The MAC mini used here just did an OS upgrade to Catalina Version 10.15.2. Don’t know if that is good or a possible problem. Nothing seems amiss, so I will assume it is good.
I have a friend who is suspicious of upgrades these days. Sometimes they seem to cause as many issues as they claim to resolve. I don’t pretend to be expert in personal computer OS developments. I do think both Apple and Windows are far too involved with managing my life as well as my computer.
I don’t see that type of lifestyle control in the versions of Linux OS that I also use for personal computing.
The biggest concern for me is total lack of privacy when connected to the Internet. I believe without doubt there is built-in active reporting in Win10 and Mac OS and perhaps in some Linux versions. All major applications have some sort of built-in data reporting or tracking.
Browsers of every flavor do it even when they claim they don’t. There is NO SUCH THING as “private” use when connected to the Internet. This also includes anything with a phone connection.
So, upgrades may be needed to keep such spying systems updated. I am aware even these keystrokes composing this article may be monitored in some fashion. Perhaps not content but activity. Someone wants the data.
To avoid paranoia and anguish, I just assume all internet computing is unsecure, and act (behave) accordingly.
I have some Linux OS software running machine tools. IT is CNC software. Interestingly, control software is very stable. I have spent most of my career developing and installing control systems. Both mechanical and digital (computer) controls.
Once debugged and tested, control software (for machines) can run for decades without updates. I am not saying without failure, but it is the hardware that fails, not the code. One feature of machine code (excluding so-called fuzzy logic) is it doesn’t change. It just executes its design functions.
Humans get bored and demand change. Sometimes just for the sake of change. The goal of marketing (selling) is to make humans dissatisfied with current status and to seek change. The mantra of business marketing is, “the only good human is a consuming human”. Yeah, that sounds harsh but it’s true.
Computer software, especially for the general public “Personal Computing” as we know it today, is VERY big business. It’s all about the profits and not simply the general welfare of the user. The user and user habits have become valuable data to be mined and sold for a profit.
It’s well passed 1984 and Big Brother has been watching us for decades.