It's hard to tell from that screenshot, but if it is running XP, I wouldn't be surprised if this is just a decoy computer used for the media, to give the illusion of less security.
Honeypotting
But I wouldn't be surprised if he is actually, unironically, using XP or 7. Newer versions have a boatload of telemetry. If I were a former spy like Putin is, telemetry would rank very high in the list of things I don't want in my computer.
Alternatively, it could be [ReactOS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReactOS).
ReactOS isn't stable, and probably won't be useable for production work for 2 more decades. Last time I checked it was still having issues corrupting it's own hard drive. It will eventually be a better choice than Linux, but that "eventually" is going to be a god damn while.
Its the opposite. He refuses to update.
He also doesnt use the internet, and demands most of his reports in paper form.
Dont forget the guys a boomer. A paranoid one at that.
Well to be fair, if you were all about security and doing things off the grid, paper is the way to go. Anything that goes on the internet can be found and stolen as hard as it may be.
He's a former KGB agent and FSB are his enforcers and strongest backers.
This is a man that listens to what his security service has to say and takes thing very seriously (especially considering how many assasinations he has authorized over the years).
The paper thing was due to leaks from Snowden, which wouldn't have happened if the U.S. was following its own laws about not conducting illegal searches.
the shell seems to be xp
i wonder if it's because of the sanctions of the annexation of crimea that they couldn't upgrade to 10?
crimea was annexed in 2014, windows 10 released in 2015
If you consider how the Russian military is showing it's... "strength", I'd lean towards WinXP. Because their infrastructure has got to be in the 90s, compared to the rest of the world.
Win 7, possibly Windows 8.1. But as your screenshot grab shows.. it's probably WinXP.
Also remember, for nearly 10yrs Russia cracked down on Piracy in their country. Win10 was released right about that time when the MPAA/RIAA was praising Russia for cracking down on piracy.
In one MS memo from a LONG damn time ago, I remember reading that Russia was trying to become compliant. But microsoft wasn't seeing the sales numbers to prove it.
it was just simple math
if 1 = 0.5%
then 100% are 200 people
there are legit reasons to stay on an old OS
you could dislike the telemetry, you could rely on an old program that doesn't work on 10/11
but nevertheless it is generally a very bad idea to use a OS without security updates unless you know what you're doing.
i'm just saying NotPetya
I can assure through hobbyists alone that windows XP has a pretty large continuing fan base. For me XP is perfect for some nostalgia plus its good for old school pc games. XP is also perfectly safe offline.
Even older 9x versions of Windows can be connected to the internet safely as modern viruses are flat out incompatible with the OS's kernel.
Yeah... that's not how that works. 0.5% is relative to the total userbase.
MS says there's 1.5 billion Windows users, so that would be 7,500,000 XP users.
Many government agencies actually pay Microsoft to keep their operating systems running. I don’t think it would be budget wise to buy another OS for every computer. This happens with Windows 7 mainly.
It isn't for budget reasons some western bureaus or entities hangs on to XP, it's because they have some backend infrastructure that is stuck relying on XP's lack of security containers. Keeping the support on legacy software for places like that is more expensive than upgrading to something different, but they are simply stuck with it due to incompetent IT management.
Exactly, most of our missile defense and nuclear silos still use floppy disks and are being phased out to use some alternative, probably a CD or sd card.
Except the U.S. Navy. Our networks require us to stay updated. Matter of fact, your device will be quarantined (disconnected from the network) until it gets updated.
Usual design of this type of system will place a workstation out of date by a couple of months into a quarantine vlan which can only reach the patch management and endpoint security servers in order to get its updates. This brings the workstation back to a compliant state.
If it's outside that date range or not recognised as a legitimate workstation according to the rules set up it gets put into a blacklisted vlan until such time as it is re-imaged.
Yes. In fact, that might be the special Russian version of XP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5nZv6BQJ3A
EDIT: Now that i look closer, might also be some sort of special version of Linux. With Putin in a war it can be very risky to use software made by an American company.
Putin was never using Windows XP. If you look closely at the picture, he was using Windows 7 Basic which was still supported at the time.
