Look out, Win10's privacy-mauling features coming to Win7/8 through updates

Hide these updates if you don't want them:

http://www.ghacks.net/2015/08/28/microsoft-intensifies-data-collection-on-windows-7-and-8-systems/

So... which version of Linux should I get?

Thanks for the heads up.

It really seems like Windows 7 is going to be the last version of Windows I run on my personal computers. Not sure if that means OSX or some other kind of *nix but I'm sure something will work just fine.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: So... which version of Linux should I get?

I recommend the latest Mint LTS w/ MATE desktop. It's like Ubuntu before it went off the rails into crazytown, and tried to become a half-desktop half-tablet OS.

pres589 wrote: It really seems like Windows 7 is going to be the last version of Windows I run on my personal computers.

Me too, maybe a little time running Win10, but once I'm on Win10's rolling-release style updates, I'm pretty much at the mercy of Microsoft's whims, and they're becoming a very privacy-invasive company very quickly these days. I only run Windows on my gaming desktop, so I hope Linux works a lot better for games real soon...

That doesn't look too difficult to disable those, but it is distressing, nonetheless.

Sky_Render wrote: That doesn't look too difficult to disable those, but it is distressing, nonetheless.

It's not, but it isn't nice that you have to do it.

Disabling updates is one of the first things I do to a computer. Windows 8 still asks me every week or two if I'm sure I don't want it to update. It will probably keep asking forever.

Disabling updates in general is a terrible idea...your OS and IE probably have tons of unpatched security vulnerabilities at this point.

Toyman01 wrote: Disabling updates is one of the first things I do to a computer. Windows 8 still asks me every week or two if I'm sure I don't want it to update. It will probably keep asking forever.

The rest of the botnets on the internet thank you for your service to the collective.

The rest of us humans who have to try and share the remaining bandwidth with you, just think you're an shiny happy person.

Turn the updates back on, leave teh system off the net or convert it to run IX if you want more control and less vulnerabilities.

Toyman01 wrote: Disabling updates is one of the first things I do to a computer. Windows 8 still asks me every week or two if I'm sure I don't want it to update. It will probably keep asking forever.

You might want to look up "zero day exploits".

When Microsoft releases an update to cover a vulnerability, guess what the secondary effect of that is? That's right, it's broadcasting to the world the exact way you can guarantee you can find a vulnerability in the OS.

It's like a big cat hunting cattle. They get the slow ones.

still running Vista...

GameboyRMH wrote: Disabling updates in general is a terrible idea...your OS and IE probably have tons of unpatched security vulnerabilities at this point.

Though from Vista through 8.1, I have been baffled by Microsofts inconsistency with automatically installing updates. On multiple machines I have them set for automatic updating. Yet invariably when I go and manually check for updates, there's a dozen or so sitting there waiting to be installed. This includes critical updates.

Equally baffling, Microsoft will automatically install some of them. I've no idea the rhyme or reason for the ones that do in fact automatically update.

One thing I do not like about the automatic updates from Microsoft is they slow the machine down terribly, and there is no indicator to let you know it is installing updates on its own (there is an indicator if you manually start the process).

Privacy? What is this privacy you speak of? I do not believe that such a thing exists.

Here's a hint folks: Second Tuesday of every month is "Patch Tuesday" when Microsoft releases their patches for the month. So just plan on checking and installing updates that day every month and you'll be a bit more secure.

Also there are different levels of patches, so most systems will automatically install Critical patches, but not Important, etc. This is somewhat adjustable from within the Windows Update application.