Many extensions, mostly the Microsoft made ones, aren’t present in the Open VSX Registry. Many popular extensions are, however, which is nice.
Yes, it’s kinda silly, but it’s also not. It is spyware — without a doubt — which by definition means it is malware.
While not all malware are viruses, all spyware are malware. The only difference between the ones installed by default on M$ systems is that they disguise them with wording like, “This switch turns on a customised experience, making your computer work better for you.”
But the truth is it is data collection with the intention to either have you buy something else, or sell your information to the highest bidder — or all the bidders.
PS: Anonymised data collection is better, but it is still your data, and it is still for the same purpose. But this is the internet, and sharing things — ideas, information, data, etc. — is kinda why it exists, so anonymised data is a reasonable tradeoff.
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I would just argue that the Best AV for any system is just being mindful of what you click on and install, as well as using an adblocker
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It’s a huge security issue to have a windoze computer on your home network.
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Yeah sure, but even VScode is opensource and you can disable the telemetry as well. Whatever you feel comfortable with, it’s nice to have a choice! 
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Having so many choices available is one of my favorite things about EndeavourOS. =)
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If you really want to access the non-free store from VSCodium, you can with this hack 
sudo nano ~/.config/VSCodium/product.json
{
"extensionsGallery": {
"serviceUrl": "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/_apis/public/gallery",
"cacheUrl": "https://vscode.blob.core.windows.net/gallery/index",
"itemUrl": "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items",
"controlUrl": "",
"recommendationsUrl": ""
}
}
This is not documented, but many people use it apparently: https://github.com/flathub/com.vscodium.codium/issues/90
EDIT: Oh, I realise seija’s comment was both easier and subtler 
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I believe there’s an AUR package that adds the proprietary extension store as well. I know there’s code-marketplace that does that.
You can also just disable telemetry in VSCode by editing the same file or setting it through the settings gui.
"telemetry.telemetryLevel": "off"
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I think ultimately, you should just use whatever you find more comfortable, even if it is spying on you whatnot. Sometimes, one needs to treat off privacy for doing their work, which is sad.
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NO YOU SHOULDN’T
You should not participate in the destruction of personal privacy for any reason. If a company cannot respect you why would you use its products? Oh I know your going to say that is they way that the world is going and I can say that is because people like you allow it by justifying their behavior because something is convenient to use your willing to give up your privacy. They see this so they will continue to erode your privacy until you have non. Never support anyone who is will to do you harm.
Maybe you feel you need to but I won’t allow any WORK to take away my FREEDOM of PRIVACY. The fact that your willing to is what is sad.
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This sounds like you are using Arch/Linux for the wrong reasons… I think you should listen to the video below and the whole channel really.
Yes, privacy has been eroded greatly over the years, but accepting it as okay is not good for society.
There is a difference between “normal” and “okay”.
While this video is specifically about financial privacy, just know that it applies to every aspect of privacy. Governments and big tech companies look to limit your privacy as much as possible, and the only way to reverse it is to boycott — whether that’s by using open-source software and OSes, supporting privacy bills, etc.
PS: The video posted just before this one talks about how surveillance has a psychological impact on people. It makes them apathetic to undesirable events and changes, afraid to state their opinions, willing to accept things that they shouldn’t, etc. etc.
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the best ? No-one…
This is why we are in our current state. Very disheartening to read; even more disheartening how many people probably agree with you.
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If you’re not okay with a piece of software stealing your information, perfectly fine stance to take. I don’t like it either. It’s why I try to use privacy conscious software as much as I can. In the very comment y’all got so enraged about, I expressed my sadness about the state we’re in. Did I not point that out enough? I’m on your side. If I didn’t care, you wouldn’t see me here, using the very OS this forum is based on and I would have been on Windows writing this. If a dude wants his information stolen in exchange for ease of use, let the guy do so. You can’t change people that don’t want to be changed.
I’m trying really hard currently to not swear, but honestly, this entire situation is just extremely sour.
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For simply pointing out that other people are just as free to use whatever they please as we are, I got here. Fantastic.
Passion can come across as rage and if what I said came across as such then I do apologize. My intention was to only show the fallacy in the thinking I saw you have.
Honestly no it came across as a more of a OH well such as. (this is only my opinion)
I get your point however what I hope you understand is how evil can take that information to be used against you when you yourself are not evil. The point is everyone should care. Whenever someone is willing to give up their privacy for the illusion of “I have nothing to hide” They deny the truth that “We all have things to protect”
don’t let it be. Just remember we are here trying to educate people the best we can with the tools we have. Again If I came across as upset with you then no I am not and I do apologize for that misunderstanding my intention was to educate.
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I certainly had no rage in my feelings, as I was only aiming to inform, which is why I also included a link.
There are some people who are only using Linux for gaming, development, etc. and care not one bit about freedom or privacy. Maybe Steam doesn’t support their version of Windows anymore, maybe someone told them that Linux is faster, maybe the OS they came from no longer receives any updates for their device, who knows. So again, just trying to inform.
I’m sorry if I came across as being enraged by your comment.
I actually just re-read the responses to your comment and I see no rage in any, especially mine. There is nothing to apologise for.
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By using proprietary, privacy invading software you are making it worse for everyone else. People being upset at you for pissing in their swimming pool is understandable.
Wouldnt steam be included in this category since it’s proprietary and collects hardware info?