Tech News Weekly: Issue 47
Privacy is Sexy, 2G blocking on Android, AI chat in Brave, and why digital goods should be avoided in many cases
News
Operating Systems
Microsoft is finally unlocking more native apps on Windows 11 for uninstallation. Ever since the release of Windows 10, some apps were locked and could not be uninstalled by users using the built-in removal options. While clever users detected workarounds almost instantly after the release, by using PowerShell and other means, it was not something that most regular users were comfortable with.
Clearly, some apps are integrated deeply into the system and should not be removed in most cases, as negative side effects may be the consequence. Other apps, such as Phone Link or Xbox Game Bar, on the other hand, are not essential, and should not be locked.
EQT Private Equity announced plans to delist SUSE, the company behind SUSE Enterprise Linux and other products from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange to take the company private.
Mobile
Google Android 12 and newer devices support a new function to block 2G connectivity to improve security. Available on Google Pixel devices already, Android users may disable the feature in the following way:
Open the Settings on the Android device.
Go to Network & Internet > SIMs
Check for the Allow 2G setting there.
The two main 2G issues are the impersonation of cell towers and that it is trivial to intercept data in real-time.
Browser
Google Chrome 117, the next major version of Chrome, will alert users if extensions have been removed from the Chrome Web Store. This notifications appear on the privacy and security page, and the extensions management page in the browser if an extension a) was removed by its developer, b) is malicious or c) in violation of policies.
Chrome users may enable the feature right now already in the following way:
Load chrome://flags/#safety-check-extensions
Set the feature to Enabled using the menu on its right.
Restart Chrome.
Google is also rolling out the HTTPS Upgrades, also called HTTPS-First, feature to stable versions of the browser. When enabled under Privacy and Security > Advanced > Always use secure connections, Chrome attempts to upgrade all HTTP connections to HTTPS automatically. If a connection fails to be upgraded, Chrome displays a warning to the user about this.
Firefox users on Android may not be able to use pull to refresh to reload the active webpage. Mozilla announced that it plans to disable the feature for new installs to work on bugs that plague the feature currently. All users may enable or disable the option under Settings > Customize.
Brave Software revealed that it is working on an AI chat assistant, called LEO, in Brave Browser. It is available in Nightly versions only at the time and uses Meta’s Llama 2 model. Unlike many of the other AI chat features, Brave uses a reverse proxy to make sure that no user data, other than the request itself, is made available to the AI.
Mozilla is working on introducing imports of extensions in Firefox. The current iteration of the feature is still in testing, and it supports imports from Chrome only. Since Firefox and Chrome extensions are not automatically compatible, Mozilla is using a list of extensions that are available for both browsers at the time.
Privacy and Security
Proton customers who pay for a subscription may enable the new security feature Proton Sentinel. Designed for high-profile targets, Proton Sentinel enables additional security protections, improved logs and escalation to security professionals.
Privacy is Sexy is a free online service and software for Windows, Linux and macOS to create custom privacy-improving scripts. It is a construction kit for privacy, as users select options that the service adds to custom scripts. These options range from removing bloatware or native apps to improving security and modifying privacy of third-party apps such as web browsers.
Software Releases and Updates
The web-based version of Google Keep, Google’s note taking app and service, is getting a version history. It is only text-based at the moment and rolling out to all users.
Gaming and Entertainment
Are Windows-powered gaming handhelds a new thing? Steam Deck is quite popular, but that is easily explained by the power of the Steam store. Asus launched its Rog Ally recently, and now it appears that Lenovo is ready to launch its Legion Go device. Unlike its competitors, it looks more like a Nintendo Switch, as it features two joysticks, one for each hand.
Microsoft’s Activision acquisition is still in limbo. To appease the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, Microsoft suggested this week to transfer “the cloud streaming rights for all current and new Activision Blizzard PC and console games released over the next 15 years to Ubisoft Entertainment SA”.
Hardware
HP is facing a class action lawsuit in the United States as it is allegedly locking functions in all-in-one printers that require no ink if ink is low, and not informing customers about the fact prior to the purchase.
Other
Windy is a handy weather website that displays all kinds of weather information free of charge. There is a premium version, which adds 10-day forecast outlooks, 1-hour forecast steps, more forecast updates and unlimited favorites and alerts to the mix. Still, even as a free version it may be worth a visit.
Article(s)
How to create bootable Windows 11 USB install media in just a few steps
You can create USB install media with just a few clicks for Windows 11 and other operating systems. It is one of the few options to install an operating system on a device, especially on devices without any operating system.
