Thursday, September 13th 2007

Microsoft Auto-Updates Components of Windows Without User Permission

The average Windows XP or Vista user has Windows Update turned on, so that they will ideally be more secure. However, quite a few businesses elect not to have automatic updates, as the version that they are running is stable, and moving to a new version might cause instability in a mission critical environment. Lately, however, Microsoft has been thinking that they know better than their users. Regardless of whether or not a user has automatic updates turned off, Windows XP and Vista automatically update roughly nine files in Windows Update. While it is not a big deal for people that don't mind having the most up-to-date version of Windows, this is a very large breach of security, privacy, and possible stability for anyone who elected to turn Windows Update off.
Source: Windows Secrets
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68 Comments on Microsoft Auto-Updates Components of Windows Without User Permission

#2
TheMailMan78
Big Member
This is awesome! Its a great excuse for me. "Hey baby its not my porn. Microsoft secretly put it there."
Posted on Reply
#3
ChaoticBlankness
M$, why must you keep digging that hole of yours deeper?

Everyone wanting to ditch Windows please step this way: www.ubuntu.com
Posted on Reply
#4
Glump Bliermp
Microsoft in a hole???? LOL! Their stocks are rising. The most successful sofware company on the planet. Windows is compatible with 99.99999% of all sofware and drivers ever made. This article doesn't even say which 9 files are updated. The whole thing about businesses being affected was just written to make the story sound more interesting, as there's no proof of busines networks crashing due to these mysterious 9 files being updated. Typical of liberal media as well.

PS> I looked into it further: "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 [Windows Update] itself".

I have a feeling this topic won't get many posts as there's not much Linux and Mac fan***s can flame about anymore. And I doubt that the businesses who disable auto-updates, would rely on a particular version of Windows Update for stable Spreadsheed and Databases.
Posted on Reply
#5
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
The nine files that are updated all have to do with the Auto-Updater itself.
The article lists them all. No big deal.

I run auto-update anyway, so BRING ON THE NEW UPDATES !!!
I have yet to experience any problems from MS updates on my XP network.
Posted on Reply
#6
Darkrealms
Unfortunatly I have to argue the point that they are updating and not saying anything about it. If for example they were to use a new port or something they may be knocking off a proprietary program or some remote settings. Microsoft owns the product, we buy licenses to use it. I still feel they should let us know they are doing it incase it did cause a problem at least we could identify it. 2¢
Posted on Reply
#7
panchoman
Sold my stars!
DarkrealmsUnfortunatly I have to argue the point that they are updating and not saying anything about it. If for example they were to use a new port or something they may be knocking off a proprietary program or some remote settings. Microsoft owns the product, we buy licenses to use it. I still feel they should let us know they are doing it incase it did cause a problem at least we could identify it. 2¢
agreed. i dont use microsoft updates, because i'm happy with my system and i dont want more microsoft shit all over my hdd's, windows xp is enough thank you. i wish i could use ubuntu 100%, but i cant game very well on it :( it beats windows without the gaming though..
Posted on Reply
#8
panchoman
Sold my stars!
TheMailMan78This is awesome! Its a great excuse for me. "Hey baby its not my porn. Microsoft secretly put it there."
ROFLMAO
Posted on Reply
#9
Darkrealms
panchoman
TheMailMan78This is awesome! Its a great excuse for me. "Hey baby its not my porn. Microsoft secretly put it there."
ROFLMAO
Doh! Thats great somehow I missed it till your comment!
rofl
Posted on Reply
#10
Wayward
Well, it didn't happen to me. Maybe it only works if the files have been updated recently. I do all my updates manually, so the auto-updater files have been left alone. My version is 5.4.3630.1106 and was last modified August 29, 2002. Of course, it might have something to do with the fact the service is disabled, and my computer is firewalled up the kazoo, but not knowing the mechanics of MS's technique, I can't say how it was prevented on my machine.

