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Author Topic: microsoft does it again  (Read 4111 times)

tuftedduck

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microsoft does it again
« on: September 14, 2007, 05:00:12 PM »

What is Bill up to this time ?  :-\

If you want a shock, go to http://windowssecrets.com/2007/09/13/01-Microsoft-updates-Windows-without-users-consent, and have a read.


Microsoft has begun patching files on Windows XP and Vista without users' knowledge, even when the users have turned off auto-updates.




Files changed with no notice to users

In recent days, Windows Update (WU) started altering files on users' systems without displaying any dialog box to request permission. The only files that have been reportedly altered to date are nine small executables on XP and nine on Vista that are used by WU itself. Microsoft is patching these files silently, even if auto-updates have been disabled on a particular PC.

It's surprising that these files can be changed without the user's knowledge. The Automatic Updates dialog box in the Control Panel can be set to prevent updates from being installed automatically. However, with Microsoft's latest stealth move, updates to the WU executables seem to be installed regardless of the settings — without notifying users.

When users launch Windows Update, Microsoft's online service can check the version of its executables on the PC and update them if necessary. What's unusual is that people are reporting changes in these files although WU wasn't authorized to install anything.

Windows Genuine Advantage in another guise, or something more sinister ??  >:(

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mr_chris

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Re: microsoft does it again
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2007, 09:23:06 PM »

Very silly of them, whatever it is.

They just keep shooting themselves in the foot.. it's as if they let us begin to trust them, and then do something like this!

I'd hope that it's just a purely innocent thing done in the best interests of the consumer i.e. update Windows update files whatever. It does throw some serious questions into the equation though:

1. How is it possible when Automatic Updates is set to OFF? Microsoft violating their own security precautions.
2. Why have they done this?
3. With the Automatic Updates service stopped in Services, are you totally safe from your PC communicating with Microsoft?

Not impressed by this. MS should know better
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Chris

tickmike

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Re: microsoft does it again
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2007, 11:44:03 PM »

It looks like I have been updated. (without my permission)  >:D
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oldfogy

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Re: microsoft does it again
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2007, 05:00:27 AM »

Yes, but the latest report is that it was only updating the updating update part of windows.
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kitz

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Re: microsoft does it again
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2007, 09:42:41 PM »

hmmm  not good. :(

Chris raises some very valid points - not impressed either - and most concerned that there is a loophole that could be exploited.
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tuftedduck

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Re: microsoft does it again
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2007, 04:28:27 PM »

I wandered off to the MS site today to see about getting the latest patches etc. ( I know, I know, I'm a week late  :-[ ) and instead of getting into the patches and update pages, I got this.

Now, I have seen before advice on this page that my DirectX needs updating before the patches can come down. thats ok......no problems, and I have seen the patches before, downloaded and installed them without hitch.

BUT...I have not seen this sort of thing before..........Bill wanting to install a new updater before I even get anywhere near the patches.

Is this how Bill is doing his automatic updates behind your back...............if so then two points:-
1) If you have allowed this update, then you cannot complain about anything associated with it happening in the background as you have invited it onto your system.
2) There is no way past this invitation to update to get to the patches unless you DO install this update.

Has anyone else seen this, is it suspicious or am I just my normal paranoid self.  :'(

Has anyone else allowed this install, and, if so,  have you encountered anything odd happening ?

[attachment deleted by admin]
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mr_chris

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Re: microsoft does it again
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2007, 05:04:42 PM »

I've allowed this before now.... but this isn't what people are complaining about.

What people are complaining about is that the Windows Automatic Updating service, even when set to "Do not install updates automatically" IGNORED this setting and updated the Windows Update component on the computer silently, i.e. not even letting the user know it had been updated.

Sure, whilst I'd imagine MS are perfectly within their rights to do this, it doesn't encourage their customers to trust them not to update other parts of Windows, or worse, collect information about your PC, all without the user even being aware anything is happening.

It's the stealth nature of this update that has upset people, not the fact that there is an update!
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Chris
 

anything