MX Linux Forum

Everything working fine without Microsoft 365.

Hi there!

My most recent Microsoft update was actually a "downdate:" to remove it completely--finally--from my business computer.

Hey Paul! *hugs*


From what I read, this is not gonna be fun for the "average" computer user. Not many will know how to even get into the recovery mode, forcing them to take the computer to a shop to have it fixed. I doubt this fee can be claimed from the Crowdstrike company.

The issue appeared to be with an update to CrowdStrike software called Falcon Sensor, according to Lukasz Olejnik, an independent cybersecurity researcher and consultant.

An updated fix of the software has been sent to computers, but Mr. Olejnik said outages would probably persist because it was not clear how to fix computers that had already been affected.

“There is a workaround, but it requires manually tampering with Windows systems files in recovery mode,” he said. “Such practice is in general not advised ordinarily, as mistakes may cause other problems.”

I bought a domain name and set up some e-mail addresses for members of my group. When I was asking how they got their email - iPhone, Android, PC, Mac, etc - I would send the users on Windows instructions for setting up their email on Microsoft Outlook.

Until one of them said "Microsoft wants $60 for Outlook!"

"For cry'n out loud, don't pay for Outlook," I wrote back, sending them to Thunderbird for a better email client that costs nothing. It's crazy that people pay that kind of money for software simply because they don't know about FOSS alternatives. Locked into a single vendor for all their stuff, they're trapped and don't even know it.

I think the same is true for social media as well. I've found diaspora* to be a perfectly good alternative to Fakebook - again it's the whole "locked into a single vendor" thing that bothers me most about the way some people do business.

Not for social media. Try and get 55 people (that is just my friends list) to move away from Facebook. Not gonna happen as everyone they know is on there.

You're right. I've been on diaspora* for years and not a single friend or family member has joined me there. "Everyone else is on Fakebook," is the reason.

I don't have this problem, I don't have friends I left Facebook more than 10 years ago. Can't wait to be able to say "I left Facebook before you were born, no get off my lawn."

I felt special when an ebay seller wanted me to do reviews for the privilege of getting free stuff, I assume. Only catch was I had to join fakebook which I will never and have never done. Too big? goto FAIL. It's actually a command don't you know. Referring to anything really not just ms or crowdstrike itself. One size does not fit all and 'too big to fail' was always just another lie they tell like 'essential' workers no less.

Eadwine Rose wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2024 6:49 am Hey Paul! *hugs*


From what I read, this is not gonna be fun for the "average" computer user. Not many will know how to even get into the recovery mode, forcing them to take the computer to a shop to have it fixed. I doubt this fee can be claimed from the Crowdstrike company.

The average computer user doesn't even engage CrowdStrike, so it is unlikely this will affect the average computer user. It is mostly an issue with corporate networks where this is deployed.

What may affect the average user, is if the Absolute Persistence BIOS rootkit module gets activated by "mistake" or if something goes a bit awry with Intel AMT or the AMD PSP, all of which are mass-deployed on every PC whether or not anyone wants it. Some manufacturers offer a way to permanently disable Absolute or CompuTrace from ever activating, although why even put it there in the first place? It should be an opt-in module.

Eadwine Rose wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2024 6:49 am

“There is a workaround, but it requires manually tampering with Windows systems files in recovery mode,” he said. “Such practice is in general not advised ordinarily, as mistakes may cause other problems.”

Having seen the workaround, it seems more a case of tampering with some kernel-mode driver by CrowdStrike rather than Windows system files. Many media are quick to blame Microsoft for this mess when the situation was caused by CrowdStrike.

The media is likes to blame anything(anyone) that the average computer user knows about, online I think it would be called out as click-bait.

There are so many things that should only opt in (even in Linux) that the computer end user has to be knowing what is going on and Why and IF they can change the settings (not likely or hard to find) the end user has to either surrender (while not understanding) to this plan that is popular with businesses etc or spend (waste) the time researching this truck-load to see if there is a need to follow up these issues that could adversely affect them , oops too late too opt out . Tuff.

Microsoft was and is a great introduction to computing (for me anyway) then the user thinks about and searches for other operating systems well if there is M$ and there is Apple then what else is there, there could has to be something else not so corporate, Ah there is, too many they just don't look outside their own comfort zone (M$) even if M$ is on thin ice, an easy workaround for some people that couldn't be bothered is what that the rubbish M$ seems like it's precious, no Gollum no, (this is not including anyone that has M$ for work that not what's this is about) , it's the plebs that could not be bothered. .

I am constantly either surprised or startled and just a little irritated by the amount of people who have no idea what Linux is, think have to put that into the think (sleep) box to find something.
I do my best thinking for solutions when in deep sleep mode, I think it's called brainstorming, I think.

Hey @Paul.. nice to see you around.
Just wanted to mention that I read your book and It was nice to learn some stuff about a world I've had no clue about. Great read!

Contrary to what many (most?) people seem to believe, this specific software/problem can not only crash Linux machines, it actually has already: https://www.neowin.net/news/crowdstrike ... e-noticed/ among many other pages. NULL pointer accesses under the "right" circumstances (eg in a kernel mode driver) can bring down any machine. This describes another though similar problem.

Given that many Linux servers do run the same crap sort of software from CrowdStrike, it very much boils down to the sheer number of PC installations with the actual OS involved. All eggs in one basket etc.

I personally think that this stuff is at best snake oil and at worst worse than the disease. Notwithstanding this question, it is shocking that CrowdStrike did release a file that would thrash Windows in such a thorough way and even more shocking that many companies have no resilience at all. (An interesting form of "resilience" was a company with Windows 95 still running their PCs... no CrowdStrike problems there .)

Adrian wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2024 10:13 am I don't have this problem, I don't have friends I left Facebook more than 10 years ago. Can't wait to be able to say "I left Facebook before you were born, no get off my lawn."

+1



Simpatico

P.S. I'm sure you mean "...no[w] get off my lawn."

P.S.S. Please forgive my OCD (or other term you may prefer) regarding language use.

P.S.S.S. Just sayin', for any non native English speakers who might be slightly confused.

Adrian wrote: Sat Jul 20, 2024 6:31 am Hey @Paul.. nice to see you around.
Just wanted to mention that I read your book and It was nice to learn some stuff about a world I've had no clue about. Great read!

@Paul.. I am interested in hearing about your book.

Title and Publisher?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies

EDIT:

Did a little searching. Is it Door in Dark Water?:



Which can be found here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0966560922/? ... darwat-20