On 2025-03-31 02:10, RonB wrote:
On 2025-03-30, CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote:
On 2025-03-30 3:00 a.m., RonB wrote:
On 2025-03-29, CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote:
On 2025-03-29 2:12 a.m., RonB wrote:
On 2025-03-28, CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote:
... it confirms the removal of a popular bypass.
It looks like local accounts will be a thing of the past, on PCs anyway. >>>>>> Linux will be the last remaining option.
<https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/microsoft-will-force-windows-11-installs-to-use-a-microsoft-account-confirms-removal-of-popular-setup-bypass>
The final reason to not install Windows on any partition at all. Zero >>>>> interest in a Microsoft account and about the only time I boot into Windows
(already) is to update it. So, basically, if you don't have a connection to
the Internet you can't install Windows. Another win for Linux.
The concept of non-local accounts is actually unnatural to a lot of
people who aren't too familiar with the way computers work. As I was
doing the tech meeting for my school board a few weeks ago (I'm one of >>>> two tech representatives for my school), I noticed that a few teachers >>>> were complaining that Windows automatically displayed personal photos to >>>> the students (since the computer is connected to a projector in class) >>>> whenever the machine would go to sleep. I replied that it might not be a >>>> good idea to put personal content on the OneDrive account. They had no >>>> idea what I was referring to. Then, another teacher complained that they >>>> had taken a screenshot on one computer and that the screenshot was then >>>> available on another. They thought it was hacking or something. I had to >>>> inform them that logging into Windows is done through a Microsoft
account, in this case the one tied to the school board. If they take a >>>> screenshot or add any content to their personal folders, those folders >>>> are synchronized with the web and then back to whatever computer they
use on which they use their Microsoft account. I also informed them that >>>> this was a _feature_, same as it on Macs that do the same thing, and
that they actively have to disable it. I then explained how they could >>>> do so.
I'm rambling, but it shows how people expect content to remain on the
computer it was created or saved. The content of synchronization across >>>> devices, for better or for worse, doesn't seem right. Obviously, it has >>>> lots of benefits because it is available to you wherever you are and
whatever device you use. However, it also means that Microsoft (or
Google or Apple) has access to that content as well. At best, they will >>>> store it on their servers and not bother you; at worst, they will scan >>>> your content for politically correct wording and edit it for you or call >>>> the authorities because a cute photo you took of your naked one-year-old >>>> is believed to be child pornography. There used to be an option to opt >>>> out at installation, not anymore. You can opt out from within the system >>>> later on, but finding the option to do so might be a lot more
complicated than you expected.
The only account I sync online is Simplenote. No pictures, just text and >>> mostly just stuff I'll forget if I don't "write it down."
I guess I do have Google Drive, but I only upload stuff up like screenshots >>> or short screenplays that I want to share and I fully realize that Google >>> has access to this stuff, but I don't care. Anything I don't want to lose or
I don't want to share, I don't upload anywhere.
backup locally.
Getting older, I'm preferring to back up onto my own external hard disk
despite the availability of OneDrive and things similar. For documents
and photos, there is no doubt that Microsoft offers convenience though.
Back in the day, we had one machine and if we lost our photos, we really
felt like garbage if we didn't bother to back them up. Now, we're using
at least two and if one of those devices were to fail, it's nice to know
that those photos are still on the other machine as well as the online
server. It's especially useful for users who get affected by malware
that encrypts their personal data.
At the same time, knowing that Apple is constantly scanning user
accounts to "look for illegal material" doesn't comfort me in any way.
To give you an idea, when my father-in-law sent me a photo of my boy
taking a dip in his little swimming pool when he was over, I immediately
freaked out because I knew that to Apple or Microsoft, that's not a cute
photo of my son: that's potential child pornography.
What I'm doing for backing up my data now is getting $1.49 USB to SATA
cables and buying 2.5" 500GB (7200) SATA hard drives for about $10
(shipped). A cheap, faster thumb drive. I don't know how many pictures you have or how big they are, but a 500 GB drive can hold quite a few.
For this Linux machine, I use a 2TB HD I pulled out of its original
enclosure and put into a $10 one I bought at Canada Computers. As far as
I know, people usually throw out these $80 external hard disks after a
year or two because the operating system no longer detects the drive.
People assume the drive is dead, but the reality is that the connector
on the enclosure and the wire provided are both complete shit. If you
open it up and put the drive into a different one, it works as expected.
I could have just thrown it out and bought another, but I don't feel
like throwing something I know I can get working out. It does its job as
a complement to this $150 laptop and its aging 128GB SSD.
--
God be with you,
CrudeSausage
John 14:6
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)