Could Windows and installed apps upload all my personal files?


Could Windows and installed apps upload all my personal files?

Dear all

I have deleted Onedrive and disabled File system access in Privacy.

  1. I would like to know, which other ways that my personal files could be uploaded in a non-malicious non-hacker way?
  2. Just by using Windows, Microsoft could upload all my personal files to themselves if they would?
  3. Does every installed App / software have full access to my whole drive? How can I found out, how much access it has?

Thank you for your interest and reply

Best regards


@Rikudou_Sage@lemmy.world

Yes, every application has access to everything. The only exception are those weird apps that use the universal framework or whatever that thing is called, those need to ask for permissions. But most of the apps on your PC have full access to everything.

And Windows does collect and upload a lot of personal information and they could easily upload everything on your system. The same of course applies for the apps as well, they have access to everything except privileged folders (those usually don’t contain your personal data, but system files).

This entry was edited (8 hours ago)
in reply to Lvxferre [he/him]

They are essentially doing the same as KDE, whose statement was linked in the article.

KDE

For now, the Plasma X11 session remains in maintenance mode. That means critical issues—like login failures or major regressions—will still be addressed. However, minor bugs are unlikely to get fixes unless funded, and new X11-specific features are off the table entirely.


VS

Gnome

First things first: Xorg isn’t being abandoned outright. It remains maintained and is receiving necessary security patches and bug fixes. However, active development has effectively halted, with most of its original contributors now focused on Wayland.


Edit - added Gnome quote effectively saying the same thing.

This entry was edited (2 hours ago)
in reply to Lvxferre [he/him]

For someone has not used Gnome in 14+ years you sure seem to know a lot about it...

X11 has effectively already been deprecated for years, seeing little to no development on it. No one should be surprised.

And still, there are SEVERAL Long Term Support distros out there that will support X11 for the coming years. Please stop pretending that stuff will start breaking. It will not.

I hear a lot of "ACAB", why don't I hear "APAB"? (P as in Politician)


Politicians make the laws, if people are being oppressed, its more of the politicians being the root cause of evil.

So... ACAB + APAB?

EDIT:

I'm using these definitions for the word politician: dictionary.cambridge.org/dicti…

noun. [UK] - a member of a government or law-making organization

noun. [US] - a person who is active in politics, esp. as a job

This entry was edited (3 hours ago)
in reply to FuglyDuck

Well today I learned, that school board members are elected. I assume you're referring to the US?..

I'm 42 years old and just learned this today. I attempted to run a petition at age 15 for our school of ~1200 students to keep the pizza lunch line, and I got approximately 420 unique signatures.

I still actually have the signatures somewhere in a file drawer in storage. Back when I did this, I asked people where to turn in my petition. Everyone told me to go to the superintendent's office.

But nobody would actually tell me where the fuck that was, nor would anyone take me there ☹️.

I got more than a third of the students to sign my petition, but nobody would tell me where to take it, like what the actual fuck?

I Solved a 7-Day Calculation Problem in a Weekend


Comments

over_clox doesn't like this.

Questions about Distros and Using Linux Before I Switch


Hello! I'm getting a new (windows) laptop that I'll mainly be using for writing text documents, surfing the web, and basically doing studenty things. I thought I'd use the chance to give linux a try since I'm too scared to jump in head first and trying to move everything over on my main computer. I'm not tech savvy at all but after watching a lot of videos explaining the basics and reading the guides here to help beginners pick a distribution, I think I've narrowed it down to either Linux Mint Cinnamon or Ubuntu (leaning towards Kubuntu because it looks a lot like Windows).

The two big things for me are 1. I don't want to use the command window for everything, or really much of anything, at least at the start. and 2. I currently use Proton VPN and I'd like to use it on this new laptop too. Unfortunately, based on what I saw on the Proton website, if I want to use it on linux it looks like the only way is to get it on Ubuntu, Debian, or Fedora using the console. I don't really want to switch away from Proton VPN right now, so while I'm sure there are other vpns that are more linux-friendly, that will have to be something I consider in the future. So, does this mean I should use Ubuntu? And will Kubuntu work or would I have to use a different version of Ubuntu? And is there no way to get Proton without using the console?

A few less important considerations for me are if I'm able to change to a custom mouse pointer (I currently use a cute one that I'd like to also use on the new laptop) and if keyboard shortcuts like alt-tabbing work or are easily configurable. If none of the beginner friendly distros support those then it's fine, but they would be nice.