That aside, I find this entire thing disgusting. Microsoft has already done enough to dissuade the public from trusting them, when their trust used to be implicit. The disable option is there for a reason, and Microsoft violated the trust associated with that reason. If anything good comes from this, I hope more people view Linux as a viable option. I've been testing the Linux waters for some time now, and plan to take the plunge real soon. This is just another reason to justify the effort.
Posted on Reply
#11
mdm-adph
Glump BliermpMicrosoft in a hole???? LOL! Their stocks are rising. The most successful sofware company on the planet. Windows is compatible with 99.99999% of all sofware and drivers ever made. This article doesn't even say which 9 files are updated. The whole thing about businesses being affected was just written to make the story sound more interesting, as there's no proof of busines networks crashing due to these mysterious 9 files being updated. Typical of <b>liberal media</b> as well.
WTF? You again? What the hell are you still doing here on this board? This is a technology forum, not a place for you to spout your ideological bullshit.

Please, for the love of all things good and holy, click this farking link (www.freerepublic.com) -- it will take you to a place with many people just like you.

What are you waiting for? GO!

If anyone's wondering what I'm talking about, check out this guy's behaviour in this thread -- I don't know what's the deal with him. Any ideas?
Posted on Reply
#12
zekrahminator
McLovin
MDM, Glump, drop it, or else you're both going on 3-day vacations.
Posted on Reply
#13
mdm-adph
zekrahminatorMDM, Glump, drop it, or else you're both going on 3-day vacations.
I'll gladly take one for the team if it'll help spare everyone else the bother of listening to that jerk's crap.
Posted on Reply
#14
ChaoticBlankness
Glump BliermpMicrosoft in a hole???? LOL! Their stocks are rising. The most successful sofware company on the planet. Windows is compatible with 99.99999% of all sofware and drivers ever made. This article doesn't even say which 9 files are updated. The whole thing about businesses being affected was just written to make the story sound more interesting, as there's no proof of busines networks crashing due to these mysterious 9 files being updated. Typical of liberal media as well.

PS> I looked into it further: "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 [Windows Update] itself".

I have a feeling this topic won't get many posts as there's not much Linux and Mac fan***s can flame about anymore. And I doubt that the businesses who disable auto-updates, would rely on a particular version of Windows Update for stable Spreadsheed and Databases.
By "hole" I mean the one they dig to piss off their customers. If I tell my OS not to update or phone home in any way, it better damn well not.
Posted on Reply
#15
Darknova
Personally, I don't mind, however, in a business point of view, it's a very bad thing. It may only be Auto Updater files at the moment, but if they start updating key files, it could cause instability, or outright crashes of essential software, which businesses just CAN'T afford to happen.
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#16
WarEagleAU
Bird of Prey
So let it be written, so let it be done.
Posted on Reply
#17
Glump Bliermp
Why would anyone get pissed off if Microsoft updates 'Windows Update'? I highly doubt that any piece of sofware would corrupt on account of relying on a particular version of Windows Update.
Posted on Reply
#19
Darkrealms
Glump BliermpWhy would anyone get pissed off if Microsoft updates 'Windows Update'? I highly doubt that any piece of sofware would corrupt on account of relying on a particular version of Windows Update.
Try reading other peoples posts, I gave examples of how WU updates could cause problems. Either pay attention or leave.
Posted on Reply
#20
Darknova
Glump BliermpWhy would anyone get pissed off if Microsoft updates 'Windows Update'? I highly doubt that any piece of sofware would corrupt on account of relying on a particular version of Windows Update.
Have you ever run a business? Have you ever run a network that needs to be 100% stable all the time?

I had the pleasure of working with a team for 6 weeks while i was off work, and it's one hell of a job, and any file that changes can cause problems, it may not, but you then have to test to make sure.
Posted on Reply
#21
Solaris17
Super Dainty Moderator
easy boys
Posted on Reply
#22
Darkrealms
Solaris17easy boys
Sorry but this kinda happens when you deal with ITs that are maintaining networks, I'll try to be good {slaps wrist}
Posted on Reply
#23
Nicksterr
I laugh at the people who are surprised by this. Does nobody remember the update a while ago that validated if you were using a legit copy of windows or not? You know the update you downloaded and didn't actually read to see what it did? =P
Posted on Reply
#24
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
Darknovaand any file that changes can cause problems, it may not, but you then have to test to make sure.
I thought that was what the users were for ? :wtf: :p
Posted on Reply
#25
Darkrealms
KreijI thought that was what the users were for ? :wtf: :p
Shhhhh..... NO ONE needs to let the users know that ; P
Posted on Reply
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