Microsoft Auto-Updates Components of Windows Without User Permission

zekrahminator · Sep 13, 2007

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.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

PVTCaboose1337 · Sep 13, 2007

Lawsuit time!

TheMailMan78 · Sep 13, 2007

This is awesome! Its a great excuse for me. "Hey baby its not my porn. Microsoft secretly put it there."

ChaoticBlankness · Sep 13, 2007

M$, why must you keep digging that hole of yours deeper?

Everyone wanting to ditch Windows please step this way: http://www.ubuntu.com

Glump Bliermp · Sep 13, 2007

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.

Kreij · Sep 13, 2007

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.

Darkrealms · Sep 13, 2007

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¢

panchoman · Sep 13, 2007

Darkrealms said:
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¢

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..

panchoman · Sep 13, 2007

TheMailMan78 said:
This is awesome! Its a great excuse for me. "Hey baby its not my porn. Microsoft secretly put it there."

ROFLMAO

Darkrealms · Sep 13, 2007

panchoman said:
TheMailMan78 said:

This is awesome! Its a great excuse for me. "Hey baby its not my porn. Microsoft secretly put it there."

Click to expand...

ROFLMAO

Doh! Thats great somehow I missed it till your comment!
rofl

Wayward · Sep 13, 2007

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.

mdm-adph · Sep 13, 2007

Glump Bliermp said:
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 <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?

zekrahminator · Sep 13, 2007

MDM, Glump, drop it, or else you're both going on 3-day vacations.

mdm-adph · Sep 13, 2007

zekrahminator said:
MDM, 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.

ChaoticBlankness · Sep 13, 2007

Glump Bliermp said:
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.

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.

Darknova · Sep 13, 2007

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.

WarEagleAU · Sep 13, 2007

So let it be written, so let it be done.

Glump Bliermp · Sep 13, 2007

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.

Thermopylae_480 · Sep 13, 2007

Stop Trolling Glump.

Darkrealms · Sep 13, 2007

Glump Bliermp said:
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.

Try reading other peoples posts, I gave examples of how WU updates could cause problems. Either pay attention or leave.

Darknova · Sep 13, 2007

Glump Bliermp said:
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.

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.

Solaris17 · Sep 13, 2007

easy boys

Darkrealms · Sep 13, 2007

Solaris17 said:
easy boys

Sorry but this kinda happens when you deal with ITs that are maintaining networks, I'll try to be good {slaps wrist}

Nicksterr · Sep 13, 2007

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

Kreij · Sep 13, 2007

Darknova said:
and 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:

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Microsoft Auto-Updates Components of Windows Without User Permission

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