I would do so too, but I need Photoshop, Lightroom and some games I'd like to play are not compatible with Linux. But I am happy to see that things are getting better on that front. If gaming on linux will gain more popularity, the market share of linux will rise and Adobe and other companies will then have inentive to port their programs to linux as well... Until then I'll use Win7.
@Boncuk: Firstly, I'd like to welcome you to MDL. Many of us feel the same way that you do about Windows 10. It looks and feels nice. What I would suggest to You is to take a look at the Enterprise version of Windows 10. (LTSB) That version can be effectively locked down by following the advice given in the Windows 10 threads here. The home edition is a hopeless case, IMHO. Oh, and I don't see a rant. I see a person sharing their feelings about Windows 10. And that's important. Especially to Me. So, feel free to "rant" any time you wish. :MJ
After several days of debating (also with friends, pros) the following statement is a result of proper arguing: To make statements about w10s telemetry is not reasonable, to deny the installation of w10 upgrade is most reasonable, though. Since we are talking about encrypted data we are talking about an unknown content. Nobody can judge about an unknown content. Statements about how bad it is or how much it concerns privacy cannot be made. 'Fights' about that are unreasonable. Each person has an individual idea of privacy and about violation of it. To come to a conclusion (to be able to agree or to disagree with the EULA) this idea has to be compared with a KNOWN content which is collected from a private device. This is not possible. Statements like w10s telemetry is harmless or harmful are unreasonable. To compare w10 with other companies is unreasonable. The fact alone that the data which are collected are unknown and can be sold to partners reasons to deny the install of w10 upgrade, since an agreement or disagreement with an unknown content to be collected is not possible.
Absolutely agree with you. I will say that you're in good shape if you don't have any commercial software investment to recoup. I have the same situation. I have almost $2500 worth of music software . So, I must stay with Windows 7. But I will set up a Linux PC to surf safely. :MJ
Think about your privacy as a currency you "pay" with. For example, is it worth giving up everything you type on the keyboard for a better autocorrect ? The answer is most definitely no. If you look at it this way, Windows 10 is not "free", in fact it's way, way overpriced. Google services in this line of thinking are not "expensive" because everything is being logged everywhere else anyway, so you're not giving up any privacy by using them because you never had it with email and other web services.
There's WINE which works pretty well and lets you run Windows programs and games on Linux. For games there's also PlayOnLinux(playonlinux.com/) with a large list of compatible games. As for Photoshop and Lightroom there are alternatives. Photoshop Alternatives: GIMP(gimp.org/), CinePaint(cinepaint.org/), Krita(krita.org/download) LightRoom Alternatives(photo.stackexchange.com/questions/20157/is-there-something-similar-to-adobe-lightroom-for-linux) My suggestion is, keep your Windows installation and install Linux on a different partition/disk and try things out. If it works like you want, you can make the transition slowly, if not stay on Windows.
Of course I know the alternatives, but I don't really like them (except Libreoffice). I run some favorite distros in VMware and use linux often. I'm just not ready yet to install linux as my main OS.
I can agree that certain distributions are getting extremely crappy, such as Ubuntu which phones home just as does Windows 10, but that's what open source is all about. Pick a distribution that isn't rubbish like Debian, openSUSE, or Fedora.
I too moved to Mint few days ago. It really works now that they have fixed few things. I will still follow the privacy things on MS front, but for now I'll just limit my Windows use to VM's. This isn't so much of a question on my privacy with MS, because they probably have all the info what they possibly could want. This is a choice to not to support their actions on the privacy of their operating system. I still use MS services(from xbone to calendar) so they will have my data in future too. It's just that I want to know exactly what is being transferred, when it is transferred and why it is transferred on my PC. The knowlegde of junks of encrypted data leaving my computer without knowing what it includes makes me feel foolish. My choice isn't going to make much of a difference to MS, but it makes me feel good about using my PC.
LOL, I've shared that exact video on this forum not too long ago while talking to one of the mods about the privacy of Ubuntu. But I have to say that even Ubuntu doesn't phone home as much as Windows 10. Personally, I used Debian for 15 years, since 2.2 Potato, and one day they forced systemd as my init and I said goodbye. I run Slackware now, for almost 2 years, as my main OS and have FreeBSD dual booting with Windows 7 on another rig. The only thing that I don't like about FreeBSD is that the software, things like LibreOffice etc, don't get updated as fast. That could be due to the possibly small developer numbers, but it's almost a deal breaker for me. PC-BSD is looking good and possibly better than FreeBSD, but I always run into network issues with it.
I was watching the Devuan mess unfold from inception. All it is is a bunch of the Debian devs that have the same elitist attitude towards their distro. Sure they are working towards making a systemd free Debian, but I have found a much nicer atmosphere in the Slackware world. And Slackware is FAR more stable and reliable than Debian, or Devuan for that matter ever will be. Sorry for getting off topic........
I've heard many members here suggest switching to Linux. Since this thread is about privacy, and it's apparent that Windows 10 home edition does -not- respect our privacy, can the Linux people here recommend the most secure, most safest Linux distro out there? I understand that safe and simple to use can be polar opposites at times, but it would be good to know. :MJ
The absolute most secure Linux distro is hands-down Tails. Although I have my own personal issues with it, it is totally secure. And most things are very easy to use in it. Common sense has to be used with Tails just like anything else. For 100% anonymity you cannot use your real name or sign into any previously set up accounts, or accounts set up in your real name. The #1 thing to do is read, read, read the documentation, or at least the pointers that they give on the Tails site. I also know of IprediaOS, but I think that it may have fallen out of support. Whonix is great, but is not for the average everyday user.
I'd say that for a average user Mint is a huge improvement over W10. Or at least I think so. Or is there something I don't know about Mint's privacy? Googled a bit but didn't find anything alarming. Some people are worried about the fact that it is based on Ubuntu which is known to send your search queries over to Canonical and/or Amazon. But as far as I understand that privacy-invading thing isn't present in Mint. Please correct me if I am wrong but with that said I still think it's huge improvement over W10.
Tor for me is near impossible, the speeds are outright atrocious. I'm using Linux Mint (yes I know not the most secure) but I've set up a VPN through PIA with it. I heard somewhere that PIA and Linux Mint have some kind of partnership or something, anyway, PIA VPN works a bloody treat with Mint. Not the absolute best solution I know, Linux for me is completely new, and I make no claims to know anything at all about it. But the way I look at it, it gotta be 100% better than Windows 10 as far as privacy is concerned.
Tails/TOR is for when you need absolute 100% anonymity. It's not about speed, It's about security. With that being said, they are always looking for people to run more proxies. Then once more better proxies are in place the speeds will get better.
Windows 10 Big Brother Edition: Windows Hello Uses Your Camera Even If It's Disabled source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/wind...our-camera-even-if-it-s-disabled-489877.shtml