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Windows 10 Privacy Changes Appease Watchdogs, But Still No Data 'Off-Switch' (zdnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the why-no-off-switch dept.

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced several privacy changes in Windows 10, but it didn't give users an option to completely opt-out of data-collection feature. The announcement came at a time to coincide with a statement by the Swiss data protection and privacy regulator, the FDPIC, which last week said it would drop its threats of a lawsuit after the company "agreed to implement" a string of recommendations it made last year. The news closed the books on an investigation that began in 2015, shortly after Windows 10 was released. Though the Swiss appear satisfied, other critics are waiting for more. The French data protection watchdog, the CNIL, was equally unimpressed by Microsoft's actions, and it served the company with a notice in July to demand that it clean up its privacy settings. In an email, the CNIL said that the changes "seem to comply" with its complaint, but it's "now analyzing more in [sic] details Microsoft answers in order to know whether all the failures underlined in the formal notice do now comply with the law." ZDNet adds: Microsoft still hasn't said exactly what gets collected as part of the basic level of collection, except that the data is used to improve its software and services down the line; a reasonable ask -- but one that nonetheless lacks specifics. Microsoft said it wants users to "trust" it. And while the likelihood that the company is doing anything nefarious with users' information is frankly unlikely, the running risk is that the data could somehow be turned over to a government agency or even stolen by hackers is inescapable. That risk alone is enough for many to want to keep what's on their computer in their homes. While changing the privacy controls is a move in the right direction, it's still short of what many have called for. By ignoring the biggest privacy complaint from its consumer users -- the ability to switch off data collection altogether -- Microsoft has favored the "just enough" approach to appease the regulators. Without a way to truly opt-out, Microsoft's repeated pledge (eight times in the blog post, no less) to give its users "control" of their data comes off as a hollow soundbite.

211 comments

  1. What gets collected by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    what ever the NSA or their EU equivalent asks for and more just in case they need to ask for more in the future.
    stop using windows if you want any semblance of privacy.
     

  2. Trust? by ilsaloving · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Apparently Microsoft uses the word "Trust" in the same way Apple uses the word "Courage". I still haven't figured out what either one means... only that neither correspond to what's in the dictionary.

    1. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trust as in it relates to government control (see skype for illustration)
      Courage as in it relates to shareholders continued investment.

      i think!!

    2. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      My Airpods are awesome and my enterprise version of windows has everything turned off. So meh.

    3. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

      off isn't off is the point, your enterprise edition is still sending info to microsoft without your consent.

    4. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      This view is disgusting:

      Microsoft still hasn't said exactly what gets collected as part of the basic level of collection, except that the data is used to improve its software and services down the line; a reasonable ask

      Reasonable? Why should I spend my money on electricity and bandwidth to help the commercial product of a multi-billion dollar corporation? Why don't they pay people to do QA any more? Why don't they pay users if the data has business value?

      Fuck that. It is NOT a reasonable ask, it's ridiculous.

    5. Re:Trust? by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 5, Funny

      > Apparently Microsoft uses the word "Trust" in the same way Apple uses the word "Courage". I still haven't figured out what either one means..

      MS Trust: "I'm altering the deal. Trust I don't alter it any further." DUN DUN DE DUN.

      Apple Courage: "It is easy confuse to Courage with Stupidity -- we did. If you're stupid enough to spend yet more money on over-priced wireless crap to replace the gear you already have, we have the courage to sell it to you."

    6. Re:Trust? by skids · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The problem is endemic far and beyond Microsoft. While the data on your PC is something people take personally, other companies performing tech support for products less often encountered by end-users are playing it fast and loose with their customer's data in the name of support.

      In the networking space, if you call in any request to fix or enhance a product, the front line TAC these days has been told to have you collect a pretty thorough dump of the device configuration database. These databases are not necessarily in any sort of human readable form, but those who know what to look for can easily see that they often include private crypto keys, password hashes or sometimes even cleartext passwords, and more detail about the internal layout of the most sensitive parts of the customer's network than would be needed to solve a technical problem.

      This is plausibly just because these companies have not had enough customers complain, and assigned development the task of omitting potentially sensitive data from these "tech dumps"; But it doesn't take horribly much tinfoil to imagine there could be compromised policy-setters at these companies who stand ready to step on any attempt to rectify this situation.

      Finally, to top it off there is a trend to either transfer these files over email since huge attachments are no longer a problem on modern email systems, or to outsource file uploads to dropbox-ish cloud service providers.

      So, it would not surprise me if there were quite a few spooks... foreign, domestic, and industrial... working at support departments in major corporations, though the more resourced agencies may not even need to do even that given the lack of hygiene exercised in transferring these files to and around the corporate TAC.

      --
      Someone had to do it.
    7. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Manually sending an error log or dump to a company is a far cry from constant and automatic collection of data, even at times when nothing has gone wrong.

    8. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Microsoft wants you to trust its product despite the fact that the product betrays you. That isn't hard to understand.

      They have no intention of making it trustworthy. They just want to do spin doctoring and social engineering to get people to accept it the way Microsoft wants it to be, rather than the way the users want it to be.

      Makes perfect sense that they would do this, given their position and incentives.

    9. Re:Trust? by skids · · Score: 1

      A difference of degree only, with the trend going in the wrong direction in both cases. Neither is acceptable.

      --
      Someone had to do it.
    10. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A difference of night and day. If a company requests a dump, I can make a decision as to whether I want to send it at all and whether I want to scrub that data first. The Windows 10 way gives users no choice.

    11. Re:Trust? by davester666 · · Score: 1

      actually, for the Enterprise version (at least it was supposed to be like this), moving the slider to zero is supposed to result in no data being sent. The same setting on the version us commoners get to use still sends data to MS.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    12. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A traffic analysis report done in Nov 2016 by a group of security researchers shows even when off on enterprise edition its still sending info to microsoft server, off isn't off.

    13. Re:Trust? by LVSlushdat · · Score: 3, Insightful

      /puts on tinfoil hat

      I wonder how long it will be before those of us who refuse to use corporate/closed-source operating systems on our computers will be put on a watch list by the government, and subjected to things that terrorists are subjected to...

      As far as I'm concerned, you don't need a tin-foil hat to think that this may not be *too* far down the line...

      --
      THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
    14. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently Microsoft uses the word "Trust" in the same way Apple uses the word "Courage". I still haven't figured out what either one means... only that neither correspond to what's in the dictionary.

      Yeah. M$ will keep it "off" until their next update screws it up and turns the data streams back "on".

      Using M$ and the word "trust" in the same sentence makes as much sense as calling the color "green" as "red"....

    15. Re:Trust? by Trogre · · Score: 1

      The word "courage" when applied to Apple means much the same as describing people in our community as "gifted" or "special".

      For example, the decision to not release a Mac Mini or MacBook Pro that could take more than 16 GB RAM in 2016 was a very courageous move. As is sticking a fork in a power socket and licking it.

      --
      "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    16. Re:Trust? by skids · · Score: 1

      The point being, that dump is not human readable, and almost nobody at the company can really tell you "it has no keys in it" because they don't know, nevermind how to redact the keys. Basically you are left with two options: redact every bit of binary data that could possibly contain a key, possibly breaking the dump in a way that prevent TAC/engineering from using it (say, if they have a visualization tool that needs to load it, or they want to replicate by loading it onto test equipment.) Or, second option, fight with TAC over whether they need the data, drag your manager into the fight to insist that they fix the problem without the dump, and overall spend 20 times more hours on the problem than you would have otherwise.

      Guess which one most IT staff choose. Now, since almost nobody puts their foot down on this, think how easy it is for PHB at the vendor to say "well apparently all our customers trust us, so let's just automate the data collection so we always have it on file, automatically."

      It's all the same progressive disease riding in on devops coattails.

      --
      Someone had to do it.
    17. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't work this way. The minimum setting is "security." This setting still sends stuff back.

    18. Re: Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let me translate:
      Trust me == Have courage == Fuck you
      At least that's the way I see it.

    19. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And your Intel or AMD processor provides people remote access to your computer. Your cell service is tracking you and your internet traffic is intercepted by your ISP and various other parties. Nobody gives 2 shits about what Windows sends back because you're already completely compromised. In fact when it comes to Windows the sorts of "security advocates" (and people like RMS and the FSF) have been saying for years that there are backdoors in Windows that send information already. It's just cool on slashdot to bitch about Microsoft and be smug (and mind-bogglingly ignorant) about how you're safe because you run Linux and Cyanogen.

    20. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wonder how long it will be before those of us who refuse to use corporate/closed-source operating systems on our computers will be put on a watch list by the government, and subjected to things that terrorists are subjected to...

      These are the sentiments echoed by RMS back in the 70s, and still we're not remotely there.

      As far as I'm concerned, you don't need a tin-foil hat to think that this may not be *too* far down the line...

      I'd say you'd have to have a tin-foil hat for three major reasons. One, it's clear that corporations and other third parties are more than happy to collect and sell your private data to the government. Two, it's clear that various intel organizations feel like they have a sufficiently broad scope of a vast majority of people's information so that they feel they're capable of detecting terrorist or other threats. Three, it's also very clear that intel organizations don't have to be right, succeed, or really know anything when it comes to terrorists or other threats.

      I think intel organizations believe they accomplish a lot, but in practice most of what they do is the same security theater that a "Beware of Dog" sign and having a dog helps to deter thieves. More than likely, it'll merely deter thieves without sufficient ambition or drive or redirect them to easier targets. If that's the plan, then I'd say they're succeeding quite well. Or it could just be that they bought a rock that repels tigers. Given how rarely terrorism or other major threats actually occur but the otherwise rather prolific murder, rape, and theft rate, I'd tend to think it's more the latter. We don't see much terrorism or other threats because few people are really interested.

