If you thought, thanks to its automatic and unavoidable update system, that Microsoft’s iron grip on Windows 10’s user base was pretty much complete, wait until you get a load of this fun little fact.
According to Windows 10’s License Agreement, the OS has been granted the power of jury, judge and executioner.
Should it discover unauthorised “hardware peripheral devices” or software, it will flag and subsequently block it from access completely.
Sometimes you’ll need software updates to keep using the Services. We may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices. You may also be required to update the software to continue using the Services.”
The good news is that Windows 10 isn’t allowed to altogether delete software, but blocking it or, indeed, hardware components with updates is more than okay.
The bad news, besides the OS’ excessive power, is that it’s really ambiguous as to what counts as unauthorised hardware or counterfeit software. And what if there’s a mistake, how do we go about undoing a booboo on Microsoft’s behalf?
Microsoft has, thankfully, relinquished absolute access over automatic updates, releasing a tool that allows users to block particular automatic updates/drivers.
Does that mean that enough pressure will force their hand on this matter?
There can’t be all that many of us that are overly fond of the idea that Microsoft will be monitoring everything we do, virtually everything anyway.
And who is this really benefitting? Certainly not the user base, otherwise known as the customers.
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The only reason I dual boot into Windows is because of the games. I have managed to successfully move over to the Linux world. Sticking with 7.