I think it's a far GREATER danger to have an outside party making changes to your computer and installing software on it without your knowledge or consent, especially given Microsoft's history. If I were in a country outside the U.S., I'd definitely never purchase any American-made machine with such a feature or from any company that takes such liberties. I shan't go into a lengthy argument about this because time will vindicate me just as it has with Facebook.
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I have officially retired from sucking at everything I do. Life is much easier now.