    21. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, they were putting visitors to Linux Journal or the Tails distribution website on a watch list.
      http://www.eweek.com/security/...
      No interrogations. Yet.

    22. Re:Trust? by stooo · · Score: 1

      >> Basically you are left with two options ...
      Nope
      You have 4 options
      1) & 2) as you mentionned
      3) reproduce the issue on a pristine PC without any sensitive data, send this dump.
      4) Use Linux.

      --
      aaaaaaa
    23. Re:Trust? by stooo · · Score: 1

      >> I wonder how long it will be before those of us who refuse to use corporate/closed-source operating systems on our computers will be put on a watch list by the government ...

      In most government the watchlist is no more. it's been replaced by an opt-out list containing a few names of top politicians.
      Every now and then, these top politicians find out that the opt-out list is ignored, and it's funny that they are furious about it.

      In other words : WE ARE ALL CONSIDERED TERRORISTS ALREADY.

      --
      aaaaaaa
    24. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have it on good authority that if you use encryption (i.e. PGP/GPG for your mails) or cryptocurrencies you're already in the "suspicious" list.

    25. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm going to hazard a guess that you've never used real earphones before.

    26. Re:Trust? by skids · · Score: 1

      3) is sometimes an option... license keys or hardware inventory can get in the way here. It's also pretty labor intensive.
      4) generally isn't as there are not enterprise-grade open-source alternatives (and often custom hardware, many
      times already running a custom linux.)

      --
      Someone had to do it.
    27. Re:Trust? by ilsaloving · · Score: 1

      I wish I could mod on the same article I post to. This so deserves a +1.

    28. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And your Intel or AMD processor provides people remote access to your computer.

      Nope.

      Why are you being ignorant?

      Your cell service is tracking you and your internet traffic is intercepted by your ISP and various other parties.

      They don't have access to the data on my PC.

      And how do you know that? Who told you that? What security audit did you read? Have you not seen the remote access facilities in modern x86 processors or in system firmware? No?

      Nobody gives 2 shits about what Windows sends back because you're already completely compromised.

      Obviously false or Windows 10 wouldn't have such pathetic adoption rates.

      I guess that means Linux is rubbish then or otherwise it wouldn't have such pathetic adoption rates, but it isnt, it is brilliant and adoption rates mean nothing.

      In fact when it comes to Windows the sorts of "security advocates" (and people like RMS and the FSF) have been saying for years that there are backdoors in Windows that send information already.

      They've been saying that Windows was proprietary and insecure, not that it had mandatory phone-home and forced updates.

      They have been saying it has backdoors for quite some time.

      Show me where my Gentoo and AOKP are spying on me and not letting me control them.

      Wrong attitude, assuming it is secure (despite running on compromised hardware connected to the public internet) just because you don't know any better is just stupidity.

      What you are trying to do is called post-purchase rationalization.

      No because I dont use Windows 10, I dont use any Windows and that didnt suddenly start with version 10. My preference is Linux and on Open Hardware wherever possible, my beef with people like you is that you live in ignorance and just think that because you run Linux or AOKP that makes you secure. Why do you think that? What evidence do you have that leads you to believe that?

      Perpetuating your ignorance means we go from people being aware that they aren't particularly secure to thinking they are secure by using Linux even though they are not.

    29. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You should seek help for your issues. Denial isn't going to help.

    30. Re:Trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Enterprise version is usually subject to very strict compliance checks that they would immediately fail if there was any data collection at all. Because governments and militaries are huge customers of MS they didn't even try to mess with them.

  3. oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    surely someone must have a list of addresses to blacklist in our HOSTS file?

    1. Re:oh yes I DID! by omnichad · · Score: 3, Informative

      Where have you been for the last two years? MS uses hard-coded IPs to avoid any messing around with DNS.

    2. Re:oh yes I DID! by NIGGERpenisbestPENIS · · Score: 1

      surely someone must have a list of addresses to blacklist in our HOSTS file?

      Please don't summon ... him.

      --
      The best is simply the best.
    3. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who? APK?

      He's harmless. His software is legit, if a little unnecessary and ineffective. (You're better off using a filtering proxy at your gateway because it works across all devices and can run an IP filter against things that bypass hosts and DNS.)

      I always found his odd capitalization and lack of cluebat bruises to be somewhat funny. He always came across to me a little like Sheldon on Big Bang Theory: a caricature of an aspie with an overblown sense of self-importance.

    4. Re:oh yes I DID! by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 1

      So you don't black hole those IPs and hosts at the router/firewall level?

      --
      Time to offend someone
    5. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If his software were legit then he wouldn't spam adverts for it in every single article.

    6. Re:oh yes I DID! by omnichad · · Score: 1

      What does that have to do with a HOSTS file? Very good job on regurgitating that knowledge, but maybe make sure it's relevant next time.

    7. Re:oh yes I DID! by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 1

      Mostly just a tongue in cheek comment.

      --
      Time to offend someone
    8. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That only works if you carry your router with you everywhere you take your computer. That would be a totally feasible thing if someone produced a micro router/firewall that was the size of a bluetooth dongle, but I haven't been able to find anything like that yet.

    9. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There ARE raspberry pi type devices you can buy that run linux, you can set up a pfsense or iptable or whatever you want...

    10. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And how large are they? If you know of a router/firewall in this size, please let me know.

    11. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is using a HOSTS file the right solution?

      Captcha: milking

    12. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You could get a zsun D60324, 64 MiB RAM and 16 MiB SPI flash, https://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/zsun/wifi-card-reader and put openwrt on it.https://github.com/Emeryth/openwrt-zsun

    13. Re:oh yes I DID! by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Informative

      I don't think there's anything illegitimate about it. It's just that he's mentally ill, and that the software in question really doesn't work where an OS or software manufacturer hard codes callback IP addresses. I went to his page about six months ago, and was fascinated to see screenshots from what was either XP or Server 2003, which said a lot not only about the software, but about APK's state of mind. He's also made a number of posts over the years that suggest he's a good old fashioned netkook, maybe the last of that ancient breed. So, like all good netkooks, he has a fixation, which in his case is his obsession with the hosts file.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    14. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Interesting. I'll need to read up to see how others have set them up, but this looks the closest to what I am looking for.

      Thanks.

    15. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That brings up further concerns. Do you trust software written by someone who is mentally ill?

    16. Re:oh yes I DID! by Motherfucking+Shit · · Score: 1

      So you don't black hole those IPs and hosts at the router/firewall level?

      How will you ever know if you got them all? Malware authors have evolved techniques like rotating their C&C to different IPs based upon to the current UTC time. Microsoft has 20+ million IPs to pick from, and those are just the ones with their name on them. You can't block them all without taking out all of Azure, which hosts lots of legit non-MS services.

      --
      "BSD: Free as in speech. Linux: Free as in beer. Windows 10: Free as in herpes." --Man On Pink Corner in #52607549.
    17. Re: oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Whoooooosh.

    18. Re:oh yes I DID! by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Lots of software developers are somewhere on the autism spectrum, and are classified as high-functioning ASD. Personally, I also have dysthymic disorder (essentially chronic low-grade depression that's gone through two name changes since my diagnosis), and people seem to trust what I write.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    19. Re:oh yes I DID! by exomondo · · Score: 1

      That only works if you carry your router with you everywhere you take your computer. That would be a totally feasible thing if someone produced a micro router/firewall that was the size of a bluetooth dongle, but I haven't been able to find anything like that yet.

      Why are you running Windows 10 anyway? If you really need to run it for some specific applications then just dual boot, yes it's slightly inconvenient but that is the price of privacy.

    20. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can only avoid software which I know was written by the mentally ill. I don't have magic powers.

      I also question your ability to know that lots of software developers have mental illnesses. I've worked with many over a very long period of time in places all over the world and none of them were autistic or otherwise impaired.

    21. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not running Windows 10 and I never said that I was. I'm not sure how you concluded that I was, but maybe you should think before you post.

    22. Re:oh yes I DID! by exomondo · · Score: 1

      Well given we're talking about blacklisting IPs that Windows sends information to and that you are looking for (haven't been able to find) a micro router/firewall I'd say it's pretty reasonable assumption that you do or that you would like to run Windows 10. If not then why bother? Just use the hosts file on Linux.

      Anyway ok, you're not running Windows 10, no big deal. The suggestion still stands for anybody who does need to run it for whatever reason.

    23. Re:oh yes I DID! by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      You probably wouldn't notice me as being ASD or depressive. Lots of us are quite adept at looking normal. I'm being open with it because it's unlikely to hurt me (not any worse than it has already; I've already been denied insurance).

      People depend on stuff I've written for safety purposes. They haven't regretted it.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    24. Re:oh yes I DID! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it's not noticeable, then I would hardly call it a mental illness. Despite your best efforts, it is impossible to mask mental illness 100% of the time. I think rather that you are probably perfectly "normal" (all people have such "insane" thoughts of ASD and depression sometimes) and that you are blowing it out of proportion.

      APK, on the other hand, has very obvious mental problems.

    25. Re:oh yes I DID! by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      I've got the diagnoses. Therefore, I'm mentally ill, although it usually doesn't show. I also have some physical illnesses you won't notice by looking at me. I'm reasonably healthy for my age, and I know a lot of contemporaries who are worse off, but I'm not in perfect health.