While some users may shy away from creating bootable media and letting friends or professionals handle the creation and installation of the operating system for them, it requires no technical expertise whatsoever to do so.
The only requirement is an USB Flash Drive or key that has at least 8 gigabytes of storage space. Faster drives speed up the process, but even slower drives will do the job.
I prefer to use the free tool Rufus for the job, but you can also use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, if you prefer to use a first-party solution. Rufus offers a number of advantages over Microsoft’s tool, including the optional ability to bypass some hardware requirements or create a local account automatically.
Note: the process will erase all data that is currently on the USB Flash drive. Copy important data to another location before you proceed.
Using Rufus is simple and straightforward:
Visit the Rufus website and download the latest version. I suggest you download the Standard version, which is rufus-4.2.exe at the time of writing. There is also a portable version and versions for x86 and ARM Windows devices.
Run the Rufus file once it has been downloaded. Installation is straightforward, but you may need to accept an UAC prompt by selecting YES during installation. Rufus starts automatically once the installation completes.
Plug-in the USB Flash drive into the computer and select it under Device. It may take a moment to be found by the application.
In the boot selection row, make sure Disk or ISO image is selected.
Activate the small down arrow icon in the same row and select Download.
Select Download; this downloads a small script from the developer’s website that contains the latest download information.
A small “download ISO image” popup is displayed. Make the following selections and pick “continue” each time.
Version: Windows 11.
Release: 22H2 v2 (will change in the future to 23H2, once released).
Edition: Windows 11 Home/Pro/Edu
Language: pick the desired language, e.g., English International.
Architecture: x64
Select the download button to start the download to the local system. Save the file to the downloads folder or another location on your device. It has a size of less than 6 gigabytes.
Rufus selects the Windows 11 image automatically. You may keep all other options.
Select Start.
You now have options to customize the Windows installation experience. All options are optional. Select OK once you are done.
Windows 11 is now on the USB drive and you may boot any device from it to install the operating system or use it to troubleshoot issues.
The Disadvantages of Buying Digital Goods
The digital age has transformed the way many consume products and services, offering unparalleled convenience and accessibility. People from all over the world may buy ebooks, digital music, software, games or online subscriptions now, and the trend towards buying digital is growing.
While digital goods certainly have their appeal, there is also a host of disadvantages that may easily be overlooked.
This article lists the pitfalls of buying digital and lists real-world examples that demonstrate these.
Ownership — Unlike physical goods, which are most of the time owned once purchased, digital goods are usually provided as licenses. A license to use a product after purchase. These licenses can be revoked or restricted by the seller or rights-holder at any time. You may remember the 2009 incident where Amazon removed the book 1984 (of all books!) from customer Kindle devices because the rights-holder decided to no longer sell the book digitally.
Dependencies — Often, digital goods rely on external factors that are not controlled by the buyer. Video games may require online shops, an active Internet connection or that a system is still supported by the manufacturer. When Electronic Arts released a new version of Sim City in 2013, many buyers could not play the game because of widespread server and connectivity issues. The company added an offline mode a year later to the game. Google Stadia users who purchased games using the official Store can’t play the purchased games any longer, as Google decided to close down the entire service. Google did offer refunds though.
Reselling — Most digital goods can’t be resold; this is one of the main incentives of companies to push digital goods over physical copies. Gamers who purchase physical games for Nintendo Switch, PS5 or Xbox One, may resell the games after they have played them to get some money back, which they may invest in another purchase of for something else.
Privacy — Most physical goods can be purchased in stores or other person-to-person transactions in cash. The transaction is not linked to an identity. Digital goods are usually linked to online accounts, which reveal information about the buyer. Data may also be leaked, for instance in successful server breaches.
Overconsumption — Overconsumption is not only a digital goods problem, but digital goods are available around the clock. Often, buying new items requires just a few clicks of the mouse button or taps on a mobile’s screen. In gaming, there is the “pile of shame”, which refers to games that have been bought but never played. Some gamers have hundreds or even thousands of games linked to their accounts that they never played.
Lack of Tangibility and Sentimental Value — Digital items lack tangible connections. The purchase of a book in a bookstore or one of those Big Box PC or SNES games may not only evoke memories, but also establish emotional connections. Furthermore, physical copies may have improved visibility over digital goods.
While digital goods have their advantages, buying physical is often the better choice, especially when it comes to availability, reselling and privacy.
Links
Heat your House with a Mechanical Windmill
Last rites for the UK's Online Safety Bill, an idea too stupid to notice it's dead