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Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
Windows Update came roaring back today [Mar 7] after more than a month in a semi-comatose state, and the chute filled up quickly this morning. Windows Update seems to be working well -- even more reason to check your Win7 and 8.1 systems and make sure it's turned off
[...] More disconcerting are the re-re-releases of KB 2952664 (Win7) and KB 2976978 (Win8.1). As I explained last month, those two patches have, in the past, triggered a new Windows task called DoScheduledTelemetryRun.
Even proponents of installing all Win7 and 8.1 patches balk at those patches, which were born in the crucible of the Get Windows 10 (GWX) marched upgrade madness. The series was renumbered, with no explanation: KB 2852664 was renumbered from revision 25 on Oct. 4, 2016, to revision 12 today. Microsoft states:
This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. The diagnostics evaluate the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem, and help Microsoft to ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows. There is no GWX or upgrade functionality contained in this update.
Yet it appears as if the scheduled task runs whether CEIP is enabled or not. If there's a reason for installing the patches, other than increased telemetry, I haven't heard about it.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by sjames on Friday March 10 2017, @04:48PM (16 children)
Beyond that, why in the world would anyone trust MS to be in control of ring 0 on their machine given the number of shenanigans they have pulled? If you're actively fighting against their patches, you must not trust them that much, but you're willingly running their code at ring 0?
That's like inviting a burglar to live with you and searching their room every night looking for packed bags with your stuff in them, but for some reason you don't kick them out after the 6th time you find the good silver in their suitcase.
(Score: 5, Funny) by vux984 on Friday March 10 2017, @05:01PM (15 children)
I think the analogy works. But the reason you don't kick them out, is that they pay the rent, and finding a new room-mate is impossible because that pretty gal Linux and her friends BSD and MacOS would all move in tomorrow... but they won't pay your rent. Sure, Linux might pay your rent if you keep enough WINE in her, but you really can't rely on that working out. So you put up with the burglar Windows and you just keep really close watch on your silverware. Maybe one day, you wont need to live with that asshat, but right now its essential to you not living on the street. Plus he's far and away the best gaming buddy on weekends, and can help you with your accounting and taxes.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 10 2017, @05:30PM
One of the best things I've read on this site. Well done.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Grishnakh on Friday March 10 2017, @06:06PM (10 children)
and can help you with your accounting and taxes.
Who still uses installed software to do taxes? All that stuff has moved to web apps now.
And why would I want to put up with a roommate that decorates my whole home in garish colors and ugly patterns, steals my stuff constantly, kicks my cat, and is constantly locking random doors so I can't even move around the house normally? Just because he plays games on the weekend (which I can do just fine with other roommates too, though maybe with a more limited selection of games, but that suits me fine because I really don't care about playing the newest games)? You have some strange priorities.
(Score: 2) by vux984 on Friday March 10 2017, @07:16PM (5 children)
Who still uses installed software to do taxes? All that stuff has moved to web apps now.
Corporate taxes; payroll taxes; etc
You have some strange priorities.
Pays the rent and puts the food on the table. That was the big one.
maybe with a more limited selection of games,
"Maybe"?? Don't kid yourself. It's not maybe. Linux game selection is like Netflix movie selection. There's lots there... but don't pretend you aren't missing out.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Friday March 10 2017, @09:33PM (4 children)
There's lots there... but don't pretend you aren't missing out.
Yeah, I'm missing out the same way I'm missing out on country music and baseball: it's out there, but I simply don't care.
(Score: 2) by art guerrilla on Saturday March 11 2017, @12:28PM (3 children)
c'mon, that is rank sophistry, and you know better...
YOUR pwecious this or that which is NOT sequestered from your attention via some nefarious kapitalist pig scheme is not someone else's this or that...
conversely, were it to be your ox being gored, i imagine you would be squealing...
on this particular issue in general, i would love to abandon windoze for all kinds of reasons, yet i am dependent -both at home/work- on mainstream programs which either do not have THE EXACT SAME (FORGET about 'file compatibility', etc; it MUST be the EXACT SAME program, not an 'equivalent') programs with the same capabilities as it has under windoze... i can NOT afford to spend meta-nerd time figuring a TON of shit out JUST TO GET TO the point i can actually get the software to do the work which is the WHOLE POINT of my employment...
i am paid to produce those virtual widgets; i am NOT paid a cent to avoid micro$oft...
if i can't run AutoCad, Adobe CS, Corel Draw (i know), SketchUp, Outlook, Excel, etc, etc, etc, OUT OF THE CHUTE without dicking around 'tweaking' shit for weeks on end, then i simply can't afford to use that setup...
end of insurrection...