      I'm emphasizing this because I really hate "mentally ill" being used as an insult, and it often is. APK does not necessarily have a mental illness; APK might just be an asshole, which is not a category in DSM-V. There are mentally healthy people I wouldn't trust with a burned-out match.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  4. Of course by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    That's all Microsoft wants out of Win 10, why they were willing to give it away for free. They want what Google has with Android, a funnel for all your data that they can use to tune their algorithms for search, and (probably) pin advertisements to you

    1. Re:Of course by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      I actually think they want the 30% of all software you install even more than the data./p.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
  5. Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Seriously. Why bother with Windows 10 if it's going to spy on your activity?

    Why bother with Windows 10?

    Why bother with Windows X?

    --
    Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
    1. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Why bother with any OS? Oh yeah, that's where my software lives

      So much software is Windows only or works on Windows "best" (emulation is spotty and under-performing on avg)

      It's a platform some of us have to live with

    2. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      So I've switched to Linux Mint from Windows, a few months ago, because of advice similar to this.

      Just recently, I've tried to upgrade the Linux kernel from 4.4 to 4.8 in Linux Mint 18.1

      The upgrade process failed, because of problems recompiling some VirtualBox thing or other,
      but it was not protected by some sort of transaction to only allow activation on success.

      End result: major borkage and a broken boot - I now have to boot using a USB drive with a separate copy of Linux

      And since the Linux Mint guys haven't yet bothered to implement a working recovery process,
      I'm now going to have to reinstall everything from scratch (Oh Joy!).

      I do agree that Linux Mint is one (almost reasonable) way to get away from Windows 10, but it has some major flaws.
      It would be wise to kill some of these off before a large number of ex-Widows users jump on the Linux Mint bandwagon.

      In the meantime, I'm going to suggest that advice like this is capable of doing more harm than good.

    3. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I don't have anything against linux mint (i've even contributed some bits) but the most important thing in an operating system is support, and expecting 100% perfect update and/or other support on linux mint in kinda naive, since its maintained by a small group of people, most of the work being done from one guy. People with no desktop linux experience should use something better backed by more people like Ubuntu, Debian or Fedora.

    4. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by NIGGERpenisbestPENIS · · Score: 1

      Seriously. Why bother with Windows 10 if it's going to spy on your activity?

      Why bother with Windows 10?

      Why bother with Windows X?

      It usually has to get really bad before people decide to accept change. At least historically that's the tendency.

      --
      The best is simply the best.
    5. Re: Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I keep hearing that Linux is more stable and reliable than Windows. Well if that were true, then why did the other AC run into those problems? Why are you saying that such problems are to be expected? From the sounds of it, Linux is not more stable and reliable than Windows if it can break so easily, and there is no quick way to fix such breakages.

    6. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why did you try to upgrade the kernel? Mintupdate would have selected the newer kernel automatically if it was required. Selecting it yourself you must have seen the warnings that it could break things and was not really necessary.
         

    7. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by green1 · · Score: 1

      Ever phoned Microsoft for "support"? how'd that go for you? If you're lucky they told you to re-install. more likely you couldn't even find a human to talk to.

      People talk about commercial software having support, but it doesn't (Unless you're an enterprise license with thousands of seats, and even then you pay dearly for very little in the way of support). The forum posts you can find for any linux distro offer far more support than anything any commercial software company produces.

    8. Re: Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently you have no idea what you are talking about. Linux Mint is just a linux distribution. There are probably hundreds of distrubutions. Saying "linux does not work" because one distribution did not work (for you) is kind of ignorant.

    9. Re: Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because Microsoft would never release an update to Windows that breaks things.

    10. Re: Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "In the meantime, I'm going to suggest that advice like this is capable of doing more harm than good."

      Yes, it's true: Literacy is a requirement to use Linux. In your case, based on your description, you should stick to Windows. I find it improbable that a kernel upgrade borked your install unless you failed to read instructions or left out key details in your description of events. In either case, a reinstall while reusing /home should take about 10 minutes unless you are using an early XP era computer.

    11. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't have anything against linux mint

      I do. It freezes all the time.

    12. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I do. It freezes all the time.

      Then you, sir, have a piece of shit system...

    13. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by stooo · · Score: 1

      >> End result: major borkage and a broken boot
      Yeah. For mint, the recommended and fully supported upgrade path is a fresh install.
      If you upgrade it the other way, it's risky, and you knew it, you checked the box with the red warnings before.

      Anyway,the fresh install on Mint is two times quicker than the update, so why bother with the update ??????

      My recommendation (through GUI):
      On first install, create 4 partitions :
      sda1 : root, 40 GB
      sda2 : empty, 40GB
      sda3 : swap, 4GB
      sda4 : /home

      When upgrading, install the new system from fresh on sda2, then you can boot both old and new OSs, and keep all your data in the right place
      Next time upgrade sda1
      With that you always have two working systems and never have to break anything immediately.
      Update ? 20 minutes of work(including installing a prepared list of packets), 20-40min of unattended working time
      Also, use and abuse backups.

      I never had a single problem with that strategy on ca. 15 systems since 4 Years. It upgrades faster than any other OS, and you can revert....

      --
      aaaaaaa
    14. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I run Mint on my laptop (Tosiba Satellite C55 series). Every once in a while, it totally freezes up & won't take any input; only 'fix' is to turn it off and back on.

      Initially, of course, I blamed Mint for this. But after doing a little online research for similar issues, I found that this particular model of Satellite was knowingly sold with a CPU that has a power-handling bug that causes this very problem. So freezing problems are just as likely from hardware or buggy software (non-OS) issues.

    15. Re:Windows "telemetry" = Only use Linux Mint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ALL Toshiba laptops I have ever seen are overheating garbage that randomly shut down or freeze when they get too hot.

  6. Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This CAREER IT TECHNICIAN, will NEVER recommend it. Currently, we Recommend its REMOVAL from all workstations, and a regression to a safer, less intrusive, more compatible OS, that isn't able to uninstall things to make way for its own broken updates... Win 10 has uninstalled the following applications from our Users systems WITHOUT permission or ANY user interaction required... 1. Quickbooks. 2. Sage Accounting 3. Wintac (HVAC CRM) 4. Connectwise (IT CRM) All uninstalled from multiple systems, without permission, causing DAMAGE to several of our Business Class Environments, and taking 4 clients networks DOWN, as they primarily used Quickbooks. When its down they cannot function. It also damaged the Wintac Database, by uninstalling it WHILE IT WAS OPERATING! Win10 is by far and wide the VERY WORST thing ever produced and sold as an OS!

    1. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Thank you for your sage advice, Career Captain CapsLock!

    2. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Does the pro / enterprise edition even do automatic updates or uninstalls? At least those versions allow you to disable it through a Group Policy. Or does your "business class" environment run on a bunch of Windows 10 Home machines?

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    3. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 4, Informative

      So, in order to get Microsoft to stop doing something it shouldn't be doing in the first place (Uninstalling software WITHOUT asking) I have to spend more man hours and labor? Because that sure sounds like what you are saying... Keeping in mind that we have close to 1000 business customers, thats going to be AN AWFUL LOT of GP changes... Say 500 Hours to complete them all... So I assume Microsoft is ready and willing to cover this expense? And no dip shit, we dont roll out HOME in a business class environment. BUT on that same note, not every small business in america has an ENTERPRISE level environment, or even a Server for that matter. Or did you now know this? :-D

    4. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Windows 10 doesn't uninstall things, you nitwit. It will flag incompatible executables (from a graylisting database maintained by Microsoft and updated by their lab techs after testing things flagged by telemetry reports). Then it will refuse to run those executables.

      As someone who uses ConnectWise every damned day (it's seriously torture), and on a laptop running Win10Pro, I can state unequivocally that you're full of shit. Also, as someone whose paycheck relies on QuickBooks, also running with Win10Pro, I can double-down on my "you're full of shit" statement. So that leaves Sage and Wintac. Sage is an old-ass and well-established accounting software company with multiple available packages ranging from shitty Peachtree/Sage50 up to their Get-Real-Shit-Done levels (MAS90/Sage100). I doubt Sage has current software that doesn't work with Windows 10, which means you need to Keep Your Shit Up-To-Date(tm). I had to search for Wintac, but it just looks like CW all over again. And again, you were probably running an ancient version of it that got flagged for having an ancient version of some third-party library it uses (CW is notorious for updating cef.zip all the damned time, and it's a huge file).

      Do your job and quit bitching about it when the world leaves you behind. Catch up, learn new things, and do your job!

    5. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The parent actually makes a good point, and I don't doubt your rebuttal. However!

      Microsoft promised that there would not only be "one" Windows and that everyone would receive forced updates.

      But that's not actually the case. What they are doing is rolling out updates across different users at different rates. So actually, the parent poster could be 100% correct, and so can you, and it's all down to Microsoft using everyone who isn't an "Enterprise" customer as their QA department.

      They're being complete fucks. They know they're being complete fucks. What they're going to do now is a classic "shift to the middle move" where they relax the bullshit and everyone accepts the compromise position as being better than the bullshit today, but still 10 times worse than what it was 5 years ago.

