[g00gler]

I thought this was a joke too. I got a kick out of the idea of some high schooler or college freshman’s satire causing a bunch of parents to force their kids to remove flash in 2001 because its a “computer hacking tool”.

The other stuff like “you can’t remove Linux without damaging the hard drive” and that you have to send it back to the manufacturer to be replaced just seems so cheeky...

[endominus]

I once had a scammer call me, claiming to be from Microsoft support and trying to convince me to install a RAT. When he asked if I was using Windows or Mac, I replied "Linux." He was aghast, saying that was "illegal" and he would be reporting me for breaking the law unless I complied with his directives. Had a good laugh at that one.

[kaybe]

I told him we didn't have a computer. That didn't register at all, he still tried to get me to install something, somehow, despite my insistence.

[jschwartzi]

"Okay, let me toggle the bootloader in. Call me back in about an hour."

[the_only_law]

> and that you have to send it back to the manufacturer to be replaced just seems so cheeky...

This reads to me like some scripted item a jaded customer service representative reads to a computer-illiterate customer complaining about something on their computer, who of course believes it.