Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Windows 11: the privacy risk
ALARMING video about the absence of privacy for users of Windows 11:
A week ago, an expert former Windows developer (linked above) with deep detailed knowledge, posted to Youtube: Windows 11 is a Lost Cause. Truly Destined for the Garbage. Don't Upgrade from 10.
His video is heading for a million views. It underlines the wisdom of not installing "11".
It discusses the extent to which the 11 version is riddled with code that sabotages a user's privacy. My take is that much or most of Microsoft's new features billed as security, are intended to shield all the data—constantly gathered—about the life of an unwitting "11" user that Microsoft collects for the benefit of Microsoft.
About 40% of those who use Windows are "still" on version 10: anyone valuing their privacy should consider staying there.
(BTW, the developer mentions Apple only in passing; he's now 99% on another UNIX-class operating system: Linux).
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I've used Macs for more than three decades and have long been aware they can also run the "Windows" operating system (either with BootCamp or by virtualisation).
As little more than as an experiment, last weekend I installed Windows 10 on a Mac Mini. The Mini could easily have run the bloated, resource-hungry, current 11, but after researching and comparing the two variants, I was confident that 10 was the right choice.
Even though I was installing the "Pro" version of 10 on my 2018 Mac Mini, I was taken aback at the extent of the pushing of other Microsoft products at every turn, all of them unwanted.
I accidentally signed up for a "Microsoft Account" and it took time and effort to undo it, together with all the unwanted effect of this spyware window into one's life. It also took time and effort to delete permanently Microsoft's unloved "Edge" browser (IMO, those who value their privacy should consider the Brave browser, available on all platforms).
I hope I have cleaned up Windows 10 Pro as far as is possible, but I'm half expecting MS to try to push spyware in again, under the guise of a vital security update.
Tags for Forum Posts: 10, 11, AI, Microsoft, Pro, Windows, end of life, privacy, spyware
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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Ian, can I invite you to read the thread from the start or to try harder to understand the subject matter?
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Permalink Reply by IanB
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You could try not patronising me and answering the very simple question.
Your response from ChatGPT clearly doesn't take into account the fact that regular Windows 10 updates have already finished. It's therefore irrelevant.
I asked if it was bad advice for typical Windows user to remain on 10...
Yes — for most typical Windows users, it’s now bad advice to stay on Windows 10.
Here’s why, broken down clearly:
⚠️ 1. Security is no longer guaranteed
Microsoft stopped issuing security patches on Oct 14, 2025.
That means any new vulnerability discovered afterward is permanent — hackers know this and often target end-of-life systems.
Even with antivirus or a firewall, you’re fundamentally relying on outdated code.
Bottom line: You’re driving a car that no longer gets safety recalls.
🧱 2. App and browser support will start to fade quickly
Browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) will soon drop Windows 10 support.
Many software vendors will follow suit — especially security-sensitive tools like password managers, VPNs, or banking apps.
Without those updates, you lose not only security but also compatibility and stability.
🧰 3. The “workarounds” aren’t realistic for most users
Extended Security Updates (ESU) are paid and meant for organizations, not home users.
Running Windows 10 offline or in a virtual machine can work — but that’s advanced setup, not typical for casual users.
Third-party patching tools or registry hacks promising “free support” are unreliable or risky.
✅ So the safe, practical advice is:
Upgrade to Windows 11 if your hardware supports it.
Free for most Windows 10 users, still supported into the 2030s.
If your PC can’t run Windows 11, consider:
Installing a lightweight Linux distro (Mint, Zorin, Ubuntu LTS).
Buying a newer, supported device.
If you must stay on Windows 10 temporarily:
Keep antivirus active.
Use a modern browser while it’s still supported.
Avoid sensitive tasks (banking, shopping, work credentials).
In short: For the average home or office user, remaining on Windows 10 past its end-of-support date is no longer safe or recommended — it’s only acceptable as a temporary, transitional step.
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Ian, once again you have unfortunately chosen to ignore privacy issues.
Rob Braxman's video was released on October 14th or Microsoft's "End of Life" day. It focussed on privacy, or its absence, in version 11.
Is there any reason why you don't want to pick up that actual Windows expert concerns about embedded spyware? I for one do not want a constant AI companion!
In any event, readers now have two contrasting ChatGPT accounts to compare and consider.
I note that you did not (as I did) reproduce the exact wording you gave to ChatGPT. However if your question included "bad advice", then I suggest that your Brief was a bias and not neutral wording. Rather, it was a leading question and a tendentious premise. Could that be why privacy did not get a look in?
I had a choice as to which version to install and I will clean up 10 Pro as much as I can. Buyers of new PCs don't get that choice.
A friend bought a cheap PC which necessarily came with 11 pre-installed. This home-user complained about the advertisements and that prompted me to do some research.
I suspect that fervent advocacy of "upgrading" may be influenced by a pecuniary interest or by an unwillingness to recognise that a hard-to-undo mistake was made. The greedy corporation's scare tactics will doubtless be repeated over and again, but with 11's embedded spyware, they may well have gone too far.
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What do you mean I 'once again ignored privacy issues'? I specifically mentioned it in my previous post, stating that it's probably the lesser of two evils vs the potentially insecure OS which you're advocating.
Given that most people use Facebook, Google etc. without having too many concerns over privacy, is what comes with Windows 11 really that much of an issue for them?
If technically savvy people want to continue to use Windows 10 that's perfectly reasonable, but I don't think it's a sensible idea for anyone else.
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Again, this is terrible advice because it relates to standard updates, not the extended support.
Windows 11 is a much more secure OS due to the TPM and various other features but you're advising people to stay on windows 10 and then giving duff advice on security updates.
You say your knowledge of Windows is a couple of days and that is very clear. I wish I had the confidence to declare myself an expert in something after a couple of days.
If you want a non-invasive OS don't use Windows at all. Thinking Windows 10 is fine but Windows 11 isn't is just strange given the similarities between the two.
I also find your trust in Chatgpt quite entertaining given the largest investor by far is ... Microsoft.
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In terms of privacy, both 10 and 11 come "out of the box" covered in muck, but both versions can be cleaned with extra work.
The question in my mind was, which version can be made cleaner?
Andrew will be reassured that a part of Chat's advice (following) about cleaning overlaps with his earlier suggestion of using O&O ShutUp, which applies to both 10 and 11. I'm prepared to take consider that advice in spite of—or because of—Microsoft being Chat's biggest investor!
Chat's answer was clear and unequivocal:
It is Windows 10 that can be made the cleanest!The advice is suitable for those installing Windows on an empty PC (or Mac) for the first time (the less likely use case) or, for current PC users of 10 who feel under pressure by MS to "upgrade" to 11, due to the frightening or hysterical "end of life" message, being amplified by others, some of who may have a pecuniary interest in that warning.
My gut feel is that MS is going to have to extend their extra special extended support for some time to come. Many of the 100s of millions of 10 users are corporations who are likely already to have wiped 10 clean. They are less likely to be duped by MS than consumer-users. If MS tries to end any support for them, then MS risks their switching to another platform such as Linux. Big corporations will understand better than ordinary users, the risks to privacy of 11.
One has to ask oneself why do developers outside MS continue to develop for 10 if it is end of life and a terrible security risk? Do they know something that ordinary users don't?
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Cleaning Windows ~ OK, here's a toughie! Given that Microsoft insert a great deal of unwanted code into both Windows 10 and Windows 11 (advertising, bloatware and spyware, etc.), if one wanted to clean installations of 10 and 11 to the maximum degree possible, which of them could be made cleaner, please?!
ChatGPT said:
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