    6. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      "As someone who uses ConnectWise every damned day (it's seriously torture), and on a laptop running Win10Pro, I can state unequivocally that you're full of shit." I have those logs if you like... Dumbass... Unless you were there how praytell do you "Know" this that you Claim to? http://www.howtogeek.com/24358... And specifically... It was SCREENCONNECT that it uninstalled... http://forum.screenconnect.com... So, yeah... Yer a serious dumbass, who shoots from the hip a lot... I can tell. Sage, isn't actually uninstalled, I misspoke. Its trashed by an update. One that is still being rolled out.. Actually. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2... So do you actually research ANYTHING before you comment? Or are you just a blowhard asshat all the time? LoL... Also... Wintac, is $10,000 a copy. Not everyone can stay at the bleeding edge. So EVERY customer that used Wintac 2015, and got a Win10 install FORCED on them (sorry we could not get to all 10,000+ systems in the time MS gave us), were immediately unable to do business. Until ALL workstations were rolled back, and the server database replaced from backups. AND finally, https://www.bbb.org/boston/bus... As you can see, Wintac 2016 WAS NOT READY FOR PRIMETIME when it was released. So upgrading was NOT POSSIBLE. So, in closing, before you go off all elitist and half-cocked, DO YOUR RESEARCH DUMBASS! :-D

    7. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Ayanami_R · · Score: 1

      I see a lot of comments like this all over the net. People claiming things that are wasy to prove false, or are false on the surface. I wonder if someone is astroturfing, or if MS hate is STILL that strong?

      Also, I guess this person uses no smartphone as well, as ALL of those collect data, even with a custom ROM and rooting and other protections, the black box known as the cell radio has you tracked anyway, so that is certainly not 100% removed. I guess no social media at all, and no gmail, dropbox etc. iOS, closed source automatic no go.

      So I guess this guy uses some flavor of desktop Linux and nothing else? Because that's the only OS I can think of with data collection 100% removed

      Not that I am really mocking him, I have 0 social media, removed the mic from my phone and other "tinfoilhatty" things.

      --
      "Science is the power of man"
    8. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      You are correct. My Social Media Account Status = 0 Social media is the LARGEST Demographic of hackers and swindlers on the earth. Anyone using it is a sucker being worked over. With daily BS reels, Misinformation, and a STRONG liberal Bias. Facebook being the MOST egregious Offender there. My Cell phone, is as you say. "As secure as it can be" while still being tied to a snitch network... But if someone wants to watch me play angry birds, more power to them. They are welcome to see who I call, and for how long. I only use my cell for business. Encrypted Email for EVERYTHING else. IF I must use Windows, Its VM sand-boxed heavily, and isolated from my network 100%. You can't work in IT for 24 years and still trust MS. Fool me once, shame on you... Fool me Twice, Shame on me...

    9. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by admin7087 · · Score: 1

      Sue them. If what you say is true, you'll win.

    10. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think you understand how the legal system works. The party with the most money will always prevail.

    11. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      I don't have 5 years to waste, nor a few hundred thousand dollars to even attempt such a thing... Name a single poor person or middle class person that YOU KNOW, that has won a case against a Fortune 500 Corporation... Then list your sources... As It most certainly made the news.

    12. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 0

      Learn to troll... you SUCK at it :-)

    13. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      I love how you totally abandoned any further debate... It's ok, you didn't come prepared. We Understand. :-D

    14. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Same. If I game on windows the network cable is pulled. NFW will I ever go on the net with Windows ever again.

    15. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      How's that -1 working out for ya? LMMFAO!

    16. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by NIGGERpenisbestPENIS · · Score: 1

      How's that -1 working out for ya? LMMFAO!

      "LMMFAO"? This is just a guess but is it: Laughing My Massive Fat Ass Off?

      --
      The best is simply the best.
    17. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      I didn't know your ass was fat NI__ERpenisbestPENIS... But I can guess that you are a super-fucktarded liberal scumbag from your name... Do the world a favor and Kill Yourself... (See no KYS, so you don't have to make a shitty "Egg on your own face" guess!) :-)D

    18. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      Microsoft shouldn't be forcing these updates by default, sure. But they did, and it was hardly a secret so you could have taken action beforehand and disabled the updates before they caused disaster. By the way, removing programs only happens on major updates of Windows, which should be treated as any major upgrade: with tests, rollback plans, and contacting the vendors of mission critical software about known compatibility issues. Those updates certainly should not be automatic... or be allowed by an administrator to proceed automatically.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    19. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      "Microsoft shouldn't be forcing these updates by default, sure. But they did, and it was hardly a secret so you could have taken action beforehand and disabled the updates before they caused disaster. " Thats NOT realistic. Across a customer base of almost 1000 businesses, and 3000 residential, it would have taken us over 3 years to shut them all off. We estimated 1 full YEAR just for the commercial workstations. (Thats REAL WORLD, not some bullshit statement like the ones you make that are CLEARLY bullshit... Like the one above. WE DEAL IN REALITY NOT LIBERAL WISHFUL THINKING AND FANTASY... Which is what the above suggestion really is. Fantasy. As I previously stated, not all sites have a server. Meaning that the stopping of MOST of the workstations, especially those in a peer to peer or cloud environment, that lacks a server, would have to be done manually. (As not all customers pay for RMM, and would have to be scheduled for onsite service) Thats nearly 1000 onsite calls, that the customer didn't cause. Thank you Win10... "By the way, removing programs only happens on major updates of Windows, which should be treated as any major upgrade: with tests, rollback plans, and contacting the vendors of mission critical software about known compatibility issues. Those updates certainly should not be automatic... or be allowed by an administrator to proceed automatically." Ok... I'll go ahead and state this AGAIN in the hopes that you might understand it THIS time... NOT every customer has a server. Being that 70+% of our commercial customers are RETAIL establishments, MOST of them are now cloud, and NOT using a server, this means that we would find it a DAUNTING task with 4 full time techs, to vet the software for THAT MANY customers. Its physically impossible in the time frame we are given between patches. we do this with our RMM customers, but even that is a list almost 200 businesses long, with a total of approximately 1000 workstations on JUST THOSE sites alone. ( And even that is a low number, as most businesses have more than 2PCs these days) Its all the things like this that Microsoft IGNORES and sticks on the Users/Customers that are the reason they are so hated and universally panned in tech circles. I've only ever met MCSE/A+/CCNA people that go this GAGA over defending MS and the like. And ONLY because their CS education is being belittled when they are getting bashed. So, in closing, you have YET to provide a real world scenario, and are simply spouting "Best Practices" that everyone already knows. Its not helping your case here pal. Everything you have so far suggested, is physically impossible in a real world scenario. In essence, you seem to assume the same false assumptions that are losing MS market share... Daily.

    20. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      I'm not defending MS, as an IT guy I lay the blame for this crap at their feet. But if I were paying someone to manage my IT for me, I'd expect them to prevent this stuff rather than clean up after it. Out of interest, how were you handling updates and upgrades before MS forced them upon you in Windows 10?

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    21. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by antdude · · Score: 1

      What will you replace with? :(

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    22. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Learn how to do your job you useless half wit! You are a fucking idiot

    23. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Once again, learn how to do your job. You are a failure. You are a moron. You fucked up. Take some personal responsibility for once in your life and admit how fucking terrible you are at your job. You piss and moan about not getting systems online but what kind of fuck up does not have that many on a domain and managed properly. You are the worst kind of useless fuck up. The coward. You can't do anything right.

    24. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by NIGGERpenisbestPENIS · · Score: 1

      I didn't know your ass was fat NI__ERpenisbestPENIS... But I can guess that you are a super-fucktarded liberal scumbag from your name... Do the world a favor and Kill Yourself... (See no KYS, so you don't have to make a shitty "Egg on your own face" guess!) :-)D

      It's amazing how many words you can use and still fail to answer such a simple question. Is this what I get for assuming you wouldn't use an abbreviation with which you were unfamiliar?

      --
      The best is simply the best.
    25. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      Its amazing how much you suck at debate and troll unending :-) What the matter too many words for your tiny liberal brain to digest? FYI, I did actually answer your question. You just phrased it in the 1st person... Meaning YOU no ME... But again, you seem to be FAR too ignorant to understand this. :-D

    26. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      *(edit) meaning You not Me...

    27. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      Considering in that time we could omit individual updates (which is no longer possible without a WSUS box), these things were almost a mute point. We allowed most, and ignored the optional until an issue requiring a specific update is required. Considering before Win10 we had NEVER had programs FORCIBLY UNINSTALLED or DISABLED by updates. They may have broken a dll or registry entry from time to time, but this is easily fixed by a rollback of 1 day. All of our servers are loaded with Continuum and follow a patch script to make sure conflicting software isnt an issue. However, windows to NEVER warned us or even put out a bulletin on ANY of the softwares we are seeing uninstalled. Look them up for yourself. There are issues with them all over the web, and not a peep out of Microsoft on ANY of them. Your wishful thinking is cute, but not anywhere close to practical with 4 FT technicians. You are just arguing with yourself at this point. You've already been shown to be incorrect, with sources. Consider this Bullshit argument... Rebuked :-) Sleep Tight!

    28. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      Older versions of the OS with the ability to REMOVE or DISABLE PERMANENTLY the telemetry. Until they get enough loss of market share to remove it from the OS. If they refuse to remove it, we are prepared to move into the pure electronics repair, cabling, and maker market. We refuse to impose spyware on our customers. Its unethical, and we won't be forced into an unethical business model. To stand for whats right, sometimes you have to shift your whole world... Worth it.

    29. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      Liberal troll... Cannot explain how I am a halfwit, has been THOROUGHLY rebuked with plenty of facts and sources, and still thinks he can talk shit and look cool :-) (Newsflash, every time you put hands to that keyboard on this topic, you look like a fucking ignorant muppet...) Good Luck! Mr Fantasy Tech!

    30. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      You are just the cutest liberal fucktard I have ever seen :-) (You are wrong as the fucking day is long, but eh, most liberals are just this fucking stupid I guess.) FYI, you have brought ZERO facts, ZERO plausible scenarios, and ZERO useful information to the debate. WAY TO GO! :-D

    31. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by NIGGERpenisbestPENIS · · Score: 1

      *(edit) meaning You not Me...

