• HiddenLayer5@lemmy.ml
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    6 months ago

    Less funny when you realize it’s mostly banks, government agencies, and militaries still using it.

    • EuroNutellaMan@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I’d say more likely it’s labs, hospitals, and other scientific stuff where you have to deal with old instruments cause lack of money. I’m fairly certain the military uses some other OS, I believe NATO uses Solaris for example.

      • minyakcurry@monyet.cc
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        6 months ago

        Also that machine only works under very specific circumstances, so you fear changing anything in case your entire protocol breaks and you have to start from scratch.

      • Ross_audio@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        “Windows for Submarines”

        It’s XP for Vanguard subs. I really hope none of them provide any telemetry for these stats though.

      • viking@infosec.pub
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        6 months ago

        As a former banker I can tell you that most ATMs run Windows NT 4.0.

        However since the network is completely clamped down and the OS boots via network as well (no hard drives in ATMs), they are pretty secure.

        I’ve also indeed seen some Windows XP terminals in use just lately - one in fact in a hospital my current company collaborates with - but it’s isolated and used to run some sequencer that was never ported to a 64 bit architecture, and apparently doesn’t run in compatibility mode either.

        • EuroNutellaMan@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Yeah seems about right.

          In my lab we have a spectrometer and an HPLC with computers that use windows XP.

          Tho I noticed the HPLC one is connected to the internet, gonna have to ask them of that’s necessary

          • TopRamenBinLaden@sh.itjust.works
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            6 months ago

            Tho I noticed the HPLC one is connected to the internet, gonna have to ask them of that’s necessary

            Someone had to download the Doom installer at some point, of course.

      • Narauko@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        The current company that owns the old model installed in your hospital and sells the new version, bought the company that bought the company that made the version you have and can’t update the firmware and code to work on a modern OS because all knowledgeable staff were lost in the buyouts.

        The best they can do is sell you the new version that does the same thing your current working version does for $500,000.

        Maybe they even have a new ecosystem that they want you to move to, because they don’t make support/subscription revenue with the current stand alone server that moves the image or telemetry results from the machine to the viewing workstations and records database.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        If the U.S. military is anything like it was in the 90s, they may very well still be using Windows XP for all kinds of things. My mother-in-law ran an army reserve center through the late 90s and they were using DOS machines well into the Windows era because the army wouldn’t update their computers.

    • Deiv@lemmy.ca
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      6 months ago

      I highly doubt it. I work for a large bank, and it’s all W10/11 due to the need for continuous security patches/currency updates. Large banks don’t mess around with EOL software that has a risk of vulnerabilities

      • M0oP0o
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        6 months ago

        Yeap, on the workstations. In the atms and cash recyclers etc… got bad news for you…

      • AnAngryAlpaca@feddit.de
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        6 months ago

        Large banks don’t mess around with EOL software that has a risk of vulnerabilities

        Well, more complex modern software has an higher risk of (yet unknown) vulnerabilities.

    • Virtual Insanity @lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      And medical. Suppliers if CT, MRI and X-Ray gear are notorious for wanting to sell new gear and not providing software updates to work on new operating systems.

      • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Mainstream support ended 15 years ago. Extended security support ended 10 years ago. The last version to have any kind of update at all was their embedded OS version for things like cash registers, with the last security update 5 years ago.

        So it’s wildly insecure against any new attacks targeting an OS that’s largely used by major corporations, governments, and medical facilities that are juicy targets for theft and ransomware attacks.

        • Moira_Mayhem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          6 months ago

          There is a service called 0patch that offers live microcode updates for XP. They’ve even won bounties for a few things they caught before Microsoft.

          I pay about $30 a year to live micropatch my WIn7 gaming partition and have had no issues despite also being a bit less than diligent when it comes to digital buccaneering on that machine.

      • EuroNutellaMan@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        It’s moreso that they have some abandonware that only works on windows XP.

        Windows XP itself is abandonware and you shouldn’t use it in any other case, just use Linux if you don’t like newer windows. You certainly aren’t doing any photoshopping on XP nowadays so that’s no concern.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    I don’t even know why people use Windows 10 (or 11) other than momentum.

    I haven’t used Windows for years, but my daughter’s new online school required either a Windows 10/11 computer or a Mac and we can’t afford even a new decent Windows notebook, let alone a Mac, so we ended up getting a refurbished Thinkpad running Windows 10 from NewEgg.

    Windows 10. Is. Annoying. As. Fuck.

    We are constantly getting interrupted by unnecessary popups (or were until I took the time to disable everything I could think of, which was a pain in the ass).

    After running updates, it made me go through a bunch of screens turning down paying for things. Twice. And those popups still asked me about paying for things. Motherfucker, I already paid $300 for the computer, I’m not paying you shit.

