this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2026
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Why would you say that. It's true that most users take a blase attitude to security these days, and it's normalised by articles like this. It's just basic good practice, whether buying a new or used PC, to do a clean install because even if you think you've removed the bloatware, you can't really trust there's no secret malware. Especially these days when so many companies want to spy on users it really isn't just paranoia.
Although there were also pre-installed bootkits already (sits in the bootloader, installs itself on the new OS). Lenovo, Dell, i think HP too? Always laptops. And some Galaxy phones with Computrace.
All true, but most users don't have the know-how or resources to change anything about their OS so they're stuck with that, bad idea or not. Their alternative would be using no PC at all.
This is often the pushback I get when making this point but I would argue that especially non tech-savvy users are vulnerable. The alternative is asking a trusted friend to do a clean install, which should be the advice of this article, that or a guide on how to do it. It's irresponsible to publish an article aimed at a naive user who has received a computer full of bloatware and tell them to "just remove all the bloatware".
Ok I'm with you that only removing the bloatware is bad advice, but my point stands that many people don't have any of these options. And I'd argue that getting spied on by ad agencies is better than being left behind at the digital divide.
The article could have literally been a beginner's guide to installing an operating system instead. But for some reason in the last 20 years or so there's been a complete allergy to teaching anyone even the most elementary computer skills and it's holding society back. I'm not sure it is worth being spied on by ad agencies for what it's worth, especially if you're not going to learn to become any more than a passive consumer.
Most everyone buying a laptop has the resources. Know-how is incredibly easy to fix. Installing a fresh OS isn't difficult at all. If you can't figure that much out then no, you probably shouldn't be using a PC Stop giving people a pass to be willfully ignorant.
no thank, I'm good
Then enjoy your spyware.
I wasn't talking about myself. Empathy is not a techie's forte.