      You seem to be making a lot of corrective/"edit" posts. So I will assume benefit of doubt and take as an omission, the fact you have not answered a simple question. What does the abbreviation "LMMFAO" stand for, if not what I asked? It would show a lot of integrity and intellectual honesty if you were to answer such a simple question, or confess that you don't know. I really do not know how to ask this question more plainly.

      --
      The best is simply the best.
    32. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      You loaded liberal bullshit question, can be answered by someone stupid enough to believe they owe you an explanation of something anyone with access to google and 2 seconds can determine. But since you are having to ask me what it means, I'll just go ahead and make the educated guess that you are simply too stupid to look it up for your self. :-D (FYI, you are the FAILEST troll ever :-) just terrible! :-D

    33. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't have to win, just allow them time to reach the insight they need to settle. $$$.

    34. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      General Motors shouldn't be forcing faulty ignition components by default, sure. But they did, and it was hardly a secret so you could have taken action beforehand and voided your entire vehicle warranty by taking it in for a third party ignition system replacement at your cost / time. By the way, component defects causing fatal accidents only happens on every 5th make of General Motors vehicles, which should be treated as any vehicle purchase: disassembling the entire vehicle yourself and performing safety testing on each component in myriad scenarios that might arise in driving conditions. Driving a vehicle with potentially fatal defects should not be your normal behavior... or be allowed by your local General Motors motor club.

    35. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for being a complete retard! Captain Jobless to the rescue once again!

    36. Re:Until Data Collection is 100% Removed... by NIGGERpenisbestPENIS · · Score: 1

      You loaded liberal bullshit question, can be answered by someone stupid enough to believe they owe you an explanation of something anyone with access to google and 2 seconds can determine. But since you are having to ask me what it means, I'll just go ahead and make the educated guess that you are simply too stupid to look it up for your self. :-D (FYI, you are the FAILEST troll ever :-) just terrible! :-D

      If A.P.K. registered a username, he would produce posts very much like yours. At least you don't sound as much like a TimeCube-guy raving lunatic like he does. No, you just sound like a little bitch. It's not much of an improvement but it is one.

      --
      The best is simply the best.
  7. I called this already by El+Cubano · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I will simply refer you to my comment in last week's discussion on "Microsoft To Enhance User Privacy Controls In Upcoming Windows 10 Update": here

    Bottom line: Microsoft's only objective was "get people to quit trashing us openly". Of course, the current state very well could have been their desired end goal and they went extreme from the outset to give them room to appear to compromise. Either way, whether or not it was planned, they make themselves look (comparatively) like the good guys.

    1. Re:I called this already by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 0

      The fact they didn't remove it entirely after all the issues and broken updates associated with it... Certainly does not make them even "comparatively" look like the "Good Guys".... As Most people on the earth have learned to distrust them with good reason. So, its HIGHLY unlikely anyone in the loop enough to understand what this even means, was unimpressed, and not fooled even a little. Its still a spyware, at its core, and nobody I know wants that in their home/business. They will CONTINUE to be openly bashed for this, until its 100% REMOVED! If I needed a nanny, I'd hire one! :-D

    2. Re:I called this already by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 0

      *Impressed

    3. Re:I called this already by TimothyHollins · · Score: 1

      Heh, funny world we live in.

      "From now on, I'll only beat my wife on the weekend"

    4. Re:I called this already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *Impressed

      You keep having to reply to your own posts to make such corrections.

      Maybe you are an impulsive dipshit with premature-ejaculation issues?

  8. Partnership with US government by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This is clearly a partnership with the US government in expanding its surveillance practices. Free access to all emails on their servers and now it's free access to everyone's computers, key logs, data and documents. Microsoft knew exactly what they were doing, just as well as the US government.

    1. Re:Partnership with US government by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      After all the NSA needed a way to fill that giant datacenter in Utah... What do you want to bet thats where all the poor suckers who still use Win10 get their data sent to...

    2. Re:Partnership with US government by gweihir · · Score: 1

      This much is dead obvious.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  9. Makes me want to... by iampiti · · Score: 1

    Makes me want to keep writing "F**k you Microsoft" in the Cortana search box over and over. Maybe that way they'll get the message.

  10. Trust me. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft said it wants users to "trust" it.

    I hear that a lot from companies and people -- like some newly elected officials -- and it always makes my ass twitch.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:Trust me. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed, all those re-elected Democrats in House and Senate seats want me to trust them that they're going to put the interests of the US ahead of shrieking at Trump to earn brownie points with their room temperature IQ marxist constituents.

  11. Are Linux or open source software really better? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's dangerous to think that somehow Linux and other open source projects are somehow better in this regard.

    It wasn't long ago that there was the Ubuntu/Amazon search results debacle.

    Then there's Firefox's telemetry, too.

    There's also the Homebrew open source project, which supports data collection, and stores it in Google Analytics.

    Some people will say, "But that tracking can be easily disabled!" or "But that tracking is off by default!". Well, it doesn't matter: the tracking could still potentially be done, and the tracking code is likely still present even if toggled off.

    The only way Linux and open source software would be better than their competitors is if they didn't include any support for any sort of telemetry or tracking at all. Completely eliminating all such tracking code and its remote infrastructure is the only way to handle this sort of a situation properly.

  12. "frankly unlikely"? by sacrilicious · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ZDNet adds: ... And while the likelihood that the company is doing anything nefarious with users' information is frankly unlikely ...

    This quote is a case of somebody writing something to just fit a grammatical template, rather than thinking about what they're writing. Substantiate that wild speculation, ZDNet, or turn in your beard-stroking license asap.

    --
    - First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then ???, then profit.
    1. Re:"frankly unlikely"? by Black+LED · · Score: 1

      ZDNet and especially Ed Bott are Microsoft puppets. It's not surprising that they would try to handwave this sketchy behaviour.

  13. It's not "trust" in the Merriam-Webster sense ... by scunc · · Score: 2

    Microsoft: We know what our users want!

    Users: How? You haven't asked us about anything.

    Microsoft: Oh, we know--trust us ...
    -------
    All Power to the NT Overlords!

  14. Trust by darkain · · Score: 1

    The opposite of trust? Anit-Trust. Ya'know, that thing Microsoft already violated?

  15. I only want an operating system by OrangeTide · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is that too much to ask? I'd like to pay some money in exchange for software to abstract my hardware into a platform and allow application to run. That is of course the kernel and drivers as well as the libraries and services necessary for applications.

    I don't want advertisements, data mining, or even a bundled web browser. I do want security updates and timezone updates, please don't stop updating timezones with the excuse that an older operating system version is "unsupported".

    If this were a free market, we could pay money in exchange for the goods and services we want. Assuming we can agree on a price, but I doubt even a million dollars would could get Microsoft's attention.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    1. Re:I only want an operating system by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 5, Funny

      Oh come on it isn't like they could just create some tz data files and update that. How would the system ever know what one to use and how could users be expected to keep them up to date?

      --
      Time to offend someone
    2. Re:I only want an operating system by El+Cubano · · Score: 2

      If this were a free market, we could pay money in exchange for the goods and services we want. Assuming we can agree on a price, but I doubt even a million dollars would could get Microsoft's attention.

      It is a free market. What you describe actually exists. In fact, something better than what you describe exists: Linux. It may seem tired, but there are literally dozens of distributions out there. Some have corporate backing (e.g., RedHat, SuSE), others are developed by a community (e.g., Debian), and others are the result of heroics by primarily one individual (e.g., Slackware). The point is that there are so many options, some which will take your money, others of which will not.

      Many of those Linux distributions are a viable alternative for many people now. Of course, they may not be what you are accustomed to, and they may not run all of your favorite applications, but most things in life are some of trade-off. Do you want to run a particular app or group of apps at the expense of your privacy? Or are you willing to give up something else in order to secure your privacy?

      On the flip side, in a free market producers are free to produce what they want. For example, I can walk in to a Chick-Fil-A and try to order a cheeseburger. Of course, they don't make cheeseburgers, so they won't be able to sell it to me. At that point I have to make a choice: do I stick with Chick-Fil-A because I really want the waffle-cut fries, or do I go to Burger King next door?

      You and everyone else out there has a choice now, you just have to decide what is really important.

    3. Re:I only want an operating system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And no distro will run AutoCAD, Photoshop or provide 100% Office compatibility up to business-level standards (run out of the box, full support, CALs, etc.).

      So the free market has worked, and actually evolved in such way that Windows is a barnacle riding on the application markets back.

      Without those three applications Windows would just be a stain on the panties of computing history.

    4. Re:I only want an operating system by iampiti · · Score: 2

      Yeah, I also want that. Microsoft can only pull this crap because many important pieces of software only run on Windows (obviously, they know).
      If 99% of software was cross platform they'd have to give people what they want instead of giving us what Microsoft wants

    5. Re:I only want an operating system by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      Yes, I've been using Linux as my primary OS for over 20 years (really!). But Linux is not equivalent to Microsoft Windows.

      I can get chicken sandwiches from Wendy's, McDonalds, etc. and I tend to frequent those establishments instead of Chick-Fil-A. But of course there is a huge amount of choice for fast food, and they are generally equivalent to each other ignoring basic taste preferences.

      If I want to run a Windows application should I use anything except Microsoft Windows to run it? Could I use Wine? Perhaps in some cases, but I'd argue it's not production ready and it's not supported by the application vendor and the Wine team does not offer a support contract.

