Microsoft got caught doing stealth updates

[sushrukh]

Microsoft has been caught updating files on both Windows XP and Windows Vista without displaying the usual notification or permission dialog box – even if the user had previously disabled automatic updates. Microsoft, however, calls it built-in behavior and no cause for alarm.

Scott Dunn of “Windows Secrets”, reports nine files in XP and Vista have been altered by Windows Update in what he calls a stealth move by Microsoft. The updates are upgrades to the Windows Update service itself, and are not harmful to the system. However, the tactics used by Microsoft to perform them are comparable to those used by spyware companies, thus raising some concerns among the privacy minded.

More @ :- http://www.techspot.com/news/27029-microsoft-caught-doing-stealth-updates.html

[slugbug]

As bad as Sony and their root kits.

[raidersforever01]

For microsoft to do that does not surprise me at all in fact i am wondering why they have not done it earlier.

[peti1212]

I don't like that even if it is not harmful to the computer. What if the files that are being installed interfere with something durring your work. What happens then? Still not cool in my opinion.

[PP Mguire]

Yea seriously thats why my copy has been nLited and has NO update what so ever!!

[ghidora]

I wonder when they last did that stealth update??? My hard drive crapped out on my again on the 7th of this month. Was playing a game that began to run real slow, so I saved it. It saved successfully, but when I brought up the menu so I could exit, it was real sluggish, so I waited, and waited, and waited...looked at my hard disk LED and it was flashing on regular intervals, so I waited some more. It never came back, so I poked the reset button. Next thing you know, during boot, I get the "Windows cannot boot" error about not finding system32 or some file in that folder.

I wonder if they were pushing out this update when I rebooted and that is what screwed my system?

[Enigmachine]

What I really have to ask myself is, why was it worth updating this secretly considering they knew there would be a backlash?

It doesn't sound like it improves security or Window's licensing. Most people would have installed the update without any question... So why do it secretly?

Is it because Microsoft just doesn't care?

In any case, it doesn't matter - I've installed far more Ubuntu OSes than Vistas, and I develop software on Windows! Looks like the problem will resolve itself once... huh... Microsoft runs out of money.. :)

[andydrew39219]

Anyone know how to completely stop this update? any type of firewall that i could get for my windows machine that would basically stop ALL unknown or unwanted connections from reaching my computer

[peti1212]

What I really have to ask myself is, why was it worth updating this secretly considering they knew there would be a backlash?

It doesn't sound like it improves security or Window's licensing. Most people would have installed the update without any question... So why do it secretly?

Is it because Microsoft just doesn't care?

In any case, it doesn't matter - I've installed far more Ubuntu OSes than Vistas, and I develop software on Windows! Looks like the problem will resolve itself once... huh... Microsoft runs out of money.. :)

That could easily be the case. If it was, then Microsoft can be sued. Well I don't know but they did say it is harmless. :jawdrop:

[Nocutius]

The Russian roulette can also be harmless but that doesn't make it safe. It's annoying they would behave in such a sneaky way. They didn't blow up my computer this time, but what about the next time. I want to be in control of my pc and install what I want, when I want it.
Well I'm over reacting a bit, but it's just how i feel about the whole concept.

[Enigmachine]

I know quite a few machines where an unexpected update of Windows could endanger the lives of people... They don't necessarily have to be hooked up to life support systems or anything.

In fact some of the worst catastrophes in history have happened not because a single critical system failed, but because many unimportant steps have failed which together caused a much bigger problem.

Anyway, one of my sayings is that you shouldn't assume something is caused by malice when simple incompetence is enough of a reason; it's probably the case here...

[Blue Moon Dragon]

See, this is the kind of stuff that makes microsoft so messed up...i have had countless updates for windows that messed up my computer.....and its bad for them, too, because vista is getting so much negative publicity already.

[tomato]

Now that they've been caught, it makes you wonder for how long has M$ been doing this sort of thing?! From the beginning? :?

[PP Mguire]

Well if i remember correctly Bill Gates stole the idea of Windows from a colleuge? So id say, yes.