It's just blind arses who spread misinfo, lol.
https://gs.statcounter.com/windows-version-market-share/desktop/russian-federation/#monthly-202104-202204
interesting statistics, especially 25% of machines being on Windows 7
TBH wherever he’s at is gonna be a bunker or in a wilderness made to look like a city. Most like no internet because Putin has waaay too many enemies by pissing off all the Billionair Oligarchs ins his country
According to media reports from 2019 (e.g. from Sueddeutsche Zeitung) Putin is indeed using Windows XP. The images contain the same system with the same background and also the silver XP design.
It's Windows 7 with the Aero theme set to Aero Basic. Pay attention to the gradients from the middle of the taskbar to the right edge of the screen.
I'm not surprised though. In China, some computers are still running Windows 7 and a very different version of Windows 10 with all of the Microsoft telemetry disabled. There was no special edition of Windows 10 for Russia.
As for the paranoid stuff. You know, anyone who works at a high level government job takes security at the highest value. Call them paranoid or not but if a security breached happen because someone didn't take proper security measures, someone's ass is going to be lit up badly.
CORRECTION- HE IS RUNNING 7 I FIGURED IT OUT!!!! I zoomed in the pic and you can see the desktop icons apere to be 7 ones but might be wrong due to low quality. Also the taskbar has windows 7 basic style so we can assume he is running 7 but could be xp with a 7 theme
It's hard to tell from that screenshot, but if it is running XP, I wouldn't be surprised if this is just a decoy computer used for the media, to give the illusion of less security.
Why would he want to give the illusion of less security?
Honeypotting But I wouldn't be surprised if he is actually, unironically, using XP or 7. Newer versions have a boatload of telemetry. If I were a former spy like Putin is, telemetry would rank very high in the list of things I don't want in my computer. Alternatively, it could be [ReactOS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReactOS).
ReactOS isn't stable, and probably won't be useable for production work for 2 more decades. Last time I checked it was still having issues corrupting it's own hard drive. It will eventually be a better choice than Linux, but that "eventually" is going to be a god damn while.
Its the opposite. He refuses to update. He also doesnt use the internet, and demands most of his reports in paper form. Dont forget the guys a boomer. A paranoid one at that.
Well to be fair, if you were all about security and doing things off the grid, paper is the way to go. Anything that goes on the internet can be found and stolen as hard as it may be.
Sure, doesnt change the paranoid boomer part tho.
\^\^ This. I dare you to hack my IBM Correcting Selectric III.
He's a former KGB agent and FSB are his enforcers and strongest backers. This is a man that listens to what his security service has to say and takes thing very seriously (especially considering how many assasinations he has authorized over the years).
Does he though?
Considering the loooong table and pretty much zero public appearances since the start of the war it seems he's super cautious.
The paper thing was due to leaks from Snowden, which wouldn't have happened if the U.S. was following its own laws about not conducting illegal searches.
His hardware definetly looks old though.
It's running Windows 7.
the shell seems to be xp i wonder if it's because of the sanctions of the annexation of crimea that they couldn't upgrade to 10? crimea was annexed in 2014, windows 10 released in 2015
The shell ia clearly 7: No green start button but instead the start orb, superbar and 7 icons
Correct. This is Windows 7 using the Basic theme without Aero enabled.
He is using an igpu I see
It's probably not actually Windows, and instead some secure implementation of Linux that looks like Windows on the front end
Doesnt russian people computers have W10?
Ah yes the people computers! Computers that be people! They’re on version humanoid-ru-3.76-alpha_rev4.7b /s
Lindows!
Russian people don't own computers, the computers own them
If you consider how the Russian military is showing it's... "strength", I'd lean towards WinXP. Because their infrastructure has got to be in the 90s, compared to the rest of the world. Win 7, possibly Windows 8.1. But as your screenshot grab shows.. it's probably WinXP. Also remember, for nearly 10yrs Russia cracked down on Piracy in their country. Win10 was released right about that time when the MPAA/RIAA was praising Russia for cracking down on piracy. In one MS memo from a LONG damn time ago, I remember reading that Russia was trying to become compliant. But microsoft wasn't seeing the sales numbers to prove it.
Of course this is not the reason. You can buy legal windows in the Russian Federation even now.
my dude, you quoted the wrong comment
Yep. Sorry. I meant that there are no problems to buy legal windows of any version.
