is thinking.

Microsoft is thinking that Apple somehow manages to have billions of people creating "iTunes" accounts, and they don't, and what the hell, John, why don't WE get all that sweet data and them big account numbers, can't we do what they do? Sure, Bob, but some people will get upse--Screw them, John! what they gonna do, move to Apple and pay more get the same treatment? Just fix the damn process, John, I want those account numbers up 300% by Q3.

...Alright Bob, you're the boss.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#273

Post by BLKNSLVR » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:39 PM UTC

scrooched_moose wrote: post #230

83457 wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know no internet connection used to be solution, but I thought there was an option to bypass the ms account requirement during setup for the last couple years?

Its slowly became harder from update to update over the last couple years of updates, and completely removed under normal circumstances in one of the last major updates. AFAIK leaving the ethernet unplugged is the only way to do it now.

I did it recently by accident. When it asked for an email address I entered fuck@off.com with the C word as the password.

This obviously failed as a legitimate Microsoft login, but it did, very handily, offer the option to create a local account instead.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#274

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:40 PM UTC

HumblyTossed wrote: post #269

> I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC Yes, you will. Eventually. They'll continue to beat you down until you submit. Because, here's the secret. Even though you built the machine from the ground up, hand selecting all the parts, once you install Windows, the machine belongs to Microsoft. No, really, it does. They certainly think so. And they're a rich powerful organization, so it must be so.

[deleted]

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#275

Post by Macha » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:42 PM UTC

spywaregorilla wrote: post #142

Can some explain what's wrong with setting up a microsoft account on a random email? It seems to me there are no differences in telemetry concerns vs. what exists currently.

Now you have a cloud dependency to access your local files

- What happens if your Microsoft account gets blocked (rightfully or wrongfully)?

- What happens if the next Windows update, Microsoft "helpfully" activates onedrive sync of your folders by default and exfiltrates your data? (HTC did this to me before with their Sense UI).

- Maybe the latter leads to the folder if OneDrive syncs some copyrighted data to their service they think you're pirating?

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#276

Post by blumomo » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:43 PM UTC

There is this strange patent registered by Microsoft Technologies [1] which mines human body/bio activity into a crypto currency. From what I understand, it can measure your energetic flow when you are exposed to certain ads/applications/Blue Screens/etc. ;-) I am sure it gives are very detail of your inner workings (psyche?) to Microsoft.

"Body activity data may be generated based on the sensed body activity of the user. The cryptocurrency system communicatively coupled to the device of the user may verify if the body activity data satisfies one or more conditions set by the cryptocurrency system, and award cryptocurrency to the user whose body activity data is verified."

I guess this mining technology requires the mining user/body to be connected to the internet, hence this move by Microsoft to require an active online account facilitates to role out this patent technology.

[1] https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO20...

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#277

Post by croes » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:43 PM UTC

dzdt wrote: post #200

GuB-42 wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google does that too.

Twitter also. You can create an account without a phone number but in about 2 weeks it is locked unless you supply and verify one.

My Twitter account got locked in about a minute.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#278

Post by BLKNSLVR » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:43 PM UTC

HumblyTossed wrote: post #269

> I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC Yes, you will. Eventually. They'll continue to beat you down until you submit. Because, here's the secret. Even though you built the machine from the ground up, hand selecting all the parts, once you install Windows, the machine belongs to Microsoft. No, really, it does. They certainly think so. And they're a rich powerful organization, so it must be so.

Windows isn't anywhere near as ubiquitous as it used to be. Once W11 requires a MS login I'm not installing it for any friends or family - they're getting on the Linux express or working it out themselves.

I won't be party to this BS, this isn't the future I wanted to facilitate.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#279

Post by pansa2 » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:43 PM UTC

dzdt wrote: post #200

GuB-42 wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google does that too.

Twitter also. You can create an account without a phone number but in about 2 weeks it is locked unless you supply and verify one.

Facebook does exactly the same.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#280

Post by FridayoLeary » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 1:44 PM UTC

Nasty as these dark patterns that make you create a MS account are, it's not like we haven't moved forward. I don't really see the same amount of horrendous, unnecessary bloatware like i used to. It wasn't like it was perfect 15 or 20 years ago.