Bonum Certa Men Certa

Microsoft Hates Linux - Part V - Dumping and Surveillance to Counter GNU/Linux Insurgence

Microsoft loves [to destroy] Linux

World Financial Centre in Shanghai
A view of the World Financial Centre in Shanghai



Summary: Microsoft makes false claims about future versions of Windows (with more surveillance) becoming 'free' in order to stop migrations to GNU/Linux

THE world's most connected nation (the nation with the most Internet users) and also the world's richest nation (depending on the criteria assessed, irrespective of population size) is China. China makes the lion's share of the world's PCs, phones, etc. It's a huge powerhouse. It's impossible to boycott China.



"Not only is Microsoft working for the NSA, which cracks Chinese giants (like Huawei), but it also fires Nokia staff that was based in China."Well, now that China is adopting GNU/Linux and its government bans more and more Microsoft software (we covered numerous examples before) what can Microsoft possibly do? It decides to 'forgive' China, then dump more back doors onto its population. How ludicrous a move. No wonder Bill Gates, disguising himself as a 'charity' person while serving Microsoft's management, went lobbying technical ministers in China last month, including the very top (chief) technical minister. It's a form of corruption.

What does Microsoft mean to China? Nothing good, that's for sure. Not only is Microsoft working for the NSA, which cracks Chinese giants (like Huawei), but it also fires Nokia staff that was based in China. Microsoft fired almost 10,000 such staff on new year's day (more of less). It did this "during their New Year vacation to add insult to injury," said one of our reader, citing Ahonen (Nokia expert) who said: "this is like firing someone for Christmas. How cruel are they at Microsoft. Sadists!!!"

The part of Nokia which was left outside Microsoft's reach is meanwhile turning to Android. As AOL put it, "Nokia is showing off the Android tablet that’s part of its post-mobile phones strategy here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It’s only available in China right now but the company tells TechCrunch it’s “looking at European markets” to consider whether to bring the N1 here too."

Another report said that "Nokia fan blog NPU has uncovered benchmark test results on the Geekbench website. The tests reveal a, entry-level or mid-range Nokia smartphone running Lollipop powered by a quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek MT-6582 processor. Little else is known at this point, but the MT-6582 supports 720p displays, an 8-megapixel camera and 1080p video recording, so this certainly won’t be the flagship Android phone from Nokia that we’ve been waiting for."

So here we have a situation where Microsoft's part of Nokia (acquired) is being destroyed, whereas the other part moves back to Linux, as Nokia had done before Microsoft attacked it with a bribed mole. How does China feel about it? This is a serious attack not only on Chinese workers but also on Chinese sovereignty since many Chinese companies rely on Android and/or Linux for their operating systems development (e.g. COS). Nokia was widely used (not just manufactured) in China, so it hits China where it hurts.

There was a lot of artificial hype (PR) about Vista 10 supposedly being 'free' (complete nonsense if not an utter lie that we refuted earlier this year, back in late January), especially in China. As IGN put it: "The process of acquiring customers is where the "free" part plays a major role: offering a free mobile version of Microsoft Office, or giving away Windows 10 as a free upgrade to certain users for a year after launch, for example."

This is of course not free at all, not even gratis. It's just a trap, or bait. A Techrights reader called it "fear o'linux" and he is of course right. It's all just intended to stop GNU/Linux.

Here is a person from the Microsoft-linked IDC being dubbed "Microsoft Expert" while making the ludicrous claim that "Windows Will Become Free for All Sooner or Later" (this is the headline). Even if what he meant by free was gratis, we are far from it. Microsoft is just trying to eliminate all competition, whereupon it can raise the price of Windows. It's a common trick; it's Microsoft's modus operandi. And in any case, Windows is not free; it's not gratis, either.

The article "Chinese Pirates to Get Free Windows 10 Upgrade" is rather misleading. "Fear of Gnu/Linux gaining market share" is what it's all about, a reader told us. Watch Microsoft-friendly sites coming up with even more misleading headlines, such as "Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for all users worldwide". Again, this is complete nonsense. Don't fall for it. Microsoft is just trying to stall migrations to GNU/Linux, that's what it's all about.

To say that Microsoft loves Linux is ludicrous at best. People who say such stuff deserve much ridicule.

Recent Techrights' Posts

Fedora is IBM and There's Hardly Any Community Left
It's more like an onboarding mechanism for unpaid labour at (and for) IBM
IBM to Announce 'Results' Shortly, Expect Lots of Chaff Like "Quantum" and "Hey Hi" (Nothing Material to Show)
We're still seeing layoffs and an exodus
Upcoming Techrights Series About the Failure of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to Stop Hired Guns Who Work for Americans That Abuse Women
The SRA has demonstrated nothing but considerable incompetence at many levels
 
