I think a Windows guide is a good idea as many people cannot switch to Linux as it lacks software like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and many games. Also Windows is a lot more secure than Linux. I agree with Beerisgood on a lot of things:
- It’s a good idea not to install anti-spying tools like ShutUp10 but to use official documentation instead as installing extra tools increases attack surface and gives you another party to trust, and it’s always best to get information from first-party resources and not third-party ones, hence why TOS;DR was removed. In general it’s best to use first-party software as much as possible and avoid installing extra software.
- Microsoft edge is the only browser I’d recommend for Windows users as it is the only one that natively supports hardware isolation and allows disabling JIT.
- I agree that open source software like 7-Zip, LibreOffice, Veracrypt, and Firefox should be avoided as it’s less secure than Microsoft software.
- I agree with most of the Microsoft recommendations for the average home user. Paranoia about Microsoft telemetry is worse than the telemetry itself and using a Microsoft account does have security benefits and I see why Microsoft requires using a Microsoft account with Windows now, though it does allow Microsoft to spy on you even more. It depends on whether you prioritize privacy or security.
Not really. You’re adding another party to trust simply for convenience. It’s best people learn to use Windows firewall.