I can sympathize a little with Microsoft here. MS got totally angry and fed up with what was happening. I'm not sure how many people really understand how bad ransomware was getting. Microsoft just finally said enough is enough and started implementing counter-measures. Being more forceful about getting people to backup their files is one of them.
Yes, it's annoying, and many might say what's the big deal? People's harddrives used to die all the time and they would still lose data. Why suddenly because it's ransomware, is it a bigger deal? I think it just adds a moral dimension to it that wasn't as acute before.
MS took the risk to be a little bit of an asshole as a way to counter even bigger assholes.
That's only really acceptable if they can hold up their end of the deal and maintain absolute privacy and security for that data without trying to analyze it and apply Minority Report pre-crime to everything.
You're anthropomorphizing the lawnmower. Microsoft didn't do this to help or hurt users or ransomware. There's no deeper meaning behind the action past improving business metrics in order to meet goals and please management and shareholders. They're not thinking about good or evil when implementing this, even if the PR firms they hire might make it look that way.
Yes, it's annoying, and many might say what's the big deal? People's harddrives used to die all the time and they would still lose data. Why suddenly because it's ransomware, is it a bigger deal? I think it just adds a moral dimension to it that wasn't as acute before.
MS took the risk to be a little bit of an asshole as a way to counter even bigger assholes.
That's only really acceptable if they can hold up their end of the deal and maintain absolute privacy and security for that data without trying to analyze it and apply Minority Report pre-crime to everything.