      Microsoft is free to not offer the things I want, but at the same time they should not be permitted to use their dominate position in the market to exclude customer choice.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    6. Re: I only want an operating system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so you run these applications in a VM under Linux, and give the VM passthru graphics, limited physical drive access and no network access. no windows updates required, no spying possible.

    7. Re:I only want an operating system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is a free market.

      http://www.annavonreitz.com/fortheboys.pdf

      the "federal reserve" would like a word with you

      Of course, they don't make cheeseburgers, so they won't be able to sell it

      "sell" -- you really have no idea. "discharge" is how things work now.

      http://www.svpvril.com/OACL.html

      that is the american system of law and "money".

      so, pray tell, why are no "Businesses" or "governments" using that?

      top to bottom there is no "free market".

      it is commerce and press-ganging, right after birth (in form of "birth certificate" leading to trust fraud)

      inland piracy runs things, that is the only "market" at present for 99% of people 99% of the time.

      do you happen to live in one of the few areas with an actual unincorporated township/county still left?

      otherwise, everyone is incorporated "citizen" at birth, and definitely has no "freedom" let alone in financial or monetary matters.

    8. Re:I only want an operating system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Photoshop runs perfectly fine under Wine.

      AutoCAD has many free alternatives that work as well or better.

      Office Online works in any OS.

    9. Re:I only want an operating system by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      My dream is that when most software is available on iOS and Android that Microsoft will lose their hold over us.

      Of course then we'll be locked into Apple, Amazon and Google app store ecosystem and will not be able to develop and sell software without Apple and Google's say so.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  16. And it will never happen by IWantMoreSpamPlease · · Score: 1

    Win10 was designed *from the ground up* with telemetry and spayware/malware/whathaveyou in mind.

    You will never get them to "turn it off", at best you'll get "minimal" and it will require 3rd parties to fix (if they can, closed source and all that)

    Why use it to begin with, if you have the option, use anything else, but not Win10.

    --
    So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
  17. Re:Are Linux or open source software really better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    > "But that tracking can be easily disabled!" or "But that tracking is off by default!"

    These are perfectly reasonable mitigations.

    Also, it is not reasonable to pretend that a thing that Ubuntu did is somehow "Linux", even if they were still doing it. You know what spies on you? Red Star Linux. But that's not a very reasonable thing. If you don't like the Ubuntu/Amazon thing, then leave it off or turn it off, or just simply don't use Ubuntu. Arch doesn't have that problem. Or Fedora, or Debian, or or or or or or

  18. Re:Are Linux or open source software really better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's dangerous to think that somehow Ubuntu is somehow better in this regard.

    FTFY. Canonical doesn't represent the whole of Linux or open source software. Also being open source means you can remove or add anything you want. Can you point me to the source code for Windows 10?

    Then there's Firefox's telemetry, too.
    There's also the Homebrew open source project, which supports data collection, and stores it in Google Analytics

    Firefox and Homebrew's spyware is 100% optional. You also have access to the source code, so you can yank it completely out if you want to. In addition, neither of them are operating systems with full access to everything.

    If you can't see the difference between always-on spyware in an operating system from a multi-billion dollar corporation that can easily afford to do QA and completely optional spyware in an open source web browser and package manager, then you are an idiot.

    You let me know when Firefox forces spyware always on and closes the source and then I'll partially agree with you.

  19. It's okay. The police need this data. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So everybody quit their bellyaching please.

  20. Trust them by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 1

    It will make it a lot easier for them if you just trust them. Not better for you, but certainly better for them.

    --
    Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
  21. i call bs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Microsoft still hasn't said exactly what gets collected as part of the basic level of collection, except that the data is used to improve its software and services down the line; a reasonable ask...

    Unless the OS is free, its not a reasonable ask. Period.

  22. Agreed, 110%... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't understand MS' moves w/ Win10 UNLESS it's to 'gentrify' the value of it, do a corporate buyback of stock, then FINALLY release a GOOD windows (that does what you say, I could add more but point's there & my post length's limited) & CLEANUP bigtime... then, even I would buy Win10. It has SOME minor improvements (ASRL is bs, doesn't work vs. rip-rop attacks seeking callstack location - a delay @ most) as is though but the spy crap & what you point is makes it something I do NOT want.

    APK

    P.S.=> Don't pay the trolling swine here giving you guff about how you post using CAPS - as you see, I do & IF they don't LIKE it? They don't have to read it... but, then again?? Them attacking you (shills or stooges that have something to GAIN by harassing you OR lose if folks listen to you) SHOWS you're someone they're fearful of (& don't think forums aren't FILLED with shills paid off to do so)... apk

    1. Re:Agreed, 110%... apk by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 0

      Thank you. Have a Crazy Good Day :-)

    2. Re:Agreed, 110%... apk by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      You're just pissed because the hardcoded callback IPs make your host file software redundant, at least so far as Win10 goes (and, so far as I understand it, Win7 and 8/8.1 as well).

      I'll sit back now and wait for you to stalk me for a few hours. Watching you get unhinged and demonstrate your manic phase with grandiose claims and threats.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    3. Re:Agreed, 110%... apk by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      Whatever helps you sleep better troll. FYI, no fucks were given. You were already properly rebuked... :-D

    4. Re:Agreed, 110%... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Whatever helps you sleep better troll. FYI, no fucks were given. You were already properly rebuked... :-D

      If your username was some variant of "APK" then I would respect your honesty. As it stands now, you're some relatively new user with obvious inflated ego plus Aspie/OCD tendencies who suddenly supports APK's anonymous posts (via "bridges" [wtf? that term has a specific meaning and it doesn't jive with APK's implied meaning!]) out of nowhere. Yeah, we're all so stupid as to not notice that.

      Sure. You just keep thinking that you're not completely transparent. That's nice. Isn't it?

    5. Re:Agreed, 110%... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I scanned this conversation thread. Specifically apk's replies. I see no mention of bridges. Get your eyes examined.

  23. Re:Are Linux or open source software really better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You also have access to the source code, so you can yank it completely out if you want to.

    Another misconception.
    0.000023425% of the userbase actually has the ability to do something more than point and click to start the application. Since you evidently missed this, please post your repository where you've already done the work, so the majority of the userbase can download it. thanks.

  24. Re:Are Linux or open source software really better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bullshit. Anyone can learn how if they really want. Programming languages like C and C++ are very well documented with hundreds of fora available for assistance. Finding a section of code and yanking it is not the impossible feat you are trying to portray it as. Stop trying to seek refuge behind your own laziness and entitlement.

    I don't need to because 1) I don't use Firefox and 2) if I did, simply turning off the spyware with the Firefox settings is good enough for me and 99.99% of users. So where can users completely turn off the spyware in Windows 10 again?

  25. So how *does* one turn off telemetry completely by TimothyHollins · · Score: 1

    As the title says, how do /.ers turn off W10 telemetry completely? I've seen many solutions, but none seem to be successful in both allowing updates to come through and blocking *all* telemetry.

    1. Re:So how *does* one turn off telemetry completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      id imagine, first you'd have to kill the mighty ELAM driver, that loads before everything else, right?

      Then, somehow remove teeth out of the windows defender, and remove whatever loaded .sys files aren't necessary for system operation, so it stops regenerating?

      Currently, i'm of the opinion that in order to run win10 somewhat securely, one has to block azure's, microsoft's, amazon's and a whole bunch of other ip's on the router... and filter the dns requests from the win10 infected machine. And this is about 14393, only Yog-Sothot knows what they add in next release =)

    2. Re:So how *does* one turn off telemetry completely by green1 · · Score: 2

      And that's the trick. It's easy to block all the telemetry by simply blacklisting all the MS servers at the firewall. The issue is that also blocks updates.

      Pick your poison....

      Of course you ask what /.ers do. They don't run Windows in the first place!

    3. Re:So how *does* one turn off telemetry completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here's a start: https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/

    4. Re:So how *does* one turn off telemetry completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In a Forbes article, Microsoft's representative (the name escapes me at the moment) was quoted as saying that they couldn't turn off all of the telemetry (Microsoft's word for data collection) even if they wanted to.

      I believe that any changes will be cosmetic only, and that no matter what, Windows 10 will still continue to collect all of user's private and personal information at will. I do not believe that M$ will ever give users complete control over data collection in any update of Windows 10. Trust Micro$haft? They have proven many times over by their past actions that they CANNOT EVER BE TRUSTED!!!!

    5. Re:So how *does* one turn off telemetry completely by gweihir · · Score: 2

      Simple: Do not use Win10 or never connect it to a network. Anybody else that thinks they can reliably "turn of telemetry completely" in the face of missing documentation and forced updates is just kidding themselves. There is a good reason no well-known security researchers have come up with reliable recipes to do it, they know and understand this. It is also extremely telling that there are no good analyses of what actually gets sent out there: It is both difficult to do and the data could change completely on the next forced update.

      So, no, at this time it is not reliably possible to block telemetry and still have updates over the net. Of course, this is also designed by MS to not be easy and the only way to ever get this is if MS is forced legally to make it possible or forced to give the LTSB version (where they make assurances in this regard) gets general availability. The current changes are a good first step, but the process is far from completed. They need to be kicked where it hurts a few more times.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  26. You're welcome, &? apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See my subject line above - I go thru what I enumerated in my 'p.s.' in the post of mine you replied to ALL the time over my hosts file engine program - why? Someone's '$' is threatened (webmasters & advertisers primarily who infect + slow us down & track us, inferior competitors next, malwaremakers/botnets masters last)... doesn't take a brain to figure it out (just follow the money). Additionally, they fired their QA staffs largely (payroll is easiest cost to control) & use USERS as their guinea pigs for their 'FREE' inferior product.

