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Russia is ditching Microsoft because it's an easy target (Putin says "Nyet!" to Windows)
Engadget ^ | Nov 2, 2016 | Jon Fingas

Posted on 11/02/2016 1:59:03 PM PDT by dayglored

Anything to make the US seem like a boogeyman.

We know that Russia wants to give Microsoft products the boot, but now it's clearer as to why. A senior US intelligence official talking to NBC News not only supports talk of Russia endorsing a plan to purge Microsoft software from the government (starting with Moscow), but explains why. Reportedly, Vladimir Putin and crew are picking on Microsoft because it's an easy target for anti-American sentiment. It's a huge company that rules the tech sector, and it's not hard to persuade Russians that the firm is collaborating with US spies despite evidence to the contrary.

For its part, Microsoft maintains that it doesn't work with "any government" on surveillance, or conduct any espionage itself. Its soon-to-be-acquired job site, LinkedIn, is currently fighting a Russian attempt to block access.

... (more content and refs at link)...

(Excerpt) Read more at engadget.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: microsoft; russia; windows; windowspinglist
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Is this is Good Thing? or is it a Bad Thing? Inquiring minds want to know...
1 posted on 11/02/2016 1:59:03 PM PDT by dayglored
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To: dayglored

Good for russia, in the long run.


2 posted on 11/02/2016 1:59:47 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Abby4116; afraidfortherepublic; aft_lizard; AF_Blue; amigatec; AppyPappy; arnoldc1; ATOMIC_PUNK; ...
In Soviet Russia, Microsoft Windows uses you!... or not ... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

3 posted on 11/02/2016 2:00:09 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

I NEED Windoze for games, so my kids can be entertained at Xmas. It’s also convenient for some mathematical and engineering software.

Both of those are, I think, irrelevant for Russia, especially for their main business and government applications. I doubt if Putin gives a crap if private people want to play the latest versions of Doom or WarCraft on Windows—he’d say let’em.


4 posted on 11/02/2016 2:03:16 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: Secret Agent Man
I can just see some everyday Ruskie looking at the Windows 10 default display of active tiles, with the Mother Of All WTF Looks on his face.

But they're probably more worried about the "telemetry" that gets sent back to the Redmond mothership...

5 posted on 11/02/2016 2:03:19 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

“It’s a huge company that rules the tech sector, and it’s not hard to persuade Russians that the firm is collaborating with US spies despite evidence to the contrary.”

I wonder what evidence this would be.


6 posted on 11/02/2016 2:03:31 PM PDT by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
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To: dayglored

Yes. As anyone would be with a mind towards privacy.


7 posted on 11/02/2016 2:05:02 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Pearls Before Swine
> I doubt if Putin gives a crap if private people want to play the latest versions of Doom or WarCraft on Windows—he’d say let’em.

Maybe if the WINE subsystem for Linux was better... I'm sure the Russians use Linux.

8 posted on 11/02/2016 2:05:36 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

And this is only in the context of govt computers.


9 posted on 11/02/2016 2:05:44 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: DonaldC
> I wonder what evidence this would be.

This is the link from the article:

https://www.engadget.com/2014/06/11/microsoft-opposes-us-government-search-of-its-european-servers/

10 posted on 11/02/2016 2:06:54 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

Good for them...


11 posted on 11/02/2016 2:07:41 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway - "Enjoy Yourself" ala Louis Prima)
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To: dayglored

Windows 10 spyware (but I repeat myself) is a result of NSA letters sent to Microsoft demanding troves of data about user behavior. Russia would be nuts to use Windows 10.


12 posted on 11/02/2016 2:07:53 PM PDT by MarineBrat (Better dead than red!)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Windows has built in spyware. No doubt.


13 posted on 11/02/2016 2:08:14 PM PDT by refermech
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To: Secret Agent Man
> Yes. As anyone would be with a mind towards privacy.

"Privacy? Privacy is an outmoded concept, Comrade Citizen. In the New American Collective, established in President Hillary's first term, you no longer require those obsolete bourgeois things, like privacy, freedom of speech, and private firearm ownership. Now that the Clinton Foundation manages the nation's finances, all you need to concern yourself with is having a wonderful socialist life!"

14 posted on 11/02/2016 2:11:50 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored; Secret Agent Man
Note: My comment above was totally off topic, having little or nothing to do with the article or Microsoft or Windows.

It was just a thought....

15 posted on 11/02/2016 2:15:18 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: dayglored

But it was a well-worded thought!


16 posted on 11/02/2016 2:22:32 PM PDT by deoetdoctrinae (Donate monthly and end FReepathons.)
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To: dayglored

You neglected to mention anyone who bitterly clings to privacy must have something to hide!


17 posted on 11/02/2016 2:22:45 PM PDT by null and void (Keep a sexual predator out of the White House, don't vote for his wife!)
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To: dayglored

Rumor has it ... Putin will be putting in a very huge order for Macs and run windows in a virtual environment...


18 posted on 11/02/2016 2:26:42 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: DonaldC

1. You can’t prove a negative.

2. The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.


19 posted on 11/02/2016 2:27:01 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: dayglored

“and it’s not hard to persuade Russians that the firm is collaborating with US spies”

Yes, you’d be a fool to believe MS customer experience programs would result in your data being misused.

They didn’t hand out Win 9 for free and push the software through security patches and make it hard to remove because they would somehow get compensated selling your data.

They did it because they are so nice, friendly, and thoughtful.


20 posted on 11/02/2016 2:28:47 PM PDT by fruser1
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