Remember back when everyone's computers were infected with this crap because everyone installed p2p crap like Kazaa?
Do non-tech savvy people still have a reason to install software? Don't most people just need a web browser?
Do non-tech savvy people still have a reason to install software? Don't most people just need a web browser?
There are a bunch of well SEO'd sites that will come up if you google nearly any computer issue that will appear to have a solution, but step 3 is usually to try installing some software.
(For example, if you google "can't delete file windows" this site will come up. I don't recommend installing the software https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/delete-fil... ) Here's a discussion on MalwareBytes forum about it: https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/166526-easeus-partitio...
No matter how many times I yell and scream at friends not to just blindly google for "Device Drivers" and install them, they do. Even sites that look a lot like a legit Epson or Canon site (for scanner or printer drivers, etc) are fake. (And they're searching for device drivers because they have a printer problem and they don't realize that the need to install a custom driver for a name-brand current printer on Windows or MacOS is very very rare)
That's interesting. It starts talking about different ways to try to delete a file, and at the end it recommends that software and gives instructions to wipe partitions with it. Did I misunderstood that?
> No matter how many times I yell and scream at friends not to just blindly google for "Device Drivers" and install them, they do. Even sites that look a lot like a legit Epson or Canon site (for scanner or printer drivers, etc) are fake.
Does Windows still not have package repositories like Linux distros do? Installing software from anywhere other than official repos should be an obvious no-no if repos simply existed.
Yes, of course. And If you must get the custom software (for example I like the value-added software for my Fujitsu document scanners with sheet-feeders) then the ONLY thing to do is to go to Fujitsu's official site--after making 100% certain it's really the site--and getting it from there.
https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/solved-printer-driver-i...
People will ignore the giant red warning Windows gives you and install it.
It is amusing to me that you mention Canon, since they're one of the worst offenders I've dealt with in this regard. During the change from W98 to Win7, they cut off support for whole product lines. My scanner, purchased just a few years ago, was now useless. My Linux box had better driver support than my shiny new Windows box.
It was unbelievable that my scanner was no longer functional, and I was willing to try some hacking to try to get it functional again...
So... I understand especially why people are looking for drivers. They're looking to extend the value of their purchases.
Luckily, most of the time, you don’t need printer drivers for consumer printers for Macs. They mostly support AirPrint.
See: https://www.cultofmac.com/415565/how-to-eliminate-the-adware...
And no, you don't generally need to install printer drivers on Windows from anyone other than Microsoft via the update or the new-hardware detection.
You definitely don't have to worry about whether a new printer already has a driver distributed by Apple.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4015386/windows-10-...