In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Q ~ Trust Trump's Plan ~ 05/01/2025 Vol.507, Q Day 2742, Grammy wrote: Mr G upgraded his computers to windows 11 and it has been hell around here ever since. All his work apps quit working. Trying to get them going again is a pita especially since many of them are from Europe. He finally returned one of his computers to 10 and is trying to salvage his life. Not a good thing.
That's part of what I want to avoid. The primary motivator for me was a chip (Trusted Platform Module a.k.a. TPM) in computers equipped to run Windows 11. The chip 'protects you' (insert sarcasm tag here) and while I don't really think they were forthcoming as to its capabilities, some geeks seem to be saying that the chip means no more anonymity. The chip uniquely identifies your computer. Many articles, like the excerpt below treat the TPM like a normal requirement, so I am erring on the side of caution (Which is what people climbing into lifeboats hanging off the side of the Titanic most likely thought).
Why Windows 11 requires a TPM - and how to get around it
Windows 11 officially requires a Trusted Platform Module. Here's what it does and how you can work around that requirement if your old PC doesn't have one.When Microsoft introduced Windows 11 in 2021, its new, stringent hardware compatibility test included checking for the presence of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) -- specifically, one that meets the TPM 2.0 standard.
So, what is a TPM, and why does Windows insist that you need one?
The simple answer is that a TPM is a secure cryptoprocessor, a dedicated microcontroller designed to handle security-related tasks and manage encryption keys in a way that minimizes the ability of attackers to break into a system.
I think that means they can control who accesses which websites and cut off access based on anything (driving record, tax records, vax records etc.) so you could have a dead computer unless you behave. I think it means they are further transitioning from 'letting' you purchase non Microsoft Software, and when buying from Microsoft, will soon require a continuous subscription for each program you use (forcing your computer to conform to their standards) to essentially 'rent' programs.
Compare that to Linux, for the operating system and programs are free, and which are crowdsourced security so everyone can look at the code and ask, "Hey, what's that new line of code there? What does it do? Let me check that out...." In Windows, the core of the source code (kernal) is encrypted so Microsoft can do whatever it wants and you won't know.
For example, Elon Musk noted the Windows function which takes real-time screen captures (everything on your screen, including what you are typing) and saves them so that 'you' have a complete record of everything you put on your computer, and you can search it with AI. Older computers are not powerful enough to run this function efficiently, if at all. I believe this means that Microsoft can search your computer the same way, and access everything on it.
Also, when I set up my computers with Win 10, I avoid using the pubic logon (you have to log into your Microsoft Account every time you use your computer) and instead I have a local account (I log in to just my computer). For those who do have to log in to Microsoft, then it seems to me they have access to your computer, and they can end that access if you 'violate community standards' or some other requirement they have.