    And wow is stuff counterintuitive in how to do it compared to either any Linux GUI I’ve tried or Mac OS. Just trying to figure out how to get to a File menu is baffling half the time.

    I don’t blame anyone for using XP over that shit. Let alone Linux or even a Mac.

    • kshade@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I don’t even know why people use Windows 10 (or 11) other than momentum.

      Security updates. That’s it, that’s the only reason I recommend anyone unwilling or unable to switch operating systems all together to move to Windows 10.

    • Smokeydope@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Just wait until they start putting ads in the file menu and make you sit through a 30 second commercial every time you want to open an application unless you join windows premium + subscription only 15$ a month

        • Smokeydope@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Microsoft reserves the right to collect and sell any genetic information exposed to drink verification can via bodily fluids.

          Proceeds to transmit your entire genome to their cloud servers in plaintext

    • Psythik@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      For me I use Win11 for one reason: Auto HDR. Fixes every issue I have with HDR in other OSes cause it just works.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        I can see that, but is it really worth running it as an OS other than for that specific use? Because if not, you can just run it in an emulator or on a partition when you need that.

        • Psythik@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Well I play a lot of HDR games and watch a lot of HDR movies, so for me the use isn’t exactly “specific”. I’m using HDR all the time.

          But to be honest, I’d love nothing more than to switch to Linux fulltime. The game support is finally good enough for me, but I need my HDR. Emulation isn’t an option cause HDR doesn’t work that way, and I already dual boot Mint and Win11. But right now my usage is about 90% Windows and 10% *Nix. Can’t wait for the day when I can finally switch those percentages around.

    • drathvedro@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      What’s up with Armenia and terrible PC’s tho? I have honestly fished better equipment from literal trash cans than what’s offered in most the PC stores over there. Is there like some ill-concieved embargo on electronics in place?

  • marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works
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    6 months ago

    When I was working security for a hospital they wanted to send imagery from an MRI (or maybe CAT, I forget) upstairs to be interpreted without allowing any network traffic to be able to reach the host machine because it was running XP. I asked why, and they told me that in order to replace it the vendor was requiring a $7 million replacement of the whole MRI.

    • Takios@feddit.de
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      6 months ago

      That should be illegal and the vendor held accountable for security incidents happening because of this.

    • AlexWIWA@lemmy.ml
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      6 months ago

      Same shit is starting to happen with cars. No way to get the new headunits without replacing the whole car. I know Porsche offers electronic upgrade kits, but I can’t think of any others that do.

    • Moira_Mayhem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      6 months ago

      I know of an older couple running 3.11, wife is a writer and she refuses to use anything other than wordperfect.

      No internet, and just a printer.

      Every time they call me out to service it they treat me like a long lost grandson with food and the occasional knitted gift so I don’t mind despite the fact that just keeping their (no joke) Pentium II (the edge slot version) alive is frankly one of the hardest projects I’ve ever had in my career. And I’ve had to service government software…

      • i_am_somebody@lemmy.sdf.org
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        6 months ago

        Yeah, I have a w3.1 machine and I play with it regularly, but it really lacks as a daily driver. On the other hand, my w98 machine can do basically everything I need for work, except web browsing. It’s fascinating how little have operating systems progressed in the last 25 years, user-facing wise.

        • drcobaltjedi@programming.dev
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          6 months ago

          I collect vintage and iconic computers as a hobby, and the only reason i bought a win98 machine was so I could play DOS games on the real hardware. But otherwise yeah, it can do most things youd use a modern computer for very well other than it shouldnt connect to the internet.

          • Emerald@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            You can connect it to the internet, just be in the mindset that anything you do on it someone else can see it.

            Just please don’t connect it to a network

  • niktemadur@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Why are the percentages in decimals, like this - “0.64%”?
    And why does the total add up to 1.02%?

  • voxel@sopuli.xyz
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    6 months ago

    these are mostly enterprise systems right? like terminals/pos stuff where the system is responsible for just running the ui?

    • Kiosade@lemmy.ca
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      6 months ago

      To be fair, whomever decided to use an apostrophe to indicate possession AND abbreviation clearly didn’t think through all the possible conflicts before going ahead and making it a thing. Should have made a separate symbol for one of them.

      • w2tpmf@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Yes, thousands of years of established language development is wrong … not the individual who is unable to learn what millions of others have been able to.

        • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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          6 months ago

          Yes, thousands of years of established language development is wrong

          Yes, it is. Island has an ‘s’ in it as a stylistic choice to Latinize a word that has no Latin root. Literally is now defined as “not literally” which is absurd. That’s established language development.

          If people keep using “it’s” as possessive then it will become possessive, and nothing will be lost.

