Oh Frick Go Back: GUI Tool to Removes Ads from Various Places Around Windows 11
github.com
github.com
Microsoft has already decided that they will collect as much of your private data as they can in order to turn their Windows OS into an advertising platform. If that bothers you the only real solution is to stop using Windows.
I don't know, Windows 7 Pro 64-bit is still a pretty great solution, personally.
However few if any new games support the old operating system at all. Windows 7 is a complete non-starter in 2024, it's too old.
Apple has been keeping the user experience a priority in all their latest updates, and Linux desktops are more usable than they've ever been. There's absolutely no reason to use Windows 7 for anything important if Windows 11 is a dealbreaker.
Microsoft isn't about to reverse course and make Windows good again, so if you've already decided not to use Windows 11, start the process of acclimating to a new OS now, rather than stagnating on a dead OS that is only going to get less safe to use moving forward.
If budget is a concern, I promise you your Windows 7 PC will run Linux. If you are experiencing the sunken cost of all the Windows-exclusive software that you have already purchased, then pony up for a Windows 11 PC, because you're not going to survive on a EOL Windows OS for very long.
Generally speaking yes, but realistically only if you’re opening your ports to the internet. There are lots of random scanners out there that are attempting to exploit known 0-days etc in all systems. Granted the biggest one is probably ETERNALBLUE, which I think doesn’t go back to 95, but still.
Obviously browsing infected pages on a hypothetically working web browser would also do the trick, but sites like HN are benign. Windows 95 is so old, though, that you’re unlikely to find much web-enabled software that works well outside of enthusiast projects.
If you plugged it into the internet with a public IP, someone would likely gain full remote control of the machine in a matter of seconds to hours.
You might think you’re safe if you only connect to your home internet, since that’s not wide open for anyone to scan. But then your kid/nephew/friend uses your wifi and they have a spyware-filled Doodle Jump game clone on their phone that asks for permission to connect to the local network, and your kid/nephew/friend wants to play the game so of course they click yes, and now that’s scanning your home network, and now your Windows 7 computer is part of a botnet.
The same thing would happen on the coffee shop’s WiFi, the hotel’s wifi, and so on. Unless you never connect to a network of any kind ever, it’s a bad idea.
The reality seems to be that problems stem from the user and what software they use to access the internet more than just being connected. This jives with your comments as you keep mentioning user actions that result in infections.
Is it behind a router? Most routers have stateful firewalls doing a lot of work to keep random connections from passing to the NAT'd devices behind them. All the "infected in under 5 minutes" stories I've seen were machines connected directly to the internet.
Also, are you monitoring inbound/outbound traffic for that machine? It seems like you should at least be seeing attempts to compromise your machine (even if they're not working). Is it using IPv4? If you've got a setup that stops port scans, vulnerability scanners, and internet worms you should share!
The enemy of good is perfect. Maybe we can't stop them spying or trying to force their way back in on every update, but we can fight back. If it's as simple as changing a few registry keys to disable ads, why wouldn't you just do it? "Stop using Windows or live with it" are not the only two options.
Personally, I think that if the computer you use has software on it that is actively spying on everything you do, you should remove that software from your computer. If that software happens to be the OS, I think the best way to "fight back" is to not pay the company spying on you money for the next version, and find an alternative that respects your privacy.
Nearly every video game, for starters, and a good chunk of games that were ported to Mac OS don't work anymore since the deprecation of 32-bit apps.
That's always been the case -- the question is which games, not gaming in general
If just being able to to load up a game was all that was needed, a TI-86 is sufficient
Most people use Windows because it's easy and runs everything they want to run without needing to install wine, compile from source, trust some library someone made, or use a VM.
The steam deck is fantastic and has done more for gaming on a Free OS than anyone else has in the last 20 years, but it can't run everything
Most CAD software, unless you are OK with websites or glorified websites with desktop clients (looking at you, Fusion 360). Alibre? SolidWorks? Standard AutoCAD?
Add CNC milling tools to that. Good luck finding Mac-compatible CAM software of any kind (unless, again, Fusion 360 and only Fusion 360).
For many companies that are running specialized windows only software, some of that software will have only been written for Windows in the first place because Windows was either already being used by the company or because that was the expectation. Again, not unreasonable. When companies write their own software they write for the OS they have. When software companies want to sell their programs they'll naturally tend to target the most popular OS being used. It's sort of self-perpetuating that people use/write software for what they (or most people) already have.
For software that couldn't be run using something like WINE it would take time/money to replace or rewrite that windows software. That's a hurdle, but not an impossible one to clear. I've worked at companies that were entirely dependent on the AS/400 or Lotus Notes, but they somehow made the investment and found other solutions. As much as I don't think web apps and SaaS are a good idea, those options will make it easier for some companies to let go of windows too.
Right now, it probably wouldn't make sense for a lot of companies to stop using Windows. The same can't be said for what most people have installed on their personal computers though. The more alternatives to Windows spread outside of the office/factory the easier it gets to replace it in the workplace.
There is also quite a lot, and growing, amount of software that is rather legacy and will only run under WINE.
You can obviously run up a Linux box on a Mac in a VM and Bob's your mother's brother.
I'd bet it's possible. Older versions of windows were capable at least so you could probably upgrade from DOS to windows NT or 2K. Honestly though, I'd stick with DOS for as long as you have a good stock of replacement hardware.
Microsoft office runs on linux (https://thelinuxcode.com/install-microsoft-office-linux/). I'd bet many of your proprietary tools do too (or could be replaced with more linux friendly software that still meets your needs). In the worst case scenario, a VM with windows on it would mean that you use Windows only for the one or two things you absolutely need it for and you're free of it the rest of the time.
