telemetry tracking Archives

Winsage

December 3, 2025

Windows 10’s demise fuels Linux hype again — but will Bazzite finally break the “forever up‑and‑comer” curse? There’s a chance.

Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows 10, leading to around 500 million PCs being eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11, though many users remain on the unsupported platform. Zorin OS has gained approximately 780,000 users migrating from Windows within a month of this decision. Bazzite, a Linux-based gaming distribution, surpassed one petabyte of ISO downloads in a month, serving around 150,000 ISOs and attracting 730,000 visitors. Bazzite offers better hardware compatibility and pre-installed drivers for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, making it a strong alternative to SteamOS. The improved compatibility of Windows games on Linux, aided by Valve's Proton, is contributing to the trend of users exploring alternatives to Windows.

Winsage

November 26, 2025

Windows 10 retirement pushes 780,000 users to Linux as Zorin OS Hits 1M downloads — but Microsoft still wants to evolve Windows 11 into an agentic AI OS

Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows 10 on October 14, leaving approximately 400 million PCs unsupported. Users can upgrade to Windows 11, enroll in the Extended Software Updates (ESU) program for an additional year of support at a cost, continue using Windows 10 with potential risks, or explore alternatives like Zorin OS. Zorin OS has surpassed one million downloads, with 78% coming from Windows devices, appealing for its performance on older hardware and enhanced privacy features. The End of 10 group is advocating for a switch to Linux, highlighting benefits such as no ads and telemetry tracking.

Winsage

November 8, 2025

Popular Windows 11 bypass tool hit by malware copycat | Flyoobe hijacked putting Windows 10 users at risk

A counterfeit version of the Flyoobe tool, which helps install Windows 11 on unsupported devices, is circulating and may contain malware. The official developer warns users to download Flyoobe only from the official GitHub page to avoid risks. Reports indicate that malicious updates have been released through a seemingly legitimate domain. Users are advised against engaging with third-party tools, as they can cause critical issues, including potentially "bricking" devices. Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is available, but critics view it as a temporary solution. Microsoft claims that Windows 11 PCs are significantly faster than Windows 10 PCs, and as support for Windows 10 ends, the use of tools like Flyoobe is expected to rise, along with associated risks.

Winsage

November 5, 2025

A popular Windows 11 requirement bypass tool has a dangerous copycat targeting desperate users

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, affecting approximately 400 million Windows PCs. Users are increasingly turning to Linux and ChromeOS due to Microsoft's strict hardware requirements for Windows 11. Flyoobe allows Windows 10 users to bypass these requirements, but there are reports of malicious updates associated with unofficial domains. The developer of Flyoobe has warned users to download the tool only from its official GitHub page to avoid malware. Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is available but criticized as inadequate by some groups. Microsoft claims that Windows 11 PCs are significantly faster than Windows 10 PCs. A YouTube content creator's videos on installing Windows 11 were removed due to a violation of community guidelines but were later restored after user backlash.

Winsage

October 30, 2025

YouTube removes Windows 11 Microsoft account bypass video citing a community guideline violation with potential to cause serious physical harm or death — “I don’t think Microsoft had anything to do with it.”

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft ended support for Windows 10, impacting around 400 million PCs globally, and encouraged users to upgrade to Windows 11 through full-screen notifications. Users can enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for an additional year of support at no cost by syncing their PC settings with a Microsoft Account or using 1,000 Microsoft Reward points, which is free in the European Economic Area. Advocacy groups criticized the ESU program, calling it ineffective and indicative of planned obsolescence. Some users are considering switching to Linux for fewer ads and less telemetry tracking. Third-party tools like Flyoobe and Tiny11 help users transition to Windows 11 by bypassing hardware requirements and streamlining the OS. YouTube removed a video from CyberCPU Tech demonstrating local account setup for Windows 11, and Microsoft is enforcing Microsoft account requirements during new installations. The creator, Rich, believes the video removal was due to YouTube's AI misinterpretation, not Microsoft.