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Grishnakh on Saturday March 11 2017, @04:02PM (2 children)
That's fine: you've tied your economic future to Microsoft. That's a choice that YOU made; it was not forced on you. Now you have to suffer with the consequences of your decision.
Furthermore, there's a difference between what you do with a computer that isn't yours, and isn't really controlled by you, and one that is your property (i.e., work vs. home). I use Windows at work for reading email and such; I don't like it it at all, but I don't like meetings and other work stuff much either. However, to me, it's not really my problem. I can change jobs at any time if I get fed up enough, and if Windows takes a shit and doesn't work for me, it's really not my problem: I just call the IT department and let them solve it. If that impacts my work performance, so be it: I'll duly note it and pass the blame to IT and Windows. The company made their choice, and they get to suffer the consequences for it. (Also worth noting is that big-company Windows systems don't have many of these problems; they don't run the home version.) But for my own personal systems at home, I don't have to put up with that shit since I can do whatever I want there.
No, you're not "dependent" on MS at home; you just choose to make yourself so. Unless you run your own business out of your home, what you do at home has no bearing on what you do at work.
(Score: 2) by art guerrilla on Saturday March 11 2017, @04:39PM (1 child)
why, yes, i *do*, in fact, work from home and have to use the EXACT same s/w, etc...
i have *at least* tried to stay at win7 sp2 for the last couple laptops/desktops i have gotten; but microborg is starting to make it all but impossible to avoid the hive mind...
if -as your implied worst-case scenario- microborg gains consciousness and promptly commits suicide, then all the industries i work with will change to appropriate equivalents... until that ocean level rises to their nostrils, though, they will not budge...
got a manager who insists we 'need' corel draw for a specific task which historically has been done a lot with corel draw; but he doesn't get that illustrator, or any of a dozen mainstream progs can do the same thing... he is fixated on it has to be 'corel draw', because that is how it was done... no special corel draw features involved, just simple vectors any basic vector-based prog can do...
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Saturday March 11 2017, @06:12PM
if -as your implied worst-case scenario- microborg gains consciousness and promptly commits suicide, then all the industries i work with will change to appropriate equivalents
If, by "commits suicide", you mean that MS goes completely over-the-top with their policies (spyware, Windows Store-only software, etc.), then I think this is non-sequitur. Why would these industries change, if the software they've made themselves dependent on all only work on Windows? I don't think they're that far-sighted. Just look at your manager who insists on Corel Draw for example. If CD only works on Windows 10 (2019 Super Spyware edition that requires a phone-home connection even for businesses so all your confidential business data can be sent to MS), then of course he's going to just go with that.
I can only hope that a bunch of big companies get their data stolen and sent to China and are then put out of business as a result. It'll serve them right.
(Score: 2) by KilroySmith on Friday March 10 2017, @08:24PM (3 children)
>>>Who still uses installed software to do taxes? All that stuff has moved to web apps now.
In a story about spyware in Windows, you're suggesting doing your taxes online?
I install tax software, update it, then disconnect while I fill in the details and print out my forms to mail in. I paid for the software, why do they believe they have the right to all my personal financial information also?
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Friday March 10 2017, @09:30PM (2 children)
If you're worried about a 3rd party seeing your tax forms, then you can always just do them by hand. Those automatic tax form programs are known to make mistakes.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Saturday March 11 2017, @07:02AM (1 child)
I always try to do mine by hand, too. But then mine are simple. Old retired guy. Not much income.
And I try my damndest not to rock the boat by messing with buying and selling stocks, real estate, or other reportable economic activities.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Saturday March 11 2017, @04:06PM
You can still do all that stuff by hand; I used to, years ago. The IRS has long provided fillable PDF forms that make it pretty easy to make nice-looking forms, and it isn't all that complicated really once you learn it. It's obviously not quite as convenient as software, but it is doable.
But if you're retired with low income, it's super-easy. All you really need to do is the standard 1040 (or maybe even 1040EZ), unless I'm missing something. Taxes only get hard when you have a more complicated situation like running a business or doing real estate.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Friday March 10 2017, @08:29PM (2 children)
A surprisingly large number of people just use the web, do some email, light word processing, and perhaps some games. Taxes are done on the web now. Many internal business apps are either web based or can be accomplished in LibreOffice. It turns out that MS guy will still pay the rent if you put bars on his bedroom door. That Linux girl may not be able to pay full rent, but she doesn't mind doing the cooking and cleaning and she won't complain about your odd taste in artwork.
(Score: 2) by vux984 on Friday March 10 2017, @08:41PM (1 child)
A surprisingly large number of people just use the web, do some email, light word processing, and perhaps some games.
True but those people are migrating to ipads not to linux.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Friday March 10 2017, @09:11PM
That may open it's own can of worms for them, but at least it's not staying in an abusive relationship with MS.