Also, I'm kind of confused about how updating things works on linux. Will I be able to easily update to a new version of whatever distro I'm using? Do I even want to update to the newest version? And is there a way to be notified and set auto-updates for some applications? I've seen quite a few threads and questions about having to manually update things, but if I get an application from the software manager then will it be as easy as a clicking a button?

I know I'll have to adjust and just learn-by-doing some things no matter which distro I pick, and I'm willing to try out some other distros in the future. I just want to ease my way into things. So based on all that, should I just go for Linux Mint like most new users? Or would you recommend a completely different distro?

Just for reference, uhhh how easy is it to fuck up the process of trying and then installing a linux distro? Like completely-make-the-computer-unusable fuck up? Because that's my biggest fear

P.s. I'm sorry to make another "what distro do I use" thread, but I had some questions that I didn't see answers for in the other threads. And honestly, I'll feel a lot more comfortable with switching if I feel like I've actually talked it out with people who know what they're doing.

in reply to FearMeAndDecay

I use ProtonVPN on Mint, and I did have to type a command into the console to install it the first time, but I just click on the Icon in the start menu to launch it now.
All the Major distros have an update feature that can be run from the desktop. My version of Mint (Cinnamon) has a little update notification icon on the bottom right just like Windows does. It's pretty easy.
I like Mint, but I have distro hopped for years, and I am mostly settled on Fedora, but I still have a Mint installer on a USB for rescue missions. Its Live Linux is great. Making the computer totally dead would require a lot of effort, since you can always boot into a live Linux USB and have a usable system. Heck, I have booted my Mind stick on a system with no Hard Drive and used the machine anyway. Linux is actually easier in that respect than Windows, since you never have to Putz around with licenses.
My only caution would be to make sure you have access to another computer somewhere, in case you need to write a new USB installer. That's about all for caution.

You can make the system stop booting for a bit if you screw up the install, but if you keep a Windows installer USb and whatever Linux USB installer handy, you can always get the system booting again. If you know someone who has done it before, dual-booting is a good way to dip your toe in. I keep a small windows install on most of my systems, just in case I have that one app or whatever I need to run, but I almost never boot into Windows anymore.

in reply to phanto

You don't need to click to start if you go to settings > start up apps > click the add button and type proton-vpn as the command and name
and click OK. Proton will be added to your autostart folder and you can toggle on/off if you don't want it to run on boot.

Some of the window group applets (where your open apps show up on your panel) also allow you to add an app via the right click menu by selecting 'add to autostart'

You can also add to autostart by right clicking on the app in the mint application (start)menu.

Using the proton instructions to add the network manager Wireguard integration script will even allow you to use the option to autoconnect to VPN in the network setting.

This entry was edited (2 hours ago)

Motorcycles should be banned entirely


There's no good reason for them to be on the road. Consider the following:

  • They're extremely loud and cause noise pollution
  • They're very dangerous on the road and have high accident rates
  • They're bad for the environment and cause air pollution
  • They're extremely inefficient as they can only carry 1-2 people max
  • They can't carry cargo
  • They're dangerous for pedestrians
  • They're very demanding to operate
  • They're virtually useless in the winter when there's snow, ice, and hail
  • The people who tend to drive them tend to be assholes who don't respect road laws

People complain about cars all the time, and while our car dependency is definitely a big issue that we need to address, cars still have a lot utility. Motorcycles on the other hand? Not really. I think getting rid of them once and for all is good way to immediately make our roads safer, simplify traffic, and open up a pathway to move away from cars.

in reply to Gorilladrums

Motorcycles get much better mileage than gas cars. Most cars on the road carry only a single person during Rush Hour. Motorcycles create much less pollution and traffic in those situations. A typical motorcycle tends to get double the fuel economy of a typical gas car. A gas car only comes out ahead if you carpool with more than 2 people, which almost nobody does.

As a pedestrian, getting hit by a motorcycle going 30 km/h is much is much less lethal than being hit by a car going 30 km/h. the amount of kinetic energy is a fraction of that of a car

At least in my area, motorcyclists are on average safer drivers than BMWs or Teslas, probably even safer than average. At least they bother to signal most of the time.

You have some points but some of your arguments are totally untrue.

This entry was edited (3 hours ago)