  • Igloojoe@lemm.ee
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    6 months ago

    I’ve been looking for advice. I’ve been wondering if it was worthwhile to upgrade from 10 to 11. I heard 11 had ads and even more bloatware, a disgusting UI, and just general worse. But i was wondering if those are fixed/avoidable. I was thinking of upgrading before it gets too late, or idk…

    • Moira_Mayhem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      6 months ago

      Win11’s telemetry load is significantly higher than already outrageous win10’s to the point I feel it is a legitimate security risk.

      Things like passing off your wifi passwords in plaintext to MS servers is really only the tip of the iceberg.

      When w10 goes End of Life, I’ll be buying 3rd party microcode patching from 0patch.

      Screw w11 with every fiber of my being.

    • kattenluik@feddit.nl
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      6 months ago

      No, they’re not going to be fixed or fully avoidable and you want to stay on Windows 10 or just go to Linux.

      Windows 10 is genuinely better in every single way and it is incredibly sad.

      And also, there is no “too late” as you can always upgrade whenever you want.

      • Igloojoe@lemm.ee
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        6 months ago

        Thank you. Just the news of windows 8 being unsupported got me thinking.

        And i’ve never touched linux. I might have to take the plunge and learn once win 10 becomes obsolete and unsupported.

        • Moira_Mayhem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          6 months ago

          There is a company called 0patch that makes microcode patches for legacy Win systems.

          I pay about $30 a year for microcode patching on my WIn7 partition and have had zero problems despite it being always internet connected.

          Plan on doing the same once win10 goes end of life for my everyday driver.

          Full disclosure: Not paid for this, they are a legit digital wonder.

          • kattenluik@feddit.nl
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            6 months ago

            This seems like a lot of hassle for no reason? It also doesn’t sound like it’d protect against much if it’s just microcode patching.

            What’re you doing with Win7 where you still need it so desperately?

            • Moira_Mayhem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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              6 months ago

              You’re not in IT, are you?

              Do you know what microcode patching even is and why it is in many ways superior to simple file patching?

              There is no effort. You just sign up for an account and install their systray program. It’s as easy to set up as a subscription VPN service. All the patching is done live in memory first and in 4 years I’ve needed to reboot exactly twice.

              I have a huge stack of retro games and code projects that work very poorly on Win10, as well as the fact that my Win7 version is Ultimate so I make a lot of use of XP mode virtual machine and booting from virtual disk on bare metal for my moderately older games (something I can’t do with my win10 home license). Can’t even get win10 drivers for half of my hardware on that box.

              Also kind of annoyed by your hostility so you’re blocked now.

              • kattenluik@feddit.nl
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                6 months ago

                I’m sorry, but there was zero hostility in my comment whatsoever. Quite literally just questions, and I am in fact in IT and was curious.

                Nothing you’ve said seems like it’d need full internet access but it’s at least interesting, but asking more is pointless now.

                It’s also quite easy to upgrade your Windows licenses for free, I would’ve been interested in what old games you’re playing.

    • banneryear1868@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I just built a desktop for Windows 11, unfortunately I need a Windows desktop in the house even though Debian is my main OS. Last desktop was 13 years old and just wasn’t working for my needs anymore. Default 11 install is horribly bloated but I actually like the desktop environment now. Here’s some stuff I did:

      Customized USB image to bypass Microsoft account with easily found steps if you Google. Used Chris Titus Tech’s tool to remove a bunch of shit, install apps, disable telemetry, configure windows update to security only. Used “Reclaim windows” script from github and customized for my purposes. After that I confirmed if all the shit was gone and did a remove-appxpackage for anything left, like widgets etc.

      So I have a bare bones install, no Microsoft account, no Microsoft store, no “apps,” no default associations to builtin tools, and a bunch of common foss utilities and all my favorite windows-dependent apps working. Can’t believe it took the amount of effort it did but I like it now, given what my expectations were it definitely exceeded them.

        • banneryear1868@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Yeah pretty much, most linux distros are at a usable state by default and you spend productive effort learning how to manage it, it’s probably easier than Windows at the end of the day especially for general use. I’m a heavy user of Ableton Live with plugins and using Windows is the only way to run it on your own hardware. Also becomes my gaming machine, but everything else is Debian.

    • Vlyn@lemmy.zip
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      6 months ago

      It’s totally fine to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11, it’s basically the same thing. Overall it’s better in some regards (like better HDR support, direct storage is coming and so on) and a bit worse in others (I do hate the new right click menu). No ads though and barely any difference to Windows 10 as far as I noticed in over a year of using it.

      Windows 10 already had all that stuff, telemetry, a link to Candy Crush in the start menu, it’s the same shit. Windows 11 didn’t get worse in that regard at all.

      So just do a fresh installation of Windows 11 (don’t upgrade Windows versions, it’s a mess in the background) and have fun.