What is increasingly scaring me: This time, the vendor was "nice" enough to only force you into viewing a subscription offer. However, there is really nothing technical that would keep them from forcing you to take the subscription if you want to continue using your device.
Vendors have enough control about locked-down devices that they could play ransomware and make arbitrary demands to their users without many problems. And "device" can be anything from phones to cars to smart homes or expensive specialized equipment.
I'm not sure how the legal situation is currently, but since the Stallman strategy of keeping devices free has evidently failed, I think it's high time for a comprehensive set of "digital consumer rights" that limit what vendors can do on "their" devices.
Vendors have enough control about locked-down devices that they could play ransomware and make arbitrary demands to their users without many problems. And "device" can be anything from phones to cars to smart homes or expensive specialized equipment.
I'm not sure how the legal situation is currently, but since the Stallman strategy of keeping devices free has evidently failed, I think it's high time for a comprehensive set of "digital consumer rights" that limit what vendors can do on "their" devices.