Winsage

September 8, 2025

Windows 10 is ending, so here’s the upgrade you’ll actually like

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, and has introduced the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for continued security updates, which includes options for syncing settings to the cloud, redeeming Microsoft Reward points, or paying a fee for updates for up to 10 devices. Windows 11 is claimed to be up to 2.3 times faster than Windows 10, but user feedback shows hesitance to upgrade due to design flaws and minimum system requirements. NTDEV has developed Tiny11, a lightweight version of Windows 11 for unsupported hardware, and recently updated it to remove numerous applications. Tiny11 Core Builder has also been introduced for testing purposes. The end of Windows 10 has led to the emergence of alternatives like WINUX, a Linux distribution, while advocacy groups criticize the ESU program as unsustainable. Microsoft may generate significant revenue from the ESU program by charging enterprise clients per device.

Winsage

September 4, 2025

Is Microsoft forcing Windows 10 users to buy new PCs?

Windows 10 will reach its end-of-life date on October 14, 2025, leaving many users unable to upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware requirements. An estimated 400 million PCs may become obsolete, prompting concerns about the loss of support. Microsoft has suggested users purchase new PCs for continued security updates and has introduced the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which allows up to ten devices. Users can also receive free security updates for an additional year by syncing settings with a Microsoft Account. Critics argue these measures are inadequate for those unable to upgrade. The Restart Project and PIRG express concerns about e-waste and the pressure on resource management systems due to premature disposal of functional devices. Microsoft claims Windows 11 PCs are significantly faster, but this has been met with skepticism. Some users are considering a shift to Linux as an alternative to the Microsoft ecosystem.

Winsage

September 2, 2025

Love Windows, hate the rules? Try this Linux distro instead.

Microsoft's end of support for Windows 10 is set for October 14, 2025. Windows 11's market share has decreased by 4% to 49.08%, while Windows 10's market share has increased by 2.65% to 45.53%. Microsoft has introduced the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for users wishing to continue using Windows 10 after support ends. Users have reported access issues but Microsoft assures enrollment will be available before the end date. Windows 11 has struggled with adoption due to strict system requirements and design flaws, prompting aggressive marketing tactics from Microsoft. An alternative, Windows Theme Over Linux (WINUX), has been updated to mimic Windows 10 and 11, requiring minimal hardware (2GB RAM and a dual-core 64-bit CPU) and offering up to five years of free updates. Advocacy groups are encouraging users to explore Linux alternatives, citing benefits like the absence of intrusive ads and telemetry tracking. Critics view Microsoft's extended support as a temporary solution rather than a sustainable fix.

Winsage

August 27, 2025

Microsoft’s “last-minute snooze button” for Windows 10 is here —sort of

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Users have expressed dissatisfaction with this decision, preferring Windows 10 over Windows 11 due to design flaws and strict system requirements. The public interest group PIRG has petitioned Microsoft to reconsider, warning of increased electronic waste. Microsoft offers an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for an additional year of support, with a cost structure that has changed to a flat fee for up to 10 devices and requires a Microsoft Account for payment. Users can also use Microsoft Reward points to cover costs or synchronize settings with the cloud for free updates. The enrollment process for the ESU program began in July, but many users have not yet accessed it. The 'Enroll' button for the program is gradually rolling out, with speculation that it may be widely available around September 9, 2025. Organizations have criticized the ESU program as inadequate for the over 400 million PCs that cannot upgrade to Windows 11. The Restart Project argues that Microsoft's approach is a temporary fix that undermines sustainability efforts. The End of 10 group is advocating for users to switch to Linux as an alternative. Microsoft is encouraging upgrades to Windows 11 through notifications.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

With Windows 10’s fast-approaching demise, this Linux migration tool could let you ditch Microsoft’s ecosystem with your data and apps intact — but it’s limited to one distro

Microsoft's end-of-life date for Windows 10 is October 14, 2025. Users can enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for an additional year of support or sync their PC settings with a Microsoft Account for free security updates for another year. Many users are considering switching to Linux due to Windows 10's impending end of support. A new tool called Operese aims to facilitate the transition from Windows to Linux, currently in demo version and compatible only with Kubuntu. The Restart Project's "End of 10" toolkit helps users unable to upgrade to Windows 11 by promoting the installation of free and open-source operating systems on older devices. This initiative also addresses electronic waste and highlights the benefits of using Linux, such as the lack of ads and telemetry tracking.