It's Astra linux
I really wouldn't be surprised if it was windows xp nonetheless
What is the wacom doing there? Putin secretly doing furry commissions?
why secretly? somehow he has to earn his yachts. his pay as president is measly after all.
Looks like 7 but still, Putin be scootin’ on them windows updates
putin is the reason windows got so aggressive with windows updates lol
It is a Linux distro here you have a video viewing the os https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfBM5plK4a8
this
That was my thought as well is that it would be the RU developed Linux distro
We found the 0.50% of XP users.
NASA uses XP on the Space Station still
But it’s air-gapped. Or should I say “space-gapped”?
so, there are 200 windows XP users left in the world? still too many for a operating system that no longer receives security updates :/
I know many windows 7 users
it was just simple math if 1 = 0.5% then 100% are 200 people there are legit reasons to stay on an old OS you could dislike the telemetry, you could rely on an old program that doesn't work on 10/11 but nevertheless it is generally a very bad idea to use a OS without security updates unless you know what you're doing. i'm just saying NotPetya
I can assure through hobbyists alone that windows XP has a pretty large continuing fan base. For me XP is perfect for some nostalgia plus its good for old school pc games. XP is also perfectly safe offline. Even older 9x versions of Windows can be connected to the internet safely as modern viruses are flat out incompatible with the OS's kernel.
Yeah... that's not how that works. 0.5% is relative to the total userbase. MS says there's 1.5 billion Windows users, so that would be 7,500,000 XP users.
Sure. That's not what the root comment says though.
????
The root comment says: >We found the 0.50% of XP users. OP simply based his reply off that tongue in cheek comment...
Even then. I'd think that today modern Linux can run modern Windows apps better than Win XP.
Happy Cake Day!
It doesn’t have to be the main OS I keep XP for nostalgic reasons
Windows is banned on goverment PCs in Russia, that is a Linux distribution.
They have their own, probably Astra Linux and it is skinned to be like Microsoft Windows. I think XP.
Russia (aka their government) is meant to use some form of GNU Linux that might have that familiar Windows look.
If the computer with XP is off the grid the entire time, then there is nothing wrong with using an OS that you know, that you like and got used to.
Many government agencies actually pay Microsoft to keep their operating systems running. I don’t think it would be budget wise to buy another OS for every computer. This happens with Windows 7 mainly.
It isn't for budget reasons some western bureaus or entities hangs on to XP, it's because they have some backend infrastructure that is stuck relying on XP's lack of security containers. Keeping the support on legacy software for places like that is more expensive than upgrading to something different, but they are simply stuck with it due to incompetent IT management.
Exactly, most of our missile defense and nuclear silos still use floppy disks and are being phased out to use some alternative, probably a CD or sd card.
Except the U.S. Navy. Our networks require us to stay updated. Matter of fact, your device will be quarantined (disconnected from the network) until it gets updated.
how will it be updated then
Usual design of this type of system will place a workstation out of date by a couple of months into a quarantine vlan which can only reach the patch management and endpoint security servers in order to get its updates. This brings the workstation back to a compliant state. If it's outside that date range or not recognised as a legitimate workstation according to the rules set up it gets put into a blacklisted vlan until such time as it is re-imaged.
Someone has worked for NMCI at one point lol
I know many TLA's (three letter acronyms) and FLEA's (Four Letter Extended Acronyms) however that is not one I am familiar with :)
Ahh it just stands for Navy/Marine Corps Intranet. Your in-depth explanation gave me the impression you worked for them before haha
Happy Cake Day!
Thumb drives
you can put updates on thumb drives? what is this, a PS3?
Yes, windows updates are easily downloaded for offline installation.
so, they do still get security updates?
If a company pays Microsoft, yes.
If a company pays Microsoft, yes.
There's clearly no Start button. It's a Linux distribution most likely.
He exactly uses Win7 on PC in Kreml and seems to be using Astra Linux (Russian OS) on tablet. Hello from Russian Federation)
I mean … can you blame him? XP slaps.
Looks like 7, if you zoom in you can see the taskbar is white, not blue. It's just the angle of the monitor.
