We used to use software; now software started to use us

If you’ve been around, you might’ve noticed that our relationships with programs have changed.

Older programs were all about what you need: you can do this, that, whatever you want, just let me know. You were in control, you were giving orders, and programs obeyed.

But recently (a decade, more or less), this relationship has subtly changed. Newer programs (which are called apps now, yes, I know) started to want things from you.

  • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    141·
    16 hours ago

    All of this is so on the nose except the updates bit.

    Sorry, mate, but if you skip an update because you don’t feel like keeping up and it’s because there’s a massive security flaw that leaves your PC up to easy compromise, that’s genuinely a bad thing.

    Yeah, most times updates are just new features but if you’re not paying attention you have no idea if it’s a feature update or a security update, do you?

    If only you have physical access to your computers and they’re firewalled properly sure, maybe it’s safe enough, but the vast majority of people don’t have things firewalled properly at the very least.

    I don’t know, that’s the only bit that seems a bit short-sighted to me, especially when it comes to more casual users.

    • i_am_not_a_robot@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      31·
      10 hours ago

      Most updates are a waste of time on my phone. Open a streaming media player for a closed streaming service and before it let’s you watch anything it reminds you that you can spend a minute or two updating to a new version indistinguishable from the o/d version. Who knows what they’re changing because the attack surface is basically nonexistent and bugs aren’t being fixed.