But home computer is a different thing. I don't want Microsoft to spy on me, reboot my computer and luckily I don't need Microsoft Office.
I'd bet that the average person could run most if not all the software they use under linux and a large percentage of those who can't could find alternate software that works just as well for their needs which does run under linux. Hardware might be more of a concern, so for some "stop using Windows" might mean "buy a new desktop/laptop". There will certainly be a very small (and increasingly smaller) number of people who have zero choice but to use Windows. Many people do very little with their windows machines beside web browsing in the first place.
> "Stop using Windows or live with it" are not the only two options.
It very much is if "live with it" means MS does thing you don't like, you find a bunch of settings and registry changes that "fight back" only for MS to undo those settings and/or add more things you don't like which means you have to track down a new set of settings and registry changes to "fight back" which results in Microsoft doing more things you don't like and on and on.
Is that really what you want to live with? At a certain point you have to ask yourself why you keep spending your time and energy fighting a battle you literally cannot win. Microsoft sets all the rules. You can only play their game or stop playing
The average person will never use Linux. I prefer it as a dev, but windows and mac have won.
Until some big vendor just releases a specifically linux machine, which they won't.
Tell that to Dell https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/scr/laptops/ubu...
Are they going to shut down the computer if the clicking signal is not to their liking?
What I'd like to see is regulation banning doing this. Given how many governments use Microsoft products including in sensitive applications, this should be an obvious demand.
Unless IP laws get overhauled, this is the way things will be - total surveillance, the user is the product, the customer is the megacorporations positioned to exploit adtech at scale. Infinite growth and endless passive income for the rich, everyone else gets to be frogs in some dystopian eternally-approaching-but-not-quite-boiling pot. Consumer rights and corporate limits in the context of modern technology bounded by fundamental civil liberties are the way to sanity. A lot of very wealthy people and their cadres of very influential cronies would lose wealth and influence if the system were to be repaired.
So yeah, it's easier to just cope and let things more or less suck.
People complain that it is hard to install. You pretty much just boot from USB and install it.
People complain that drivers are hard to install. Pretty much everything you need comes standard. The only real difficulty is with Nvidia drivers, but even that has become a lot easier to manage with the push towards AI. Most users don't need a GPU, so they won't ever have to touch a driver.
People complain that it is too hard to use, and "you have to use the command line". No you fucking don't. All of the major DEs are idiot-proof and GUI-driven. It's the same UX as Windows and Mac.
The biggest thing you need to do to acclimate to when moving from Windows to Linux is understanding UNIX filesystems. Just wrap your head around the fact that drive letters don't exist, everything is a file, and drives can be mounted to any directory, and you'll be fine.
Most Windows users don't do much else than office programs and a web browser. They can even install Edge on Linux if that's what they like, and LibreOffice isn't lacking in features unless you're an enterprise power-user. Or you can just use Office Online or Google Docs in your browser if you really need more features.
If your device doesn't work in Windows, there's usually a help line to call for it. They might give you the runaround for an hour, but they'll try to help you, and if they don't they might end up giving you a refund. Or you can take your computer to a tech support person, even Geek Squad at best buy. If you are technically illiterate, there are people to help you.
If your device doesn't work in Linux, it's probably not supported by any company. There are some linux distros that offer paid support, but people don't think to look for that. Even though your device is probably supported by Linux, Linux is not supported by the manufacturer, so if you have a problem, you're on your own. Your support is community support, reading forums and discords and github issues. Your only recourse is if you bought your computer from a Linux first company like System 76, but even then the support extends to the computer itself, not every random device you might buy without checking if it's supported on Linux.
There used to also be local support for Linux, in the form of Linux User Groups and Local Community Teams for Ubuntu. But as Linux got more popular, it stopped being a hobby, so the volunteer work (and corporate assistance in that volunteer work in Ubuntu's case) disappeared.
- Hibernate/suspend issues, Graphics/Wifi dies on wakeup.
- Still needed to fiddle with SecureBoot to install.
- Setting up TPM was an involved process using the CLI. Couldn't get the fingerprint scanner to run either.
- Some from older generations require familiarity. I used to get yelled at because I "moved the Internet icon".
- So much of the world requires Windows/Mac: banking apps, taxes and government apps, anti-cheat and student software. Yes they're all terrible software, but you're crippling yourself socially by avoiding them. It's sad but real. Maybe not in your country, good for you, but that's not the case everywhere.
It's gonna be an Eternal September 2.0, but Linux will be better because of it.
Have you seen how many ads the average user puts up with?
I wonder when Linux Desktops follow?
Even a couple more % of the market would be an unbelievable increase in Linux users.
I mean, this problem-area has always been extremely fertile ground for sneaky hacks, trojan'ed knockoffs, and simply trusting the wrong people or files. Plus knowing exactly what things get changed--and how--is important in case you need to revert anything.
Doesn't seem that far away now ..
Also LTSC 2019 will be supported until 2029. The newer LTSC 2022 has the the 2027 eol. They slashed the support time for the new LTSC from 10 years to 5 years.
But yeah, whenever LTSC stops is when I switch 100% over to Linux, I'm sort of on the fence already.. Just as a game dev Windows is handy to have.
Enterprise and Education only: "Disable all apps from Microsoft Store", "Do not show Windows tips", "Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences"
Enterprise, Education, and Server only: "Allow Diagnostic Data: Diagnostic data off", "Force a specific default lock screen and logon image" (?!?)
Granted I’ve only ever used local logins or locally hosted Active Directory, so is this a thing when you use a Microsoft login or what?
"OFGB.exe has been blocked due to security and performance concerns..."
Based on some ancient personal experience you can also bet that the EULA will be rewritten to forbid people to use Windows 11 to develop this sort of workaround. Which is to say, if this is not a violation of the license today, it will be soon enough.