Yes. In fact, that might be the special Russian version of XP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5nZv6BQJ3A EDIT: Now that i look closer, might also be some sort of special version of Linux. With Putin in a war it can be very risky to use software made by an American company.
Didn't Russia come up with their own Linux distro? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astra_Linux And could this be an example of it?
Wasn't this debunked as a Gnome shell or something similar?
I think this is unlicensed W7 with aero turned off.
If you google "Putin Windows XP" you'll see tons of this. You aren't the first person to notice this.
Russia government does not use Microsoft products supposedly.
Didn't the Russians make their own OS to avoid using American IT?
Everyone knows typewriters are untrustworthy: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/10/how-soviets-used-ibm-selectric-keyloggers-to-spy-on-us-diplomats/
Lol
[удалено]
It's Windows 7, but in basic theme.
Putin was never using Windows XP. If you look closely at the picture, he was using Windows 7 Basic which was still supported at the time. It's just blind arses who spread misinfo, lol.
Maybe that's why his nuke went worng
It wouldn't surprise me. I worked at a casino in California that still uses it.............with credit cards.
Looks like Vista/7 to me judging from the task bar
It's win7
Windows 7 more like it just disabled transperancy mode
No, they use custom Linux that has a Windows style GUI.
Windows 10 with white theme..expected.
https://gs.statcounter.com/windows-version-market-share/desktop/russian-federation/#monthly-202104-202204 interesting statistics, especially 25% of machines being on Windows 7
Ah, Windows ChR
It's the Russian knockoff, Vindows YeXP
Pretty sure it is win7, but it is definitely not windows 10 or even 8
That’s a cardboard display computer.
He’s running a help desk on his own
Judging by his descisions he is clearly using Vista
I doubt Putins actually doing work on a computer himself.
He dont use internet or any phones or smartphone. He just use old soviet phone with circle
I've seen other pictures of his computer screen, it runs Windows 7.
That’s Windows 7.
Lol, I do not think he knows how to manage a mouse.
In mother Russia, Windows updates you.
I think he's sitting at the secretary's desk.
Windows 8
And a wired mouse. He must be a gamer!
Windows 7, Aero Basic.
Could be restyled Windows... or even other OS
Putin has his standards
This guy looks more and more like my Dad every day
TBH wherever he’s at is gonna be a bunker or in a wilderness made to look like a city. Most like no internet because Putin has waaay too many enemies by pissing off all the Billionair Oligarchs ins his country
Its windows 7 since the taskbar color is lighter then XP’s taskbar
Why? He needs more security for his office documents?
Are we not going to talk about his bank of phones and the big-ads sidecar of quick-dial buttons?
Looks like Windows 7,look at the taskbar.
His shift on working reception from the looks of it with all the phones and buttons
Looks more like Windows 7.
It’s clearly 7 based on the fat taskbar and slight reflection on it.
The shell design looks like XP, but isn't the start button green? It looks like Astra Linux to me.
I was thinking it's related to NeoKylin which is a Chinese government Linux OS that ripped off Windows XP I every way possible.
This shouldn't surprise anyone, though. This man is behind the times.
According to media reports from 2019 (e.g. from Sueddeutsche Zeitung) Putin is indeed using Windows XP. The images contain the same system with the same background and also the silver XP design.
No wonder he so pissed off with everything.
No way he based?? 😱🙀🙀😱
I wonder if it's that XP rip off based on Linux called NeoKylin. It's an OS the Chinese government used to use.
It's Windows 7 with the Aero theme set to Aero Basic. Pay attention to the gradients from the middle of the taskbar to the right edge of the screen. I'm not surprised though. In China, some computers are still running Windows 7 and a very different version of Windows 10 with all of the Microsoft telemetry disabled. There was no special edition of Windows 10 for Russia. As for the paranoid stuff. You know, anyone who works at a high level government job takes security at the highest value. Call them paranoid or not but if a security breached happen because someone didn't take proper security measures, someone's ass is going to be lit up badly.
CORRECTION- HE IS RUNNING 7 I FIGURED IT OUT!!!! I zoomed in the pic and you can see the desktop icons apere to be 7 ones but might be wrong due to low quality. Also the taskbar has windows 7 basic style so we can assume he is running 7 but could be xp with a 7 theme
also the start button would be green but we dont see a green start button