Is anyone still using Windows 7?

Firefox works fine for me.

Uitlander said:

Unfortunately both my credit unions now got a stick up their butts and have basically froze me out of online banking. With my previous credit union (Patelco), all I needed user name and password. With these two the latest&greatest browser is required, and I was unable to install Firefox 115 even temporarily on either LiveCDs. Tried to circumvent it by using the library computer, which worked, but then I found out the next hurdle was I had to play Secret Agent/I Spy with them. They required me to get a super-top-secret-ultra-classified-your-eyes-only code by text. Yeah, don't have a text phone, nor will I ever, so that was the dealbreaker.

I can however still do online shopping with Linux LiveCDs.

Some might say 'tuff titty' for me because I don't want to get with the times. Others might tell me to shut up and stop whining just because I don't want to get with the program and shell out the clams for the latest gimmick going. My point is that I happen to be the end user here. That makes me the paying customer. The tree should bend to me — not me to the tree. OMGG some people talk like tech is their Lord and Master when it was made by man, designed to serve mankind.

I greatly value this thing called Liberty and part of maintaining it is maintaining one's options. When we start running out of choices we begin to lose this and we are in danger of becoming monopolized. Recently this year I could not log into my PayPal account because I didn't own a cell. I called PayPal about this and finally found a way to speak with a genuine, flesh and blood human being there. They verified that this was the standard policy now and insisted that they could not help me if I didn't have access to a cell phone. I asked if our conversation was being recorded and I was assured that it was. Then I stated that this is good because I want it on record that I think PayPal is cutting the nose off their own face by excluding people without cell phones in this manner and that I was surprised that in this age of technology that they would be so inflexible. "Sir," she said, "I'm sorry but I cannot help you." "On the contrary," I said, "you can make sure that your superiors get this recording so that they can make better business decisions." I went on further to state that not even Microsoft does this to people. That they provide options for verification and authentication.

Yeah, some here might tell me to shut up, but they're missing out on something of fundamental importance: Liberty. As natural living, breathing creatures we need to keep our options open to us. We are not cyborgs. (Although I'm beginning to wonder about some people.) If people like me don't stand up and speak up we will all fall under the blanket of monopolistic tyranny and become the servants of those who claim to serve us. I'm not about to pay a monopoly to do that to me.

Change doesn't happen when people shut up and put up with blatant and callous behaviour. A corporation only understands the language of money. So I spoke PayPal's language and stopped using them. Now I realize I'm not alone here. An amazing thing happened this week. It would seem that PayPal finally got the message and made an alternative way to verify ones account so that one could access it online. This is news. I have yet to try this but my wife verified it and she's been trying to access her PayPal account online for over a year now. So yes, it really does pay to COMPLAIN, BROADCAST, and EXPOSE those things that are less than advantageous to a paying customer and to make one's views known.

I'm happy to learn that Linux still provides you with an option. I don't recommend using a public network for financial transactions and you really should not have to. Often times what is being passed off as "progress" is really just a means of bringing we, the plebs, under the thumb of a tyrant. Call your credit union and tell them what you think. There is a difference between service and dis-service. Limiting authentication to cell phone technology is flat-out lazy dis-service on the part of those with the money and means to be flexible.

- - - Updated - - -

SIW2 said:

Firefox works fine for me.

My favourite browser, my friend!

dg1261 said:

Are those CU websites malfunctioning or freezing with your chosen browser? Or are they merely doing a browser check and refusing to let you continue? If the latter, you might want to try using Ray's "User-Agent Switcher and Manager" extension, available for both Chrome and Firefox. (Warning: if you do a search, there are multiple extensions with the same name, so the one I'm talking about is authored by the developer "Ray".)

"User-Agent Switcher and Manager" works by masquerading your OS and browser versions to make websites think you're using a different version of Windows and/or a different browser version. This has allowed me to continue using my favorite, locked-down OS and browser version with my bank and credit card websites.

Aside: I also have a Patelco account, which I've kept even though I've recently moved out of their service area. I've been a long-time fan of Patelco because they're the only financial institution I've had experience with that supports proper TOTP authenticator apps (like Authy, WinAuth, Google Authenticator, et al). Most financial sites only support the less secure SMS authentication, if at all. With Patelco, I can use TOTP authentication from my desktop without requiring a smartphone.

I opened a new CU account local to my new state, but not only do they support no form of 2FA at all, their Bill Pay functions are farmed out to some rando third-party website with its own login. That's not gonna happen, so I'm still looking for alternatives.

I hate to say it, but I don't have these sorts of issues with FireFox on Linux Mint. There really should be a difference between secure and convenient vs frustrating and ridiculous. I refuse to use the GOOGLE browser for ethical reasons. They'll tell everyone else not to be evil while they endeavour to become world leader in spyware. They've already come up with a nasty way to put TPM requirements to work for them and to censor any potential competition. They really don't care about the end user.

Web Environment Integrity Must Be Stopped: Enslavement By "Remote Attestation" - Jody Bruchon Tech - YouTube