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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

#361

Post by account42 »

bpye wrote: post #202
edg5000 wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> if you want to store secrets that don't need a user password to unlock and can't be stolen by taking apart the computer, you need a TPM I had a Win 7 system and just entered a password on boot, this decrypted the disk. It was supported without mods or TPM (maybe some registry tweaks though). On Ubuntu I do the same, no need for TPM. Am I missing something? My disk is encrypted. If they take it apart, they need my p…

> Am I missing something? My disk is encrypted. If they take it apart, they need my password to crack the encryption. You’re not protected from an evil maid attack. An attacker with physical access could make your device boot their own payload to capture your encryption key and install a rootkit.

If your threat model includes evil maid attacks a TMP will not save you. They can just install a physical keylogger and then do whatever they want. The only threat model that a TPM helps with is where the owner of the computer is considered the threat by someone else.

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

#362

Post by account42 »

bob1029 wrote: post #217
repiret wrote: post #41

I agree with all of the articles points except for the first one: TPM and Secure Boot do not reduce user choice or promote state or corporate surveillance. If you want to be able to prevent root kits you need secure boot, and if you want to store secrets that don't need a user password to unlock and can't be stolen by taking apart the computer, you need a TPM; or you need substantially similar alternatives. I would s…

I am starting to see the benefits to secure boot and TPM from a gaming perspective. I realize this can still be tampered with but it eliminates so many casual cheaters that the edge case is practically irrelevant. I don't see how my TPM module will prevent me from using the machine the way I want. The offer of a cryptographic assurance to a 3rd party is something I happily provide in order to gain access to a competi…

Entertainment is the last thing you should give up your freedoms for.

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

#363

Post by subjectivationx »

aleph_minus_one wrote: post #242
AlotOfReading wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't imagine trying to replace MS word with libreoffice for businesses. I respect the project and the complexity of the task, but it's just not there for even light professional use. As an example, I recently submitted a manuscript following standard format [0] with libreoffice. Nothing difficult, just basic professional functionality. The only way to do it involved editing global default page styles (because cust…

> I can't imagine trying to replace MS word with libreoffice for businesses. I respect the project and the complexity of the task, but it's just not there for even light professional use. Exactly. Just work in the finance or insurance industry for a year, and you will see how it is part of the daily workflow to use very obscure, advanced Excel feature combined with VBA. If a proposed Microsoft Office alternative cann…

Totally agree. I would never use windows at home but Excel at work is the main reason to ever use Windows.

I have Libre Calc installed because I am on mint at home and even if it could do everything excel could do, I don't know how to do things the same way. Neither do most people. The personal experience and network effect is insurmountable for other software.

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

#364

Post by cornichon622 »

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…

The difference for me is how much time do I need to spend to tweak the system, and how much frustration will I still experience after tweaking everything I could. I found a Linux distro which suits my needs and desires out of the box, that I can just install and immediately get started doing whatever I need to do. It makes using a computer much more enjoyable.

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

#365

Post by account42 »

LadyCailin wrote: post #289
realusername wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it helps for cheaters, you have cheaters on console and it's even more locked down than that.

Not to mention hardware based cheating that just implements a fully compliant USB mouse, keyboard, and HDMI setup, and DMA like https://www.dma-cheats.com/

I'm sure some jackass is going to suggest cryptographically verifying that you are using peripherals from trusted manufacturers soon.

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

#366

Post by account42 »

amonith wrote: post #238
squigz wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was confused about this because last time I used LibreOffice it wasn't that bad. Turns out, it's really just a normal UI? I guess the biggest difference is it doesn't conform to Microsoft's design but to call it a time capsule is a bit dramatic.

I think by default after fresh install it suggests the "old" layout akin to Office 2000, but you can just select "tabbed ribbon" and then it really isn't half bad.

You know we are living in crazy times when people actually actively ask for the ribbon interface instead of making fun of Microsoft for it. It's one of the worst things ever conceived in UI design.

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

#367

Post by account42 »

aleph_minus_one wrote: post #242
AlotOfReading wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't imagine trying to replace MS word with libreoffice for businesses. I respect the project and the complexity of the task, but it's just not there for even light professional use. As an example, I recently submitted a manuscript following standard format [0] with libreoffice. Nothing difficult, just basic professional functionality. The only way to do it involved editing global default page styles (because cust…

> I can't imagine trying to replace MS word with libreoffice for businesses. I respect the project and the complexity of the task, but it's just not there for even light professional use. Exactly. Just work in the finance or insurance industry for a year, and you will see how it is part of the daily workflow to use very obscure, advanced Excel feature combined with VBA. If a proposed Microsoft Office alternative cann…

You can either complain about how Microsoft is treating or you can keep making excuses and add on requirements until there is no alternative but if you keep doing both you deserve whatever you get.

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

#368

Post by iamnothere »

rolph wrote: post #296
whartung wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They stick the licenses in the back of whatever pack of documents are used during the sale. Heck, print it on the back of the work order in small print with a gray font. On my motorcycle, there’s an option to view the software licenses used on the bike. The GPL is in there somewhere. So are a lot of other things. And, no, during checkout at the dealer, we didn’t spend any time talking about software licenses. As a bu…

ok, so someone makes the license available for end user to read or not, thats one down for providers responsibility. now the next is the nature of linux as a common good, generated by many contributors over some time. is it acceptable for anyone to turn a profit from distributing copies of linux on media, or as a component of a retail unit, for an additional price ? how does that scale up? suppose thousands of ISOs o…

Yes, it is fine. Thousands of companies include GPL’ed software in their products including Red Hat, a big contributor to FOSS. The GPL explicitly allows it. The FSF has said it’s OK as long as you provide the license and a copy of the source code. It’s not an issue.

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

#369

Post by Xss3 »

subjectivationx wrote: post #358
wartywhoa23 wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I switched to Ubuntu 3 years ago and never looked back for a daily driver. The reason Windows (and Microsoft itself) is not 6' deep yet is a relatively small number of commercial creative software like DAWs, graphics suits and CAD modellers. Yes, there's a huge amount of legacy software in CAM, plant control and whatnot, but that can run alright on all those Windows XP and 7 machines like forever. All major software…

I have used linux for 10 years now but I think you just have to view a mac mini as the cost of a hardware synth or a guitar. Then all your problems are solved. At this point, I need a nice gpu on a linux machine and a mac mini. It is a dream setup. I think I booted windows once on my most recent laptop because I messed up booting from the thumb drive to blow it away. Reaper runs incredible on linux for DAW software b…

Jumping into a different walled garden isnt the answer.

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

#370

Post by heavyset_go »

edg5000 wrote: post #173
kjellsbells wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly in small business Microsoft have a lock because no SMB wants to be the awkward outlier whose IT makes them hard to do business with. For example, to be that supplier that whose documents never quite look quite right or who always struggles with the docusign /PDF /email /spreadsheet /whatever whatever. For an SMB, fitting in with the de facto IT herd that is represented by your customers and partners is essentia…

Generally nobody should exchange Office docs anyway, I find it much more professional to exchange PDFs. I use MS arial so my PDFs made with LibreOffice look immaculate on any device. I think people are really shit for being so attached to their stupid office. I could not sell my dad on LibreOffice though. He'd rather pay 100 EUR/yr than learn to use new software.

Ideally they wouldn't, but they do, so you have to meet them where they're at, which is Office.
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