# WireGuard VPN developer can't ship software updates after Microsoft locks account

I should be surprised if Windows will ever be suitable outside niche hobbyist communities with this kind of unreliable behaviour.

Real users need consistency and stability.

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/08/wireguard-vpn-developer-cant-ship-software-updates-after-microsoft-locks-account/

WireGuard VPN developer can't ship software updates after Microsoft locks account | TechCrunch

The popular open source VPN maker is the second high-profile developer to say Microsoft locked his account without notifying him and are blocking their ability to send software updates to users.

TechCrunch

@neil I would say that there is a certain amount of #AppleEnvy at #Microsoft and #Google right now.

A #WalledGarden allows higher #Rent and cheapens compliance with legislation that attempts to restrict what users can do.

Open source - and thus backdoor-free - VPNs and e2ee are probably being targeted as preemptive obedience to future laws.

@tomstoneham @neil to be fair it's quite easy for people to leave windows and switch to linux.

A lot of gaming is already happening on linux and I am astonished when like >60 people working in non-tech jobs are talking about linux distributions

@saxnot @tomstoneham

> it's quite easy for people to leave windows and switch to linux.

For *some* people, sure.

For a lot of people, probably not, sadly.

@neil @saxnot @tomstoneham 1/2 That is the point to repair cafes that offer installs of Linux for those with modern computers that cannot run Windows 11.

Most people have limited needs from a computer and setting up a Linux desktop say XFCE in such a way that it mimics older versions of Windows allows people to transition easily.

I moved my remaining elderly parent over to Linux on their macbook ten years ago. With XFCE and a MacOSX theme and the panel at the top the transition was painfree.

@neil @saxnot @tomstoneham 2/2 They had been using non-Mac browsers for a while and the SeaMonkey email client was close enough in appearance and function to replace Apple Mail without any issues.

They could not have installed Linux and the customisations themselves but they were fine using what was installed for them and adapted very quickly.

@the_wub @neil @tomstoneham in a way Windows 11 was really good for the linux community