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.
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.
They were logged in while using it for crime? That’s like posting about it on facebook.
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.
I think we are too exposed to the movie-villains-geniuses. The reality is that most criminals are dumb.
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?
didnt know Microsoft is a Charli XCX fan
also to login with edge on top of that
Thanks! He should have used Linux
unfortunately https://lemmy.ml/post/49710604
I’m surprised they havent created some sort of software that changes your machine-id every 12 hours or something.
I imagine there’s a distro that would work. Kali maybe?