Links 29/01/2026: Neocities Is Blocked by Microsoft, “Intellectual Freedom Centers” as the New "Intelligent Design"
Links for the day
Microsoft XBox Dying Not Only as a Console, Reveals Microsoft
Microsoft is trying to rebrand or repurpose the brand
Don't be Mistaken, Microsoft Boasts About Money That Does Not Exist and Revenue (Buying From Oneself!) Is Not Income
the company's debt grew
IBM's Financial Performance in IBM's Own Words: Money Down, Debt Up Sharply
IBM isn't a healthy company
In Dominica, GNU/Linux Has Risen to All-Time High in 2026
a lot of America is moving to Free software this year
The "Alicante Mafia" - Part XV - EPO is on Strike Tomorrow, Lots to be Angry About (Except Money)
We'll soon finish the series
Gemini Links 29/01/2026: "Lady Audley's Secret" and "The Value Of Our Fear" (Carney's Speech)
Links for the day
Emmanuel Macron on Europe's GAFAM Addiction/Dependence: "There is No Such Thing as Happy Vassalage"
Microsoft has long worked to prevent commodification
It's Official, Mass Layoffs at IBM Again (2026)
In a matter of days we'll just see how much IBM's debt has grown
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
IRC logs for Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Laos and Microsoft: About 10% Windows, 0% Bing
There are many more nations like it
EPO Technical Meetings Show no Breakthroughs, a Strike Goes Ahead This Friday
Apparently there was another (fourth) meeting today [...] The industrial actions are working already
Google News as the Sole Source of Slop About "Linux", a Feeder of Slopfarms or Serial Sloppers
At least it's no longer hard to 'contain' the slop problem, knowing which domains are the culprits and seeing that Google is their main 'feeder'
Links 28/01/2026: ChatGPT Has Financial Problems, White House Sharing Fakes (or Deepfakes) in Official Accounts/Sites
Links for the day
Gemini Links 28/01/2026: FlatCube NES Port Finished and "Why I Still Write on the Small Web in 2026"
Links for the day
Upcoming Techrights Series About the Public Appearances of Richard M. Stallman (RMS) in the United States
we plan to drop all pretences about "Open Source" and instead focus on Software Freedom
Upcoming Techrights Series About the Experiences of EPO Insiders
We'll start the new series some time next week
Links 28/01/2026: Microsoft Ordered to Stop Spying on School Children, Apple's Brand Tarnished by Its Complicity With Human Rights Abusers
Links for the day
The "Alicante Mafia" - Part XIV - The EPO Vice-President Steve Rowan and the Hidden Alicante Connection is a Big Deal
We'll soon take a closer look at Ernst
Gemini Links 28/01/2026: Particle and AirMIDI
Links for the day
Amandine Jambert (EDPB/CNIL/FSFE), motive for lying, trust in blockchain and encryption
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
IRC logs for Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Expect More XBox Layoffs Shortly
As expected
Links 27/01/2026: Japan-China Feud Escalates Again, "Iran's Internet Blackout Persists"
Links for the day
Online 'Gathering' Held Today to Organise Industrial Actions in EPO, Strikes Will be Starting Shortly
"Online Extraordinary General Meeting on Action Plan"
It's Not About What You Know, It's About Who You Know (and Stay Quiet About the Cocaine)
This is not an organisation that exists to ensure laws are followed
FOSDEM 2026: democracy panel: FSFE uses women as stooges, gerrymander
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Must Use Proprietary JavaScript to Submit Feedback to the European Commission About Moving From GAFAM to Free Software
Nevertheless, go tell them why Software Freedom would benefit Europe's defence and economy
Distortion of the Facts About Mass Layoffs at IBM
more layoffs are ahead
Gemini Links 27/01/2026: "Waiting Isn't a Waste", Posting from Lynx, and Bookmarks
Links for the day
Links 27/01/2026: "Oracle Debt and TikTok Transition Troubles Vex the Ellison Media Empire", Richard Stallman Quoted on Copyrights
Links for the day
Steven Field (Red Hat) Speaks of "Recent Layoff" (RA/Wave) in Red Hat
IBM really doesn't like it when people talk about "RAs"
The "Alicante Mafia" - Part XIII - Is EPO Vice-President Steve Rowan in Cahoots With the "Alicante Mafia"?
that deserves much media attention, political intervention, and condemnation
A Week Ago We Contacted the EPO's Stephen (Steve) Rowan About Cocainegate
Tomorrow we'll write some more about Rowan
“Wikilaundering” Explained
"London PR firm rewrites Wikipedia for governments and billionaires"
IBM Reports 'Results' Tomorrow, Expect More "RAs" (Mass Layoffs)
they use words like "efficiency", "optimisation", "AI", "pivot", "modernisation" and so on
Earlier This Month Microsoft Lunduke Said in Public It Was Good That Renee Good Was Murdered, Now He Mocks or Demonises People for Saying the US is Unsafe
Don't be easily conned by demagogues
Google News and "Linux" Slop
Why won't Google be interested in tackling this issue? Instead Google has been trying to participate in this issue.
IBM Kills Red Hat in the Darkness
What IBM does to Red Hat is malicious
IBM Red Hat's Goal Is Not Real Security (It Probably Never Was)
Spies and trolls are very malicious people and sometimes they're the same thing
With Absurd Lies About Slop, Which Lacks Intelligence or Financial Potential, GAFAM and IBM Will Twist Mass Layoffs as 'Efficiency Drive' or 'AI Pivot'
More layoffs are on the way
Animal Advocacy Works
All it takes is effort and determination
EPO Strike This Week
What has happened to Europe?
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, January 26, 2026
IRC logs for Monday, January 26, 2026