Win10 S&M Pro Edition

Seriously, either nail down Win7 (for those who need legacy stuff that won’t play well in Wine), or install Linux already.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update breaks most webcams
The Windows 10 Anniversary Update, aka version 1607, has been found to leave many webcams inoperable. The update prevents the use of webcams in applications such as Skype and Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), along with all manner of custom CCTV programs. Extremely popular hardware, such as Logitech’s C920 and C930e cameras, in conjunction even with Microsoft’s own Skype, will fail to properly broadcast video.

Yeah, MicroShaft-you is big, but why hasn’t someone sued them into oblivion with a class action suit? Or for the Win10 HIPAA violations?

Microsoft just needs to sell the source code

…to Orient Industry.

Microsoft deletes ‘teen girl’ AI after it became a Hitler-loving sex robot within 24 hours
A day after Microsoft introduced an innocent Artificial Intelligence chat robot to Twitter it has had to delete it after it transformed into an evil Hitler-loving, incestual sex-promoting, ‘Bush did 9/11’-proclaiming robot.

Hey, Bill; there’s a reason children need responsible parents to guide them towards adulthood.

Seriously, Microsoft? “Tay also asks her followers to ‘f***’ her, and calls them ‘daddy’.?

If people needed another reason to dump MS Windows, they could consider the possibility of a “Tay” personal assistant being built into Win10.

And if you believe that

I’ve got a slightly used bridge for sale on eBay.

Recently Bought a Windows Computer? Microsoft Probably Has Your Encryption Key
ONE OF THE EXCELLENT FEATURES of new Windows devices is that disk encryption is built-in and turned on by default, protecting your data in case your device is lost or stolen. But what is less well-known is that, if you are like most users and login to Windows 10 using your Microsoft account, your computer automatically uploaded a copy of your recovery key — which can be used to unlock your encrypted disk — to Microsoft’s servers, probably without your knowledge and without an option to opt out.
[…]
Users can choose to delete recovery keys from their Microsoft accounts…

Everyone who believes that will completely delete the key from MacroSnoop’s servers, raise your hand.

Seriously, folks. I’ve heard of some alleged freedom lovers who claim to love Win10. Why?

Windows 10: BDSM Edition

Cory Doctorow has several more reasons not to allow that spying POS anywhere near your machines.

Windows 10 covertly sends your disk-encryption keys to Microsoft
There’s no way to turn off the “recovery” feature that sends your disk encryption keys to Microsoft by default, without notice…
[…]
Windows 10 has many unprecedented anti-user features: a remote killswitch that lets it disable your hardware; keylogging and browser-history logging that, by default, sends it all to Microsoft, and a deceptive “privacy mode” that continues to exfiltrate your data, even when you turn it on.

I’m sure the FBI and NSA appreciate MacroSnoop’s cooperation, but as I’ve noted before, this shit could get you sent to prison; along with lawsuits, employment termination and so forth. It’s almost as if MS set out to intentionally design a permanent HIPAA violation.

And never forget: MS is still trying to retrofit Win7/8 with at least some of that spyware.

Tell you what: Send me a blank DVD or thumb drive and a SASE, and I’ll pre-install Linux Mint as a bootable live version. Stick it in your computer, restart, and with a couple of clicks it will pretty much automatically install Mint for you. You’ll no longer have to worry about MacroSnoop.

But really: Mint is pretty darned easy to install, even without my assistance, and that’s faster than waiting on snailmail. Go for it.

Windows 10: Reason # eleventy-gazzillion to avoid it

Windows 10 won’t run games with SecuROM DRM, says Microsoft
While Windows 10 is largely good news for gamers, it turns out that those with a collection of older games laden with DRM copy protection software are going to have a hard time getting them up and running on the new OS. In an interview with Rocket Beans TV (as translated by Rock, Paper, Shotgun) at this year’s Gamescom, Microsoft’s Boris Schneider-Johne explained that that Windows 10 won’t be able to run games that use SafeDisc and SecuROM technology.

No, not that DRM-bricking. That’s eleventy-gazzillion-one. Frankly, DRM tends towards evil, so it’s hard to get worked up over that (of course, I don’t have any of the verboten DRM games; YMMV on that).

Eleventy-gazzillion is this:

“Everything that ran in Windows 7 should also run in Windows 10,” said Johne, “There are just two silly exceptions: antivirus software, and stuff that’s deeply embedded into the system…

Yeah, they’re killing third party antivirus protection. Presumably that leaves you with MS’ own AV, which in previous versions of Windows has been less effective, with fewer and less comprehensive updates, than third party stuff like Avast! AV. If you can’t beat the competition, brick ’em. Kinda like when MS killed ZoneAlarm, then the most popular third party firewall in the world.

That “stuff that’s deeply embedded” would worry me, too. Is that stuff like third party disk defrag? Unapproved DLLs? UI interface tweaking tools that make Win semi-tolerable for some people?

Friends don’t let friends use Win10. But if they do, medicate them. Drugs are safer.

Fortunately, the rest of the Internet will monitor Twitter for me

If you don’t understand, read thisand this.

Hat tip to Never Yet Melted,who obviously puts up with Twitter so I don’t have to.

You WILL be assimilated

Microsoft is downloading Windows 10 to PCs, even if you don’t “reserve” a copy
Microsoft has confirmed that it is “helping upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they need” in the event that owners decide to migrate to the new OS, even if they have heretofore passed up on “reserving” their free upgrade from Windows 7 or 8.

The issue seems to revolve around the Microsoft update KB3035583, and as such it appears to only afflict individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates.

I told you to turn off automatic updates. You did… right?

Look, I know they’ve brainwashed you into thinking those updates are necesary for security, lest some Russki hacker get into your porn and bank files. Not really.

The real security issues, like major zero day probs, you’re going to hear about; you can install those fixes on a case by case basis. But even those wouldn’t be a problem if you stop downloading and running every file presented in pop-ups and email. Install a third party firewall (and if you’re on broadband, turn on your router’s firewall — if it doesn’t have one, you need a router built this century anyway).

Besides, MS’ ‘security’ updates are BS anyway. I wiped Windows from this machine completely when the idiots pushed a ‘security’ update that caused screen fonts to be illegible. Security? Font rendering?

The security hazards of not using automatic updates are far, far, far lower than the risks of MS-approved security risks. Remember?

Again, you can avoid all the Microsoft crap by installing Linux. It’s free, it’s easy (finally), and you can pick from many different versions. I recommend Mint Linux for most Windows users. I can walk you through it, if you need hand-holding. If you absolutely must use some Win app (I empathize; I still can’t find acceptable CMYK support in Linux), go dual boot and only run Win if you’re doing that one weird Win thing.