[SFDXA] Win 10 [“Everything should be as simple as it can be, but not simpler” - attributed to Albert Einstein]

[Kai]

...Hi Sebastian, I still see you on my ... peekaboo! ...  never mind, I turned 
it off now!
I usually run the computer with  a sticky-note covering the camera, and with 
sounds turned off. Call me paranoid.

When I got my W8.1 laptop, I spent several days "unMicrosofting" it, restoring 
the mock-Start button (easy), and turning off microsoft pre-selections (takes 
plenty of research), and stopping tons of "apps" from running in the background. 
Basically I deleted almost all the "charms" in the windows button view. "Charms" 
is microsoft terminology for the icons in the "new" screen view that replaces 
the desktop. It finally began to act like a Windows XP machine.

Yet, I foolishly "signed up for W-10", or "GPX" [get windows 10] as microsoft 
pushes it. That set off a chain reaction of windows nags that put a large 
"upgrade now" bubble on the task bar just about anytime I did anything on the 
computer after July 30. It took some doing, but I suppressed that "upgrade 
bubble" and the w10 icon (turns out to be easy), hopefully in a way that will 
allow me to continue getting W8.1 important updates. The "update" that causes 
the havoc is KB3035583, now in second release. There are dangers if you 
uninstall it (see below).

Three helpful hints:

(1)   In w8.1 (also w7 and MAYBE W10 [anyone?]) you can gain access to ALL of 
the windows settings in one place by creating a new blank folder on your 
desktop. Then (and this is the magic part) just rename that folder EXACTLY as 
follows:
*GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}*
Copy and paste that folder name EXACTLY as above. The folder icon will change 
and when you open the folder, you will find links to EVERYTHING in one place. 
*I'd love to hear from a W10 victim if that also works on W10? Anyone?*

(2)   One of your best friends is "Task Manager" (right click on task bar, 
select Task Manager). Then open the "processes tab" to see exactly what is 
running on your computer, and how much resources it is consuming. Search the 
internet for the names to see what these tasks do. Also do the same with the 
"Details" tab.  I was able to reduce the "background processes to 43 from over 
90. Now my tiny underpowered laptop spins faster than a top!  It even runs 
WSJT-X [1.5-dev] fast as a lark, on time and without crashing.

(3) Do not allow Automatic Windows updates!!!  For Windows updates select 
*"check for updates but let me select what/when to download"*. I choose to 
download ONLY critical updates, never optional or recommended updates unless I 
can research them. Most seem to apply to enterprise and server installations.

Beware of the "optional" or "recommended" update KB3035583. That's the one, now 
in release 2, and is responsible for the W10 icon in the icon tray. I finally 
suppressed that icon (without uninstalling KB3035583), and hopefully the 
insidious nags that go with it. So far so good! I wanted to leave my options 
open about 10, but DEFINITELY am leaning to get OFF that free list. From all 
reports, there are issues with some ham applications (some work some don't, some 
work under some circumstances; depends on your particular machine). Uninstalling 
KB3035583 will get rid of the W10 icon and the nags, but it also changes the 
behavior of Windows updates. Beware!

*My advice: if your current computer works with your ham (and other) apps, why 
the hell would you transition to the Windows 10 Virus??  "Free" is beginning to 
look like too high a price!*

As far a Android phones, T-mobile "gifted" me with a free upgraded phone a few 
weeks ago because my old-old-old-phone was no longer supported by there newly 
rolled out 4G-LTE upgraded system in S FL. Same thing. I've been deleting apps 
that run in the background, and actually found a "sneaky" third-level setting 
that "allows apps to scan with WiFi even if WiFi is OFF". Now that was downright 
dirty! After the clean up, I get 4-5 days of battery life (down to 20% left) 
using the phone as a telephone or SMS device. That's up from barely 1 day when 
first used. Some Google apps (like google maps) with reset that nasty WiFi 
behavior unless you first turn GPS on, THEN start Google maps. Again, be 
careful, be aware.

“Everything should be as simple as it can be, but not simpler” - attributed to 
Albert Einstein.

73,
Kai, KE4PT

On 8/9/2015 6:05 PM, Sebastian wrote:
> Apparently written by someone who still believes their information is secure when they do anything on the internet!
>
> Security is a thing of the past.  If you drive a car, there are red-light cameras who are tracking you, there are police vehicles with cameras that are taking snapshots of your license plate, the SunPass cameras know who you are, where you are going, and how fast you are going.  And of course, if you buy some coffee at Dunkin Donuts with a credit card, ’they’ know what you are drinking!
>
> As for me, I’m covering up my body with tin-foil, and after this email, I will disconnect from the world.  But before I go, let me just say th……….
>
> ;-)
>
> 73 de Sebastian, W4AS
>
>> On Aug 9, 2015, at 4:51 PM, Pete Rimmel N8PR <n8pr at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks, John...
>>
>>
>> From: W6BXQ, John
>>
>>
>>
>> After yesterday’s discussion of Win 10 nat the QCWA lunch,  I thought you might like to see this.  It was posted by someone on a forum I participate in.
>>
>> Windows 10 Sucks and is Basically Spyware
>>
>> by wilorg » Sun Aug 09, 2015 9:56 am
>>
>> Well, did the install on my Acer desktop to test it out - first impression - it really tries to spy on you in every way possible - it hides any settings that could prevent spying under tons of slight of hand (you have to go through around 13 screens to undo all their spying on you, and even then you can bet you haven't got it all, since there is even more that can only be turned off by expert users in command line mode), it deliberately uninstalls any paid security software you have (Norton, whatever) to force you to use their own Windows Defender and Windows Firewall - even when you then reinstall your paid security software, Win10 will refuse to shut theirs off, forcing several conflicts. All this just so we can say "yay! the Start Button is back!" - rubbish, IMHO. This is the most perfidious software yet to offered from M$ and one that has a lot to answer for. Yes, it is a bit faster, but you trade off by letting M$ and anyone they want to sell the info to to see everything you have on your system, pretty much, and worse, to allow M$ to piggy back on your bandwidth, forcing you (unless you know how to disable it, and even then there is no guarantee) to share your bandwidth when doing any updates or downloads across a multiplicity of networks. Insecure? It is unbelievable! It wants any camera you have and any microphone you have to be permanently open, which is downright creepy. It wants you to share your WIFI network and settings. It wants your passwords, it wants everything! Even George Orwell would be amazed at how much people are willingly allowing Big Brother to invade their lives with this latest (and last) version of Windows OS. I expect it will take me at least three days of hacking to get my system secure again. Keyloggers! It has sanctioned keyloggers and no way to turn them off (unless you know a bit of command line hacking)! The average Jo is doomed on this! Take my advice, unless you NEED M$ (unfortunately, I do), get Linux and tell the world to bugger off!*
>>
>> *smug-faced Mac worshippers take note - you are just as insecure and spied upon on your systems - in some ways, even worse, as are all Android users. Turn off Siri, my friends.
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