this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2026
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Privacy
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ELI5?
Imagine your computer has a secret ID number that Microsoft gives it when you sign in with your Microsoft account. This number is like a permanent nametag that your computer wears. Even if you use a VPN to hide your location, that nametag stays the same.
A hacker used a VPN to hide while breaking into a jewelry store's computer system. But Microsoft helped the FBI find him because his computer's secret nametag kept showing up everywhere he went online. They matched that nametag to his social media accounts and other stuff he did, and that's how they caught him. Most people didn't even know this secret nametag existed, and you can't turn it off without breaking your computer.
how dumb can you be to use unhardened windows to hack valuable shit omg.
even if you didn't know of this system (i didn't) it's well known windows scans for even the color of your underwear.
also to login with edge on top of that
the average lemmy user is much more tech literate than an average person
people really don't know that kind of stuff. to many a computer is a computer, it has internet, and plays games... what's an operating system?
People cant figure out how to connect their idiotic tv (marketed as smart tv) to the streaming box
And kthers cant figure kut how to turn the ac to cold and are "afraid of breaking it" bruh its a ac, the worst you can do is set a timer
In their defense the UIs on smart TVs are a load of bullshit though
Oh yeah thats why i didnt mention it still being in store mode
The remote has a button for selecting the input and the menu had 3 options: smart tv, tv and hdmi 3
damn, but even hackers capable of breaking into jewelery store systems?
like at this point the problem is extreme ignorance.
I think we are too exposed to the movie-villains-geniuses. The reality is that most criminals are dumb.
didnt know Microsoft is a Charli XCX fan
They were logged in while using it for crime? That's like posting about it on facebook.
basically
Thanks! He should have used Linux
unfortunately https://lemmy.ml/post/49710604
I imagine there's a distro that would work. Kali maybe?
yeah probably, and you can tweak any distro to rotate it too, just most people don't realize it's a thing in the first place
I'm surprised they havent created some sort of software that changes your machine-id every 12 hours or something.
oh you can do that with linux, even with systemd, just takes a bit of tinkering
Calling him a hacker is pretty generous if he let them catch him like this