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Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
ISSUE 21.45.1 • 2024-11-07 By Susan Bradley In the midst of Microsoft’s pushing Windows 11 24H2 and updates for Windows 10, caution is in order. As a
[See the full post at: MS-DEFCON 2: ESU plans announced for Windows 10]
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
Regarding iOS 18.1, the Hearing Aid functionality enabled for the AirPods Pro 2 is more important to me than either issues with the Photo app or Apple Intelligence.
In the short time that I have used the Hearing Aid function I experience great benefit from it. Apple’s hearing test diagnosed mild hearing loss. I am in the target population for the Hearing Aid. I wear the AirPods Pro 2 hearing aids for social functions and around my family.
Reviewers and Apple note that most adults have not had a hearing test in decades. There’s likely a large population of people out there with hearing loss who may benefit as I have from the Hearing Aid functionality.
Re “by announcing a price of $30 for one year.”
It is so sad that millions of consumers, that just have a PC for home banking and shopping and have no idea what an ESU is or how to use it, will not spend $30 a year for such and will leave their PC wide open for exploits by hackers.
In the current social environment where greed seems to be the new norm, I really don’t expect Microsoft to have a conscience, but MS should think about the long term cost from hackers draining even more money from people with unsecure PCs and how that lost money won’t be available to buy expensive future PCs.
I also don’t expect in our current government environment for the US to require MS to provide security updates but perhaps the European Union that seems more willing to protect consumers will force MS to provide security updates.
PC security is not something to be manipulated to make more money. It has become a national safety issue.
Back in the 1990’s decade I was working in a 5 story office building. I did not know too much about Windows at the time other than every employee had a Windows PC.
Then Microsoft did the same thing then as now – coming out with a new system that makes the old one obsolete.
I vividly remember in the driveway at the base of the building a huge dumpster (about the size of a large trailer truck) was backed up, and a crew up on the roof were tossing all the PCs that had been removed from all the offices down into the dumpster for trucking to a land fill.
That was then but now with landfills filling up and the high cost of recycling it would seem prudent and responsible to give our hardware as much life as possible. (Just imagine millions of Win 10 PCs which cannot be extended or updated to Win 11 (like my 4 PCs) going into our city landfills!!). Short term profit can have a very high long term cost.
I’m assuming Home? Let me test again as I believe there is still a way around this.
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
An alternative to Microsoft’s ESU for Win10 after next fall was mentioned by Steve Gibson in Security Now! Podcast 999:
0patch is cheaper than Microsoft’s ESU, is easier to install, and will be supported longer.
Worth reading SG’s comments for the Security Now! Podcast. You can go to GRC.com \ Services \ Security Now! for details.
Ron
the cost for a year’s grace period is a lot more affordable than other recurring household expenses.
It all depends. If you have a family with teenagers with their own PCs or like me with 4 PCs, then that $30 becomes $120. Also $30 may be insignificant to some people but an unaffordable additional expense to others.
But the real issue here is “forced obsolescence”. The US car manufacturers tried that back in the fifties/sixties by not supplying repair parts after a few years to force buying new cars. The result of that was Japan entering the market with high quality cars and even today with Hyundi offering 10 year warranties. In addition, new businesses were created to manufacture after-market parts so in effect Detroit shot themselves in the foot by being too greedy.
I believe also at the time it caused government to pass legislation to require auto makers to make parts available for 10 years. Does Microsoft really want any more government involvement?
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