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I have no idea what I’m doing wrong.
You aren’t doing anything wrong. The Google search we once loved has been enshittified. The specific process by which Google enshittified its search details the steps Google went through to extract more value to Google through decreasing value to search users… and decreasing value to their advertisers, too.
A combination of the regulatory environment for competition, privacy, labor, consumer protection and IP law is why Google is making money off of you, while giving ever worsening search results.
When our experience is poor, we used to think, what did I do wrong? But so much tech is undergoing enshittification… the first place I look at now, is what recent decision was made to enshittify my computer, cloud services, browser, apps, printer, etc.? It isn’t us, and @RMART, it isn’t you.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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Bloomberg link is behind paywall… here is an article from Reuters on same subject.
And… EFfs take on it: Cornered by the UK’s Demand for an Encryption Backdoor, Apple Turns Off Its Strongest Security Setting
It never used to be a matter for debate, people had ways of privately communicating. That pedophiles or terrorists communicated privately did not mean that everyone should be prohibited from private conversations. Weakening Encryption Violates Fundamental Rights
I agree with Apple that it is better to be clear that British data is poorly protected, than put in a back door that weakens encryption and privacy for Apple users world wide.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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Kate- if you still aren’t seeing the option,from Yahoo mail support.
Not seeing the option to switch back? As we move forward with the New Yahoo Mail experience, the option to opt out and return to the previous version may be removed for some accounts.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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The FCC was not ‘heavy handed’ in applying Net Neutrality rules. Americans need and deserve Net Neutrality.
Failure to enforce anti-monopoly laws for decades has resulted in the rapid enshittification of the internet and tech, to the detriment of individual users across the world. Why does Microsoft continue to force ‘features’ that users don’t want, while making it harder and harder to avoid them? They have monopolistic control, which is not balanced by individual users being able to easily choose something else.
ISPs are monopolies. They have divided up the US and do not compete with each other, concentrating, instead, on extracting dollars from their captive users. The FCC was doing something to level the playing field for us. If they cannot implement net neutrality, Congress needs to pass legislation making it the law of the land, along with meaningful privacy laws.
May I recommend supporting EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation). I, for one, do not want ISPs acting as gatekeepers, profiting from making special deals with a few companies and inhibiting new competition, innovation, and expression. If the courts don’t support internet freedoms, then we need legislative reform.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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My assumption is that @salyers32 doesn’t have a cellphone, because it isn’t useful to him… utterly useless as he said…
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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I just noticed that the upgrade changed my local (former Win10-)daily user account into a “WDAGUtilityAccount”, which is no longer determined as a “User” but as a “Guest”.
Do you have a Microsoft account?
Can you change local account designation?
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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Granular admin is a role in Microsoft Partners, for business. They do expire… but go to Microsoft partners directly, if you do have a relationship with them.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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Hopefully you didn’t use any links provided in it, to find out more? My first thought is fishing and/or mal-ware. So go slow.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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Would you have, at any time, enabled a setting, or used an app to limit your battery charging to 85% in order to extend the battery life?
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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1) The EFF quote is about Passkeys as compared to two factor authentication. They have excellent recommendations, but are up front about assessing risks, and assessing what is available to counter risks. Elimination of risk is not possible, and they have tools and recommendations for multiple levels of risk. My quoted comment is about my personal risk assessment. The two are not equivalent or related. I do find EFF to keep up on changes in a fairly timely matter, and respect their recommendations. They do not look down on people for making particular risk choices, but inform as to what is available.
2) Steve Gibson includes current data, sources of date, and analysis of what that data means for end users, including aspects which big tech would prefer to hide… I find him credible, and he documents where his information comes from.
3) Using Passkeys on Chrome or Safari will lock you into that platform. Your credentials are not exportable or extractable.
4) Android wont activate your security key if a website sends you the set of options for Passkeys, denying you choice. Thus the identity provider chooses what device to use, without your input. Developer examples only show Google passkeys stored in Google Password Manager. Lock in.
5) GitHub pass key beta and GitHub pass key threads have instances of users whose security keys are not able to be enrolled as the resident key slots are filled, Android not creating pass keys due to platform bugs, some devices needing firmware resets to create pass keys, and Keys that can be saved on the client but not on the server, leading to duplicate account presence and credentials that don’t work on the server, Keys can be saved on the client but not on the server, leading to duplicate account presence and credentials that don’t work or, worse, lead users to delete the real credentials.
These problems exist for technical early adopters… and are not things that non techy end users could or should be forced into resolving on their own. Hm… not finding them in the billions of articles on the joys of Passkeys, either…
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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What exactly are “passkeys” and why are they an improvement over passwords?
