Microsoft Copilot to hijack your browser… for your own convenience

I like Copilot, and often go to Bing when I want an explanation for something.  What I don’t like is that Microsoft tends to shove their technology down our throats. 

The laptop for my camper is set up in the solarium, so I could use it while hanging out with Rusty. It’s running Windows 11, so there is no option to refuse Windows updates. Microsoft is not shy about changing how my computer works.

A recent update added an invasive ‘feature’.  A Copilot window opens and asks me what it can do to help.  I don’t know what triggers the window to open, but it’s probably related to what it thinks I’m attempting to do.

It’s invasive because I didn’t open it, but I have to close it to resume my work.  I don’t like when computers compel me. 

Apparently this is part of a broader Copilot rollout.

Microsoft is rolling out a Copilot update to Windows Insiders that embeds web browsing directly into the assistant, opening links in a side panel rather than launching your default browser.

As soon as my nephew has time, he is going to convert that laptop to a Linux operating system.  I know little about Linux, but do know that it let’s me control my technology.

Going to a different operating  system, whether it’s Linux, Windows or Apple, changes the software applications that can run on the computer.

Most popular open-source programs have versions for all three operating systems.

Most people only use their computers to go online.  A  web browser will look and work the same on Linux, Windows or Apple.

The camper laptop is used primarily for camping, so it needs to run VLC to watch movies, and Firefox to go online.  Both of those are available on Linux.  I will add LibreOffice as an open source version of MS Office.

My nephew sounds very computer savvy and knows Linux.  If it works fine on the camper computer, I will switch the server computer and this desktop computer as well.  Being free of Microsoft meddling is the goal.

Proprietary software may not work on Linux or may require software tricks to work.  The gaming computer runs Steam and the security cameras, so I may never switch that to Linux.