How to Run Windows software without Microsoft spying

If you like Windows but hate Microsoft’s increasing interference, why not try an alternative? Wayne Williams explains how to use ReactOS

Windows 10 is undoubtedly a good operating system, but there are elements of it that you might not be so keen on. The fact that it spies on you and makes updates mandatory, for example, may leave you feeling less comfortable than you did with previous versions. If you don’t want to upgrade to Windows 10, and Microsoft’s constant nagging to do so is beginning to grate, perhaps it’s time to consider switching to a brand new operating system.

Although Linux, Mac OS X and Chrome OS are great alternatives to Windows, they all have downsides – not least of which is that you might need to shell out for new hardware to use some of them. ReactOS (www.reactos.org) is potentially a better solution – it’s fully compatible with Windows, which means it will run all your favourite programs, but at the same time it isn’t Windows, and Microsoft has nothing to do with it.

No, Apple, an old PC is not a sad PC

Since when is it “sad” for PCs to last longer than a couple of years?

When was the last time you upgraded your computer? This year? A couple of years back? Five years ago? Five years! What are you, some kind of charity case? Well, that’s what senior executives at Apple think of you.

Speaking at the latest Apple launch – where the company “revolutionised” the iPhone by returning it to the size it was five years ago – chief marketing guru Phil Schiller issued a withering put-down to anyone who refuses to chuck out their hardware every couple of years. “There are over 600 million PCs in use today that are over five years old,” Schiller told the audience. “This is really sad. It really is.”

What are your neighbours doing online?

Forget twitching the curtains – if you really want to know what people in your area are up to, you can find out on the web. Robert Irvine heads the neighbourhood watch

Are your neighbours hacking your Wi-Fi?

When you search for available wireless networks from home, you’re invariably presented with a list that includes your neighbours’ Wi-Fi, sometimes with amusing names such as ‘ItHurtsWhenIP’ or ‘TellMyWiFiLoveHer’. However, that means your network also shows up in their lists, and if you haven’t secured it properly using a strong password and encryption, unscrupulous types may try to ‘piggyback’ on your connection.

Best tools to speed up your startup

Soluto used to be the go-to program for boosting your boot time. Jane Hoskyn tests the best alternatives for managing your startup and finding out what’s slowing down your PC

Download Anything!

Want to knock the internet’s blocks off? Wayne Williams reveals how to beat unfair restrictions so you can download anything you want from the web and keep it forever

There’s so much great stuff available to download for free from the web that it’s very frustrating when you come across something you can’t actually save. This might be due to a geographical licensing barrier or because you’re not registered with the website, or there may simply be no download option available. Fortunately, there are ways to get around most (if not all) common download restrictions to grab anything you want from the web for free.

Our guide to the BBC Micro Bit

The BBC hopes that distributing its tiny barebones computer to schoolchildren will kickstart a new coding revolution. David Crookes explains all

What is it?

The BBC Micro Bit (www.microbit.co.uk) is a pocket-sized computer that has been developed with the aim of inspiring children to learn to code. It comes in the form of a barebones programming board that’s designed to work with mobile devices. The idea is that it taps into the Internet of Things while allowing young minds to produce fun devices such as robots and musical instruments.