Wednesday, April 24th 2024
Windows 11 Now Officially Adware as Microsoft Embeds Ads in the Start Menu
Microsoft over late-Tuesday started distributing the KB5036980 optional update to Windows 11 users, which effectively makes the operating system adware (software that displays ads to support its author). The update gets the Windows 11 Start Menu to display ads in the "Recommended" section that suggests apps and games for you to download from the Microsoft Store, subscribe to Copilot Pro, etc. While the update is currently optional, the changes contained in it will be made part of next month's "Patch Tuesday" update.
This wouldn't be the first time Microsoft is advertising software, the OEM versions of Windows 11 can be customized by PC manufacturers to pre-install bloatware, or suggest apps or services for users to buy within the Start or Apps menus. You usually uninstall the pre-installed bloatware, and dismiss recommendations. Today's update is different, in that even the Retail versions of Windows (without the bloatware) start receiving ads. Luckily, these ads are not inescapable, you can disable them. Head over to Settings > Personalization > Start, and uncheck the toggle that reads "Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more."
Source:
The Verge
This wouldn't be the first time Microsoft is advertising software, the OEM versions of Windows 11 can be customized by PC manufacturers to pre-install bloatware, or suggest apps or services for users to buy within the Start or Apps menus. You usually uninstall the pre-installed bloatware, and dismiss recommendations. Today's update is different, in that even the Retail versions of Windows (without the bloatware) start receiving ads. Luckily, these ads are not inescapable, you can disable them. Head over to Settings > Personalization > Start, and uncheck the toggle that reads "Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more."
173 Comments on Windows 11 Now Officially Adware as Microsoft Embeds Ads in the Start Menu
And yet it's still there in Search window.
So, come at me Microsoft :laugh:.
Easy:
www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
A bit harder, but still easy:
winaero.com/winaero-tweaker
github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil
github.com/StevenBlack/hosts
Also this: winaero.com/stop-windows-10-spying-on-you-using-just-windows-firewall/
and this:
This will make your experience better, not Win 7 better, but much better than stock.
Now, I'm also lazy and don't want to have to keep up to date GPO edits and Powershell, so I've found I'm happy with Optimizer GitHub - hellzerg/optimizer: The finest Windows Optimizer with tasteful disables and removes. Combined with AdGuard and it mostly gets rid of the bloat, adfilled experience of Win 11 IMO.
I am willing to bet significant sums of money that this time will go exactly like all those previous ones.
Until Linux does what they should have for 25 years and use a universal packaging system like every other OS I have zero interest in their desktop "experience". Already run it on my router and tv box.
Edit: Black Viper used to maintain list of services to disable on older version of Windows and seems like the site is gone now with no Win 11 list.
:toast:
If the price is over 5 bucks, I'm looking elsewhere, anyway.
But yeah, the Linux option is rapidly gaining traction here tooYup... I'll probably jump onto 12 at some point. 11 looks skippable
Still, I do think at some point in the future that immutable distros, especially those that offer an 'appliance' like experience have a chance at maybe gaining adoption by general users since they aim to abstract most of distro and have a high degree of reliability.
M$ already were on my "you must yohoho their software" list. Don't see a way they will leave it. Eh, only if gaming on Linux wasn't a complete joke.