I realise google is intrusive and I should look at that also, but MS is a joke and is now actually frightening me. I believe it is illegal for them to install things on my computer when I've set it to not do so without my express permission.
Yes Google is VERY intrusive, in my mind, and if I didn't need any of it, I would get rid of that! As for what you said re: MS - "I believe it is illegal for them to install things on my computer when I've set it to not do so without my express permission."
I'm sure we've all hit on a button to install things before actually reading through the pages and pages of the 'making-your-eyes cross EULA/TOS agreements.' I believe MS has covered their butts in that way, and I'm sure we've given them permission to do
what they want--even if it was years ago when first setting up our windows systems. If I'm wrong on that, someone tell me and I'll call my attorneys, "Dewey, Cheatem & Howe" to get a definitive answer.
Yes, this is all so frustrating and, as you say," frightening." Computers are not a cheap item to buy and for them to be able to get "hosed" so easily is unacceptable. Hang in There rivers(2)