    * Sad truth of the world isn't it? Follow the money - it's the answer to 9/10 questions, everytime. A real "OCCAM'S RAZOR".

    APK

    P.S.=> Still, I liked your spirit of telling them to essentially "F off" scumbags, lol... you're my kind of guy & yes, you're right (it's why MS is "going nuts" pushing Win10 on less saavy unsuspecting users for 'free' & yes, I do think they're going to do a corporate buyback of their stock for pennies on the dollar once this stupidity of theirs hurts them there, & THEN, they'll release a TRULY COSTLY version of Windows (that will be better though) & CLEANUP - only logical reasoning for their moves here MUST that as a 'failsafe' deadman-switch "BUSINESS PLAN 'B'" since after all - they're a BUSINESS & those exist to make money (yes, even 'non-profits' give their employees pay))... apk

    1. Re:You're welcome, &? apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      APK licks the sweat off a dead man's balls. It's like a fetish with this guy. Ball Sweat - Mmmm Mmmm Good!

      Also I once heard APK say "I just LOVE IT when my MISTRESS steps on my BALLS until I PASS OUT!!" He even said "caps lock on" and "caps lock off" because he's dedicated like that. This explains his fascination with stiletto heels.

    2. Re:You're welcome, &? apk by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      This troll is the WORST at their trade I have ever seen... What are you a fucking 5 year old? Tantrum much there big boy? LOLOLOLOL!

    3. Re:You're welcome, &? apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This troll is the WORST at their trade I have ever seen... What are you a fucking 5 year old? Tantrum much there big boy? LOLOLOLOL!

      Mr. Kowalski, it really is about time you registered a username. It's ok! We'll just pretend that you never, ever, EVER would use sock-puppet accounts, not even after you constantly make accusations of same most of the time someone with a username disagrees with you. You know, they say that honest men don't expect to be cheated, though it's okay, because honest men don't expect something for nothing so they are inherently hard to scam. Your suspicion of everyone else's disagreement betrays you.

    4. Re:You're welcome, &? apk by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      "Mr. Kowalski, it really is about time you registered a username" And This is coming from "Anonymous Coward" LOL!

  27. SSL Decrypt? by acoustix · · Score: 1

    Just curious, but is anyone running SSL decryption on their networks where they could see this traffic leaving the network? Would they be able to see the traffic in plain text to see what is being reported to Microsoft?

    --
    "A plan fiendishly clever in its intricacies"- Homer Simpson
    1. Re:SSL Decrypt? by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Given the past help? (12 July 2013)
      Recall the PRISM slides and the years for each US brand?
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
      "Microsoft handed the NSA access to encrypted messages"
      https://www.theguardian.com/wo...
      If you want a secure OS find one. Use Microsoft for games and DirectX 12 support.
      Let Microsoft enjoy the computer game feedback on Windows 10.
      Do any real computing with a more secure OS.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  28. In a good way? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... it always makes my ass twitch.

    In a good way?

    1. Re:In a good way? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      ... it always makes my ass twitch.

      In a good way?

      Unfortunately, generally no.

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  29. Go ahead, Microsoft by PPH · · Score: 1

    Read my data.

    Enjoy your PTSD.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  30. Do they really know what users want? by Ginguin · · Score: 1

    I am sure Microsoft has smart people who know how to sift through data to make future decisions, but I can see it going wrong (and have seen it go wrong).

    Camera pans over boardroom:
    Data Guy: "Did you know user data shows that consumers spend less than 0.1% of their computer time in the control panel?"
    Executive: "It must not be important and takes up a lot of developer time. Remove it!"
    Programmer: "Um... can we, maybe, not do that?"
    Executive: "Just KILL it! Also, you're fired!"

    --
    "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a targeted advertisement" - Adam Harvey
  31. LOL - wrong: Only 4 Windows Update fool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See my subject line above: It's FACT not your 'fake news' misleading disinformation bs https://www.petri.com/windows-10-ignoring-hosts-file-specific-name-resolution/ dumbass!

    * MS only blocks hosts from working on WINDOWS UPDATE SERVER ADDRESSES (host-domain names hardcoded in the dnsapi.dll slower broken w/ large hosts files usermode dnscache service - stop it, save cpu cycles/RAM/other I-O wasted on that broken junk (Linux has no such issue mind you) as well as electric power too you pay for & cache instead kernelmode to kernelmode (no context switch speedhit to usermode like dnsapi.dll) using the OS' diskcache to IP stack... win/win/win).

    APK

    P.S.=> Always a pleasure shooting your ass down easily, Not so "mighty" martian (you're stupid & weak - period)... apk

    1. Re:LOL - wrong: Only 4 Windows Update fool by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      I love all the personal attacks... The serve ONLY ti highlight the weakness of your debate skills... Oh, and where pray tell did I misinform? I stated that "You may feel however you like to sleep better - Which cannot be misinformation, as it contains no information. I stated that "No fucks were given" - which they certainly weren't, so strike two... I stated also that You were already properly rebuked. - As in you have already been responded to and we are ignoring the attempt at trolling further So, WHERE did I misinform? Please enlighten me... Keeping in mind that APK is not me... Two different persons you inattentive troll :-)

    2. Re:LOL - wrong: Only 4 Windows Update fool by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      EDIT - *they serve only to

    3. Re:LOL - wrong: Only 4 Windows Update fool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why attack apk SteveJackson? He replied to MightyMartian burning him with fact, not you. Apk supports you. You thanked him. Are you MightyMartian's sockpuppet forgetting to switch to that account or did you just accidentally reply to apk instead?

    4. Re:LOL - wrong: Only 4 Windows Update fool by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      You are correct. I mistook him for Mighty... My Bad.

  32. Privacy is like virginity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Once you lose it you can never regain it, even if MS implements better privacy controls in the future. The FDPIC and other privacy regulators should proceed with litigation regardless of this development.

  33. First by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ... wants users to "trust" ...

    First, Microsoft has to treat us like users: People who have sensitive data, want to know what their tools (computers) are doing with the rest of the internet, don't have to use your products (although the ubiquity of MS Office and vertical market software make that difficult) and yes, pay for the products you make.

  34. It's cool: Keep 1 thing in mind... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See my subject: Don't lose your cool w/ these reprehensible little troll pricks w/ their personal agendas ($)!

    It makes you make mistakes (yours is excusable).

    Just annihilate them w/ facts as I did to "notsomightymartian"https://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10130851&cid=53684953/

    You keep your cool & blow them away with verifiable, concrete & undeniable data from reputable sources?

    LOL, It kills them & their "fakenews" modus operandi + makes them "EAT THEIR WORDS" publicly!

    THAT's a real "killer" for wannabe 'geeks', better than blasting them upside the head even, as they have to die a "1,000 deaths" but that's no sweat to SCUM like them - why?

    Unlike you & yes me (APK = my initials, I just do not go for tracking + slowness "registered 'luser'" accounts here put you thru)? They are FAKE NAMES for their FAKE LIVES using deceits/fakenews disinformation-misinformation.

    APK

    1. Re:It's cool: Keep 1 thing in mind... apk by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      Sorry about that. You are correct. Thankfully, I have been reminded of the results of assumption :-) (I'll slow down!) thx!

    2. Re:It's cool: Keep 1 thing in mind... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry about that. You are correct. Thankfully, I have been reminded of the results of assumption :-) (I'll slow down!) thx!

      So you are a dumb n1gger with a tiny n1gger penis. Got it.

    3. Re:It's cool: Keep 1 thing in mind... apk by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

      Says the troll whose life has no value to anyone... LoL

  35. Re: Are Linux or open source software really bette by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So no need for doctors for medical care, either. Anybody can read a book and learn it!

    My God you must be autistic.

  36. Re:Are Linux or open source software really better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or Fedora, or Debian, or or or or or or

    Many a Linux distros feature opaque proprietary binaries. Kali [Debian] is one of them. So, yeah.

  37. Re: Are Linux or open source software really bette by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes because gambling with a life is exactly the same as learning how to pull out a few lines of code in a web browser...

    Get a grip and try to gain some perspective.

  38. Re:Are Linux or open source software really better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Red Star Linux

    Just for fun I want to install this on something now. I wonder if there's a way to get an english version...

  39. "Stand down Capt. Rogers" Winter Soldier by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See my subject: It's why these puny wannabes try "take me down" & can't! Good example? https://developers.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10130487&cid=53686331/ & /. owner losing adclicks here filters vs. me!

    (Which I blow by w/ ease)

    It's "ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS" from Google their MAIN sponsor vs. APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-5 32/64-bit https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=&bih=&q=%22APK+Hosts+File+Engine%22+and+%22start64%22&btnG=Google+Search&gbv=1/

    * Cuts these advertising fucks that slow us up & infect us to fucking SHREDS w/ what you have natively in faster kernelmode (vs. slower crippled or bug ridden "so-called 'solutions'") doing far more for far less for more speed, security, reliability & anonymity online.

    APK

    P.S.=> They're scared shitless & it shows, lol... apk

    1. Re:"Stand down Capt. Rogers" Winter Soldier by NIGGERpenisbestPENIS · · Score: 1

      So I use Ublock Origin, NoScript, a good restrictive firewall, and also a comprehensive /etc/hosts file.

