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Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

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Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#271

Post by buccal »

jpk2f2 wrote: post #181
koyote wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some things that any semi-power user will notice and get angry at: * Needing internet and a microsoft account to install the OS * Start menu now requiring two clicks to get to programs list * Right-click requiring two clicks to get to the options you most likely want to use (e.g. 7z unzip or opening in a specific program) * Task manager being slow and laggy * Random ads asking you to install a game pop up in the noti…

I largely agree with your points, but in this context - * A microsoft account is only needed for Windows 11 Home. A "semi-power user" is hopefully not using that edition of Windows... * I'm also greatly annoyed by the right click - but holding shift when right-clicking opens the expected menu, removing the extra click requirement. Some of my own annoyances though: * The taskbar/windows button seems to just...crash...…

> * A microsoft account is only needed for Windows 11 Home. A "semi-power user" is hopefully not using that edition of Windows...

Both Home and Pro require Microsoft account to install and start using. Then you can create local only users in both editions and delete user joined to Microsoft account. This is standard operation even in OEM installs.

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#272

Post by mschuster91 »

silisili wrote: post #185
koyote wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some things that any semi-power user will notice and get angry at: * Needing internet and a microsoft account to install the OS * Start menu now requiring two clicks to get to programs list * Right-click requiring two clicks to get to the options you most likely want to use (e.g. 7z unzip or opening in a specific program) * Task manager being slow and laggy * Random ads asking you to install a game pop up in the noti…

Oh goodness yes. I was forced from Linux to W11 Pro for my new job. Use wsl2 they said, it'll be fine. And wsl2 is mostly fine. But that doesn't stop the rest of the OS from being a dumpster fire. Why is it asking me to install or play Xbox games constantly? It feels like I have malware...

> Why is it asking me to install or play Xbox games constantly?

Because Microsoft got too large and some manager of Xbox pressured the Windows team to allow such notification to boost up their KPIs (games installed, game hours played).

Telemetry and KPIs are the single worst combination of bullshit that has happened to the entire IT industry.

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#273

Post by chrneu »

jpk2f2 wrote: post #181
koyote wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some things that any semi-power user will notice and get angry at: * Needing internet and a microsoft account to install the OS * Start menu now requiring two clicks to get to programs list * Right-click requiring two clicks to get to the options you most likely want to use (e.g. 7z unzip or opening in a specific program) * Task manager being slow and laggy * Random ads asking you to install a game pop up in the noti…

I largely agree with your points, but in this context - * A microsoft account is only needed for Windows 11 Home. A "semi-power user" is hopefully not using that edition of Windows... * I'm also greatly annoyed by the right click - but holding shift when right-clicking opens the expected menu, removing the extra click requirement. Some of my own annoyances though: * The taskbar/windows button seems to just...crash...…

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Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#274

Post by chrneu »

BLKNSLVR wrote: post #133
socalgal2 wrote: post #117

I'm sure I will regret this, something will change and I'll be "F.U. Win11!". But, I'm on Windows 11 Pro (upgraded from Windows 10 Pro) and I have barely noticed a difference. Maybe because it's Windows Pro, not Home? Maybe because I have 2 profiles. The one I used to install it which required a microsoft account, and a separate, local only account which is the one I use always. I can't remember the last time I had t…

It just sounds as if you haven't reached whatever your capacity is for "having to setup the OS to get out of your way". And that's a personal choice for everyone. Windows 10 eventually breached my capacity due to the number of defaults I had to change post installation, and then often, again, post-patch/update. This was very soon after Windows 10 was released, and I already didn't like Windows 8's hybrid monstrosity…

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Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#275

Post by jasomill »

Ferret7446 wrote: post #219
AnthonyMouse wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So what happens when they use their physical access to turn off secure boot or just replace the component/device with one that looks the same, prompts for your password and sends it to them?

There is no password. The machine will fail to boot and decrypt you hard drive.

So don't turn off secure boot. Replace the target machine with an identical decoy machine set up to capture whatever credentials are required to log in to the machine once BitLocker auto-unlocks, then use these to log in to Windows on the original machine and steal any encrypted data accessible by the user who logs in.

This would be more difficult to pull off in the presence of non-password security like a hardware token, as you'd need to forward the actual login UI to the decoy machine, but still not terribly difficult if the login UI will display on an externally-connected monitor and accept input from an externally-connected keyboard and pointing device, and the hardware security device connects via an external interface like USB.

Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#276

Post by chrneu »

csomar wrote: post #218
thevillagechief wrote: post #38

Funny seeing this here at the exact moment my frustration has boiled over with windows. I'm just completely baffled at the hostility and disdain Microsoft is showing it's customers. These issues are on top of just the disregard that people actually use these products for work and business so force-updating and breaking them so often, just so they can re-force you to accept their surveillance bloatware. My feeling tod…

The camel's back is already broken, it just so happens that changing OSs is very hard. MSFT has a leak; once they lose a customer, and that customer has figured out alternatives, they are never getting them back. See this for all OSs/platforms: https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share#monthly-200901-20... See this for Desktop OSs: https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide... They are on a slow de…

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Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#277

Post by chrneu »

pjmlp wrote: post #266

Another "everyone will migrate in droves to Linux" article that keeps poping up a Windows version ends, since Windows XP days, yet even Valve was forced to translate Win32 APIs to actually have games for the Steam Deck, after how Steam Machines went down. General public won't care until they can buy laptops with GNU/Linux on their favourite shopping mall PC store. As it stands today they are more likely to buy an iPa…

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Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#278

Post by chrneu »

wackget wrote: post #136

This will only work if the customers have a considerable amount of experience with computers already. For the vast majority of people, Linux is going to present insurmountable challenges which will only lead to serious frustration. I say this as someone who uses Linux daily. It's simply not ready for mass exposure. The second a layman wants to do anything remotely custom with it, they are going to struggle.

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Re: Retiring Windows 10 and Microsoft's move towards a surveillance state

#280

Post by cam_l »

rixed wrote: post #220
cam_l wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I honestly have only come across one company that is app only. That was because I was with them when they changed over, otherwise I would never have signed up. This was my local gym which sacked their front desk staff and moved to app access only, and with an app infested with trackers at that. Needless to say I don't go to that gym anymore.

Want another exemple as fresh as yesterday? I'm on a move, had to pay some transport company to move some stuff for me, pick-up date tomorrow. Paid online, website asked for a confirmation from my bank's app (N26), fair enough. Opened the app, just to be greated with "Please Update. The latest app version includes new features, enhancements and stability improvements" with the only choice: "Update now". Being confron…

Beautifully said!

I must just have a sixth sense to avoid those kinds of services. And I also have a zero tolerance policy. For example, if a restaurant says I have to order on my phone, I stand up and go to leave. I am old enough now they probably just assume I am technologically illiterate.

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