NutWrench

This. Also, get a VPN service, like Nord that’s preferably not based in the US. Also, Microsoft is literally installing spyware on your computer already. (CoPilot and Recall). They would have NO problems turning over your computer data to the Trump regime on their whims.

“I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.” - Charlie Kirk

Another vote for trying a live distro. If the live version detects all your computer’s hardware, it will detect it when you install it for real.

I’ve had 3 different graphics cards since 2009.

I have an nVidia RTX 3060, running on a desktop I built back in 2009. I’m running Linux Mint with the KDE Plasma desktop with no problems. All the Steam I bought on Windows, run with no problems under Linux.

Any non-Steam games, like Giants: Citizen Kabuto or Deus Ex (1) run on Wine under the default settings with no problems.

I think adopting Proton was the smartest thing Valve ever did. They are going to capture 90% of gamers switching from Windows to Linux.

I’ve been using SearX for over a year now. https://priv.au/

It returns old-school, unranked results. It currently has at least 50 Instances you can choose from. https://searx.space/

Would I have just a regular tiger brain while I was invisible, or would I be a smart tiger?

UPC product labels, tied to your “rewards” number. And then, the list is printed on your receipt.

That list is then shared with “interested third parties” and any concerns about your privacy is buried several pages downstream in the usage agreement for using the rewards card.

Many Linux distros have “live” versions that you can boot from without changing anything on your computer. If the live version detects your fingerprint sensor, it will detect it when you install it for real.

And Trump is just going to screw him over anyway, bribe or no bribe.

I tried setting up Windows 10 in a virtual machine recently and damn, what a miserable experience that was. “Please wait. We’re getting things ready . . . please wait . . . We’re getting things ready. Hey, you want Cortana? Tough shiat, we’re installing it anyway. Do you need an Office App? Well we’re going to install Live365, whether you like it or not. Also, we really want your email address. You don’t have a choice. Just give us your damn email address. And your phone number, too.”

Installing Linux: 15 minutes later: “You’re done. Enjoy.”

Well, “dark traffic” sounds SCARY. You wouldn’t want to do anything scary, would you? Like, use the computer you paid for to control the content you want to see? /s

Website: “You appear to be using an ad blocker.” Me: “You appear to be correct.”

100 people get together and they order a 100-slice pizza. The pizza arrives, they open the box and the first guy takes 80 SLICES. And if you try to say, “hey, could you maybe just take 79 slices - WELL THAT’S SOCIALISM!”

I switched to Linux to get AWAY from root kits and corporate malware.

I recommend downloading a Live Linux distribution and booting it from a USB stick.

This let’s you try out linux without making any changes to your Windows setup. It also lets you make sure linux detects all your computer’s hardware. If the live session works fine, the it will detect all that same hardware when you install it for real.

Plus, once you get done de-bloating Windows, the next Windows update will undo all your hard work and reset everything back to “allow all bloatware and spyware.” It’s a battle you’re never going to win unless you ditch Windows completely.

The next time you wonder, “wow. How can they provide this amazing service for free?” always remember: YOU are the product.

Game companies need to focus on making good games. Take “pride” in that.