      In what way does this make me "scared shitless" of a hosts file? Really, I am confused on this matter. I consider the minor resource usage to be a worthwhile trade-off for this beefy system. So you understand my confusion, then? Perhaps you could elaborate? Hopefully my multi-layered approach won't lead to accusations of not being enough of a pure "true believer" for your tastes. That would be a definite detriment to your (potentially reasonable) position, considering that I regard a good hosts file as a useful and valuable supplement to my multi-layered approach. In my use case, "not letting shit get through" is a higher priority than "make the most effecient use of hardware possible" especially when the difference between "current effeciency" and "maximum effeciency" are imperceptible to me.

      So I am asking about the nature of your advocacy. Do you believe you have the Holy Grail of Truth? Or do you recognize that your position is technically true, yet the final decision of how to secure a host is a complex problem best solved with overlapping concurrent solutions? This will be a litmus test of whether or not you are the fanatic some have called you. I await your response.

      --
      The best is simply the best.
  40. Re:It's not "trust" in the Merriam-Webster sense . by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

    This is the least objectionable use for the data. If it was truly and irreversibly anonymized, I wouldn't have a problem with MS datamining trends to give users what they want.

    I just have doubts about the truly or irreversible part, even if they claimed anonymity.

    --
    Your ad here. Ask me how!
  41. Re:It's not "trust" in the Merriam-Webster sense . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The early personal computer era was so full of promise. The future of what these machines could do, and how they would empower us, looked unlimited.

    Steve Jobs: "Think different".
    Bill Gates: "Where do you want to go today?"

    It's not about us anymore. It's about them. We are the product they are selling. Nadella might as well be saying: "Show us where you've been today."

  42. Message to MS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just had to post to send Microsoft a message.

    I'm gone, and I'm not coming back. UNLESS, you totally reverse all the telemetry BS, AND, somehow, regain my trust (if not trust, at least my understanding that you need some way to make a buck that isn't too onerous on me).

    As I've said before, I don't think the changes I require will happen - so, I'm gone, and I'm not coming back.

  43. Trust requires trustworthiness by gweihir · · Score: 1

    MS has none. They have engaged in criminal acts to screw over customers and competitors. Lying to their customers is something they routinely do. They have shown time and again that they feel zero obligations to their customers.

    Anybody trusting MS is stupid. They do not deserve trust. They must make legally binding accurate and complete statements about the data they collect, what it is being used for, and how it is secured against unauthorized access. And if they violate any of these assurances, it must be easy to get them convicted of misdoing and face penalties and pay compensation. Only under these circumstances does MS and win10 deserve a modicum of "trust".

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  44. Re:It's not "trust" in the Merriam-Webster sense . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    An interesting man once said that users don't know what they want until you show it to them.

  45. UBlock = inferior + inefficient vs. hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    UBlock can't do these as well as (or @ all) hosts do 4 speed, security, & reliability:

    1.) Protect vs. bad sites (past ads)
    2.) Protect vs. fastflux botnet C&C's
    3.) Protect vs. dyndns botnet C&C's
    4.) Protect vs. DGA botnet C&C's
    5.) Protect vs. downed DNS (reliability)
    6.) Protect vs. DNS poisoned dns
    7.) Protect vs. trackers
    8.) Protect vs. spam payloads
    9.) Protect vs. phish payloads
    10.) Protect vs. caps
    11.) Get past dns blocks
    12.) Keep off dns request logs
    13.) Speed up 2 ways (adblocks/hardcodes)
    14.) Work on anything webbound multiplatform.
    15.) Ez data edit
    16.) Block ads more efficiently in cpu/ram/I-O use
    17.) UBlock now uses hosts (no DNS benefits vs. dns issues) - poor imitation = "sincerest form of flattery"

    Hosts = native vs. illogically "Bolting on 'MoAr'" & not ClarityRay blockable like addons.

    APK

    P.S.=> Hosts (1st resolver) do MORE w/ less in fast kernelmode & before slow usermode addons

    Hosts ~3mb vs. UBlock = 64MB -> http://cdn.ghacks.net/wp-conte...

  46. Re:Are Linux or open source software really better by NIGGERpenisbestPENIS · · Score: 1

    Or Fedora, or Debian, or or or or or or

    Many a Linux distros feature opaque proprietary binaries. Kali [Debian] is one of them. So, yeah.

    You're not likely to run Kali Linux on your office workstation...

    --
    The best is simply the best.
  47. NoScript's also inferior like UBlock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See my subject: NoScript has to parse tags before it works in slow usermode vs. hosts in fast kernelmode that block scriptsources (like in ads from remote adservers https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10221859/ in 1 step before addons of any kind work, minus all that parsing.

    * Both UBlock https://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10130851&cid=53689859/ & NoScript are inefficient + vastly INFERIOR vs. hosts (as well as redundant wastes when you come right down to it).

    APK

    P.S.=> Do what you like but facts I just stated, backed by reputable sources & documentation, are facts & truth is truth... apk

  48. notMighty Martian eats his words on hosts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject & "NotMighty Martian" EAT MY DUST & his words too on hosts here & in this link https://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10130851&cid=53684953/

    * R o T f L m A o @ U "notMighty" Martian...

    APK

    P.S.=> Now you're 'gossiping' behind my back proving you're a trolling bitch too, not just a tech failure as seen in the link above, lol - thanks for being a butthurt FOOL for me & change your diet - "EATING YOUR WORDS" != GOOD NUTRITION, lmao... apk

  49. /.ers disagree outnumbering you #1/2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    his hosts program is actually pretty good by xenotransplant

    his hosts tool is actually useful for those cases in which one does indeed want to locally block stuff outright while consuming minimum system resources by alexgieg

    I've never tried to belittle (APK's) work, I've flat out said it's good by BronsCon

    take a look at the APK hosts file engine by SuperKendall

    APK is kinda right. I've tried his hosts file generating software. It works by bmo

    APK is totally right on this count. Adblock Plus on Firefox mobile is a dog on older, or lower end, phones. A hostfile based adblocker makes for a much better experience by chihowa

    I like your host file system by Karmashock

    I find your hosts file admirable by vel-ex-tech

    * My code's liked + recommended & hosted by Malwarebytes' hpHosts!

    (That's as legitimate as it gets - especially vs. an UNIDENTIFIABLE trolling worm (like you...)).

    APK

    P.S.=> More coming... apk

    1. Re:/.ers disagree outnumbering you #1/2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even more spam? You continue to validate my statement.

  50. /.ers disagree outnumbering you #2/2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I support APK's stand on the hosts file by Trax3001BBS

    Your premise that hostfiles are a good way to deal with advertising and malvertising is quite valid by JazzLad

    No complaints from me, I like APK... Reminds me to use a host file. Also, his stuff is free by aaaaaaargh!

    APK's monolithic hosts file is looking pretty good by Culture20

    APK... Awesome to see he's still spreading the good word by Molochi

    ABP is insufficient as a solid hosts file does everything that APK reminds us about by fast turtle

    APK isn't wrong by cfalcon

    APK, I know people give you a lot of shit regarding hosts, but please don't ever stop by nasredin

    You need APK's hosts file by Teun

    APK solution STILL relevant by Thud457

    you're right about hosts files by drinkypoo

    APK

    P.S.=> They're in addition to https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10130851&cid=53691311 more earlier + 1,000's worldwide w/ them - there's no arguing w/ MY success... apk

    1. Re:/.ers disagree outnumbering you #2/2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More spam just confirms that your software is crap. If it were good, it could stand on its own merits.

  51. Dear unidentifiable trolling cowardly worm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject & 2 links of dozens of quoted registered /. users diagreeing w/ you by a ratio of 20++:1 https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10130851&cid=53691311/ & https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10130851&cid=53691501/

    * You're vastly outnumbered & @ I have that vs. YOUR bullshit you UNIDENTIFIABLE little do-nothing "ne'er-do-well" COWARDLY online scum...

    APK

    P.S.=> See my subject & those links of our registered user /. peers disagreeing w/ your bs on hosts efficacy... apk

    1. Re:Dear unidentifiable trolling cowardly worm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If only you could see yourself objectively. MightyMartian was right. You ARE mentally ill and every post you make is tacit admission of that fact.

    2. Re:Dear unidentifiable trolling cowardly worm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MightyMartian, stfu. You got blown down by apk hahahaha https://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10130851&cid=53684953/

    3. Re:Dear unidentifiable trolling cowardly worm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To top off your mental illness, you also appear to have multiple personalities. If you aren't already seeing a psychiatrist, you should start.

    4. Re:Dear unidentifiable trolling cowardly worm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MightyMartian You're projecting your own mental illness issues and got blown down by apk too https://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10130851&cid=53684953/

  52. Re:Are Linux or open source software really better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There is with some locale setting thing - the incomprehensible "locales" features on the linux command line that annoys you sometimes if you're unlucky. ERROR **** Locale blah missing. Could not compile. Segmentation fault.
    That joke aside, seen it in either a screencast video on youtube, or in the presentation by Chaos Computer Club, or both.

    Some things might stay in Korean. I wanted to try the OS but there was only the "server" version available, which has a desktop but not many apps at all (nor wallpapers). Might be the "desktop" version available. I'd want to try running the music sheet writing program, I think that one is home grown. It's fascinating how computers are new things for the people there, and so I assume it's like the 80s or the 90s were for us (despite them having multi-gigahertz computers)
    In what was intended as a propaganda video, I saw a guy at a computer looking up some knowledge (perhaps it was the great new "sci-tech" center full of computer monitors and seats that all run firefox, all turned on when the camera is there - perhaps the military brings in diesel generators for the occasion). Well, I digress. The guy was looking up things and scribbling on paper to bring the knowledge home with him :).