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Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account

(infosec.exchange)
268 points tech234a | 1 comments | 29 Mar 25 04:13 UTC | HN request time: 0.287s | source
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samiv ◴[29 Mar 25 07:00 UTC] No.43513408[source]▶
I'm also 100% convinced Microsoft will introduce mandatory code signing at some point and make it so that you can only ever install software from Windows Store.

They are envious of the Google and Apple walled gardens/cashcows and are now determined to turn Windows into one.

Windows is no longer a product for users, the users of Windows are the product for Microsoft to be shoved into the Azure sales funnel.

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cedws ◴[29 Mar 25 08:19 UTC] No.43513761[source]▶
That would never work, they would have to have some kind of override. Microsoft doesn’t have that kind of leverage over Windows users because they don’t have tight vertical integration. If Windows 12 enforced that, users would just stay on Windows 11 and MS’ leverage would decrease even further.
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1. schroeding ◴[29 Mar 25 16:55 UTC] No.43516852[source]▶
Until they need new hardware, for which there will (and can) be no drivers anymore, as Microsoft stops crosssigning them in the Hardware Dev Center after a while for old Windows versions.

Microsoft does have the leverage in this case, as long as folks want to continue using Windows.