Things are turning complicated in January.
Things are turning complicated in January.
I strongly advise against this approach and mindset. This is precisely what caused the wannacry incident previously. It spread so extensively it’s hard to overlook, leading people to believe it exploited a hidden flaw—though in reality it was simply taking advantage of outdated systems, including the latest ones that hadn’t been updated and older ones like XP that no longer received patches.
I want to highlight that I'm not crazy. Microsoft seems to have rolled back several features to collect data from older versions, just shrug it off. By this point, you can skip it, but my approach is to make a choice based on my wallet. Microsoft doesn't have a privacy policy I support, and collecting data without consent or forced participation is wrong. It's a small issue, but it matters to me. I agree with Ryan that January 14 doesn't mean my computer will crash, but it's still not a good reason to stick with W7. For a few months while we wait for the new generation or price drops, I'll be cautious and stay safe. In the long run, I'll need something different. As for games, I mostly play modded Bethesda titles, Pathfinder Kingmaker, Witcher/Cyberpunk, Stellaris, and so on. Kingdom Under Fire II is something I'd like to try, but I expect a virtual machine would be the most likely option. Edit: Another thing worth mentioning is that free options are better than paid ones, and Google at least shows some respect by not forcing me to pay for being a customer. It's not much better, but it's something I should mention.
Windows 10 upgrades remain free. They probably won’t change because it isn’t a sustainable income stream for Microsoft’s new strategy. I wouldn’t expect to run demanding applications on a virtual machine. GPU passthrough remains a challenging task and simply launching games in a standard VM can make my 2080ti perform comparably to Intel integrated graphics. I support Linux, but I’d still test it thoroughly before making any decisions.
Windows 10 collects data about users through built-in features, but it doesn't secretly monitor people without detection. The EU has regulations in place to protect privacy, though enforcement can vary.
Microsoft keeps track of nearly everything you do on your computer. The more apps you use, the more data they collect. Reducing usage simply removes your personal information, though they retain the ability to access it whenever needed. You accept these conditions when you install Windows. If you're using Windows 10, you've consented to this process. I think this has been included in their agreements since Windows Vista, with data gathering being far less extensive in Windows Vista and 7 compared to today's standards.