A passkey is an alternative method of user authentication that eliminates the need for usernames and passwords. It was hoped to be more secure and easier to use.
Regarding @Rogers choice not to use bio-metric log ins or pins to access his personal devices, I don’t use them, either. I’m not ignorant. I’ve reviewed my personal risk assessment having reviewed EFF’s (Electronic Frontier Foundation) Surveillance Self Defense and assessing my personal risk and needs. Respect for individual choices is something missing all too often in tech discussions.
Although touted as a great leap in security, the problems with Passkeys are becoming evident. There are those of us that having been trained by Microsoft to be wary of the next best thing that were expecting this. It was reasonable to allow others to be guinea pigs. Caution is still advisable.
There are billion articles about passkeys yet you managed to post this fake conspiracy ?
Security expert, Steve Gibson, reviews the current problems in his podcast, Security Now, Passkeys, A Shattered Dream?. I regret this isn’t an article I can quote, but reading is increasingly difficult for me, personally, and so I tend to enjoy podcasts.
One of the main problems with Passkeys is that the original vision of them being universal, has been stymied by Google’s failure to incorporate the needed standard in Chrome. This is yet another example how lack of competition results in a monopoly making unilateral decisions, disregarding the well thought out standards. Instead of interoperability, the current implementation uses Vendor lock, without portability by the end user. Windows, Google, and Apple are all examples of how vendor lock in results in enshittification… where end user experience is made worse so vendors can extract more money.
Devices themselves have limits as to how many Passkeys they are capable of creating and using. End users may have failure of Passkey creation, and/or authentication, due to problems in the current system.
Another problem is that your Passkeys can be unilaterally erased by (for example) Apple, if you are using an IPhone. End consumers are left to figure out how to fix a problem they didn’t make… sometimes at quite inopportune times.
Passkeys are a technology still in development. That technically skilled first adopters are having problems with them, problems that remain unresolved, points to their being unsuitable for regular consumers. That has never stopped big tech from forcing things onto their locked in users…
Passkeys could be useful for Corporate Security, so that passwords cannot be hacked, and the employee who encounters a problem and readily turn to their corporate IT security department to quickly resolve issues. Would that normal end users have such expertise readily available in a timely matter!
I believe @Roger has asked valid questions, and this site is dedicated to answering just those kind of questions. He deserved a better, more thorough and balanced response. Passkeys had promised a more secure, less hackable, tool for authenticating the end user. They are still in development, and another tool in our security tool box… but definitely not a cure all.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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Good to hear! Thanks!
I’m slow at everything these days, including formulating responses, but your post warmed my heart and reminded me once again how helpful all the people here at AskWoody are! As a non techy at heart, I learned far more than I was every able to share.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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@Lars220- I’ve very much missed the community here at AskWoody, and appreciate your kind words.
The Accessibility Blog is a great resource, thank you for pointing to it. I’ve bookmarked it, for reading at leisure.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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From the article:
Both home and Enterprise users were well informed of Windows 7’s impending doom and given ample time to upgrade or buy new machines. Guess what happened? Smart people left Windows 7 before support ended while stupid people did not.
Contrary to Fagioli’s point of view, the ‘stupid’ people only had to set automatic updates and accept all that Microsoft shoved them into. It took smarts to investigate the operating system being pushed on their machines and avoid getting shoved onto W10.
Smart people avoid telemetry and preserve their privacy. Smart people are using an operating system that works for them, and not for Microsoft. Smart people don’t have to have unwanted programs installed on their machines and using their resources. Smart people don’t submit to endless updating and non-security changes being pushed to their systems. Smart people avoid being unpaid beta testers for a billion dollar corporation. Smart people figured out how to stay on Windows 7 or moved to another non-Microsoft operating system.
Unfortunately, Microsoft no longer supports a suitable operating system for Home and Pro end users. They could, but instead are implementing a system that cannot function without telemetry, with programs that cannot be removed, and updates that cannot be refused for long. The ‘privacy’ options are a magic act that pretends to give users control, while continuing to harvest data…
How smart is it to call names, and declare people lazy and indifferent, when it took perseverance and active steps to avoid W10… while ignoring all the reasons that people have chosen to stay with Windows 7, despite corporate bullying? There isn’t any acknowledgement of why people my actually choose to avoid W10… and that is pretty lazy and stupid for a journalist to neglect when writing.
What is interesting is none of the Windows 7 machines still operating in my family and friends group have had any mal-ware, and remain stable and reliable… day in and day out. Pretty smart choice, I’d say.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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Malware can be sneaky…
I like to run through MajorGeeks Malware Removal… it uses multiple tools, but steps you through a specific sequence of steps in running them… just in case?
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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