I've been getting horrendously slow speeds on Linux Steam (~500k/s) and 5-6Mb/s on Windows, and only now found out why. There's a ticket on GitHub for this:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/3401
In short, the client is very aggressive on its DNS requests, which normally causes it to be throttled by servers, leading to really slow downloads. However, using dnsmasq allows the requests to be cached locally and offload the requests.
Even though the instructions are for Arch, they worked for me:
- Install
dnsmasq
- Modify
/etc/dnsmasq.config and add the line listen-address=127.0.0.1
- Restart the
dnsmasq service (systemctl restart dnsmasq.service) or reboot your machine
Enjoy the speed
I am actually not that surprised with Microsoft’s behaviour on this. Forcing an upgrade onto people without consent. In fact, it was using malware-like tactics to make you (or persuade you) to upgrade.
Some other references:
- [www.pcworld.com/article/3...](http://www.pcworld.com/article/3014238/windows/get-windows-10-prompt-adopts-malware-like-tactics-to-trick-you-into-upgrading.html)
- [www.pcworld.com/article/3...](http://www.pcworld.com/article/3073457/windows/how-microsofts-nasty-new-windows-10-pop-up-tricks-you-into-upgrading.html)
- [www.computerworld.com/article/2...](http://www.computerworld.com/article/2993851/windows-pcs/microsoft-antagonizes-users-with-intrusive-new-windows-10-upgrade-tactics.html)
- [www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/1...](http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/17/microsoft_windows_10_upgrade_gwx_vs_humanity/) <-- this one I like for its breakdown.
Meet the new BSoD – the Blue Screen of Despair
Source: Microsoft’s Windows 10 nagware goes FULL SCREEN in final push • The Register
As a result of the Ubuntu Forums hack recently, I’ve now had to spend several hours going through all my internet logins accounts to see whether or not I have used the same password anywhere else. Not surprising, I have so I have to go through and change them all. Fortunately, LastPass allows me to generate secure passwords which I can use to replace other passwords. The only real place where I would be concerned if they have access would by emails, but I have 2-factor authentication turned on there, and have had it turned on for many months, and they need my email address, password AND phone to get into my account. Even my backup codes are stored on a TrueCrypt volume stored on a LUKS partition on my laptop so they would need two passwords to get at those.
Mind you, it IS good that these forums were hacked, it’s given me a reason to go through my accounts and see which ones I still use and which ones I can delete.
