I mean, it used to only Apple products. But now Windows is trying to force an online activation (I know theres a bypass CMD command, but still… they could remove it in the future).
Android phones, while do no require “Activation” are arealy trying to nudge you into connecting to the internet and making an account.
Some OEMs are trying to get you to make an account with them.
I could see a future where some OEMs are starting for force you to go online before the device can be used, or just outright done for every Android device if its Google wanting that to happen.
The most popular Drone manufacturer, DJI, requires online activation. Same with the second leading one, Autel. (Cheaper brands don’t require them, but those drones suck).
If you want to install a security cameras, most of them will require an app 🤮 (they do know that web-browser interface, such as 192.168.1.1 for routers, exists, right? they could just set up a similar thing for those cameras… oh yea thats right, they want to harvest data, thats why the app). And some, especially those “Ring” types, require an account (I haven’t used them, correct me if I’m wrong).
How long before everything is “CONNECT YOUR WIFI” or “DOWNLOAD THE APP”.
Like what next? Do car makers just get rid of the fob all together and be like “DOWNLOAD APP” and use that to open doors and ignition? House door being “Use the App to unlock door”?
🤔
(Are be going towards a technological dystopia?)
🤔🤔🤔
(Oh btw, cars now have this GPS thing. Dealers getting excited like “DOWNLOAD OUR APP” to instantly track your car’s location, and know the tire pressures and everything, and remote start. I’m like… all that is available through an app?.. seems like a security/privacy nightmare. Whats stops a crazy ex from knowing where you are? I don’t even drive btw, was with parents at the dealership to translate, parents did not seem worried about the privacy concerns… 🤷♂️)
It is the norm right now already.
The only way out is specifically buying only products that don’t do this shit, or ones that have been jailbroken and run open source software.
But the very best way to stop it all for good is to kill online advertisement. Online advertisement is the number one reason companies want your data to begin with. Go to your grandma’s house, install adblock origin and sponsorblock.
When you have kids. Disable the google play store and install fdroid, and install an adblocker on their chromium of gecko browser. Replace all default apps with the fdroid alternatives.
Get the oldest raspberry pi device and install Pihole, then make it your DNS service so all lan and WiFi data runs through your adblocker.
Donate to open source projects, brag to your friends how your apps have no ads and no tracking.
Fight for right to privacy and right to repair. Stop using google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta.
Use Linux instead of Windows. If you need windows, run it in a virtual machine without internet access.
Use grapheneOS, LineageOS, CalyxOS instead of basic Android.
As for home systems like security cameras, I suggest following the ultimate open source guide by Louis Rossmann.
I gave a friend a raspberry pi a while ago and just this last week they asked me to come and set it up with Pihole for them. They’re very happy to not have ads on their TV anymore. The only hiccup has been that their network connected cat litterbox (lol) doesn’t tell them when the cat has pooped anymore.