Microsoft Updates Your Copy Of Windows Without Your Consent

[dserban 0]

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

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Sounds like these were updates limited to updating Windows Update itself (I like the sound of "Windows Update is keeping its Update system up to date"). The question is, if these were just minor changes unrelated to Windows, just the Update application, why do it under the radar? The whole point of Windows Update is the clear transparency of what is going on. Microsoft is under no legal obligation to tell their users about updates, It's kind of like a courtesy to their users. There doesn't seem to be any logical explanation why they would make something like this intentionally secretive. The most rational explanation would be the incompetence / tone-deaf cluessness of one division in Microsoft just being too lazy / uncaring about something they figured no one else would care about or even bother noticing, rather than some devious underhanded sneaky secret updating Master Plan.

Turning off Automatic Updates isn't enough. You have to disable BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) and Automatic Update services from services.msc to solve the issue.

There's probably something in the EULA that covers this as being a legit practice.
By agreeing to Microsoft's EULA, you essentially agree to "rent" your computer from Microsoft.
Don't like it? Don't use Windows.

People who work in networking would get ticked about this. If Microsoft decides that they want to update part of the OS, no matter what it is, but does not inform anyone that they are doing it, security teams that notice the activity will stop a legitimate service and spend valuable resources following a false positive. That's a waste of their time, energy, and can lead to a "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" situation where certain activity that is undocumented is assumed to be legitimate because Microsoft has done so in the past, yet it is actually a security breach.
For those who work in the security field, this is a similar slap in the face that desktop users get when some company installs "root kit" like software.

There is yet another downside to the silent updates. The patching process could awaken your laptop from standby mode at some wee hour during the night while stored in an insulated laptop bag. Because the update process fails to put the computer back into standby after the installation, the laptop's battery will be exhausted by the time you discover the problem later the next day. Other than that, the fact that the computer is running in a bag for so long could damage the machine and might even pose a fire hazard.
I don't expect Microsoft to be perfect (congratulations Bill for managing people's quality expectations level towards the low end). But because of Microsoft's very human mistakes with some previous updates, a lot of people understandably want to do their homework before installing every patch Microsoft offers. If the company's own software settings can't be trusted to provide that level of control, users will continue to seek alternatives.

Edited September 29, 2007 by dserban (see edit history)

[Saint_Michael 3]

I have to say that is quite a interesting read and when I check out the event log I found it interesting that all these updates where happening without us knowing about, I would have to agree that whatever agreements you made when installing the operating system. It don't bother me as much just as long as they are not screwing me out of hard drive space like they are with vista and the winsxs folder I am fine.

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

I thought this was a "no duh!" situations. I've already noticed this for years. Not new at all. You do also realize that all you're doing to "buy" Windows is just the right to run it, you don't actually own the operating system. Therefore, they are in no legal obligations to say anything.xboxrulz

[Grafitti 0]

Of course. But with all the Microsoft bashing going on, you'd think users would be aware of this sort of stuff. It keeps popping up in one form or another, but every time it does, everyone's shocked. Same thing with gmail. "It's not secure??? OMG, why didn't anyone tell me about this before?? I better move to Yahoo. They're not secure either?? " and the list goes on. You don't want others reading your mail, use encryption. You don't want Microsoft doing stuff to your machine without your consent, get a good 3rd party firewall and block all their connections. Or just unplug your computer. That's the only 100% safe option.

[HellFire121 0]

I don't really mind about the updates, i have automatic updates enabled and i just let them run. The only time when i don't like it is if it's downloading large updates and it begins to lag the internet. I think it doesn't have any sort of throttling on it so you can use your net normally.Another thing that's annoying is when you HAVE to restart your computer after installing your updates sometimes, i like to do it just before i go to sleep.My current auto update settings are download when they are avaliable but manually install them, so i can control the above ^ problem.-HellFire

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

Exactly, that's what I do for Windows Update. Until more people create more games for Linux and more multimedia application for it. I'm pretty much stuck to Windows, which is a constant drag.xboxrulz

[Sten 0]

ive always known about all this. i have windows update set to (i think) download them automatically but ask me to installalthough you are actually buying the operating system, just a license, i still think we all deserve to have a like independent computer without those people from microsoft fiddling with it without letting us know.

[trinifawk 0]

Is there anything wrong with them updating your computer without your knowledge? I mean, it's not like they're taking your credit card numbers and spending your money, eating your food, sleeping in your bed, stealing your mp3s, or anything like that. They're updating the computer so that your system is more secure. That's an interesting concept of just buying a license to run your computer with their Operating System. I would say that if you really want to go with a company who cares about you, get a Mac. The only problem is that it can cost more. Get a version of linux if you want something you have a great amount of control over. In the case of gmail and yahoo, nothing comes for free, so suck it up or go find another provider.

[.:Brian:. 0]

As long as it doesn't cause any problems, in many ways i would prefer that my copy of windows just get updated seemlesly, I mean I don't really need to know about the updates that much as long as they are making the product work better. The only way this would be a problem is if the updates started taking huge amounts of space, or slowing the computer down a lot, or something along those lines where the update caused issues, but I haven't had a windows update cause issues for me for a couple of years now, and I have been using automatic updates for a while now because I just forget to go to the windows update site.So I would go on the side that I think microsoft should just push updates out and not have a windows update thing, other than for corporate users where microsoft should give more control to the system administrators as to what updates they want to push out. (after all I can see them getting upset when an update gets pushed out that somehow messes up their system...)

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

It seriously doesn't matter. However, if you're just arguing about the concept, then I agree, Microsoft should actually let you install the update you want and to control the computer since it's your computer and not theirs.xboxrulz

[iGuest 3]

You have agreed to Microsoft terms, and it's the same as any other contract you agree to. If you don't like it then don't install it. but if want to use xp or vista and get around these issues then get it. Having knowledge of the OS and not just the GUI side, you can modify the system from hidden programs, hidden windows services, settings, etc, leaving 50 - 75%of the system intact while keeping microft out making you the true administrator of the OS. Think about it. I use linux as my main OS since Windows ME came out and just for the simple fact that I can install and just run ( YES IS STILL MODIFY THE SYSTEM FOR MY ENVIROMENT ) and choose what is need or don't need. I still have xp and vista but both OS'S are modified. Example, my xp is stripped to 326mb and thats with sp2. Vista ultimate is have stripped down to 1.1gb. Currently Microsoft is setting out to launch Vista SP1, Which I will get and test, but only install on a Virtual machine, and then spend about a month or so to explore and understand what changes are being made and what is just a wasted of space, then modify the VSP1 to my liking. That should tell you something if you understand whats makes a computer run. I agree with this discussion what micrsoft is doing wrong, but also wanted to put this info out thier. If you don't know the OS your on then go back to dos or unix from the beggining and learn. the average user only runs windows from what they see, but in reality, they have know clue what makes it tick in the background. P.S. YOU BUY A RADAR DETECTOR TOP OF THE LINE, THEN GET BUSTED FOR A NEW RADAR DETECTION SYSTEM THATS OUT. NOW YOU BOUGHT THE RADAR DETECTOR SO YOU COULD BREAK THE LAW BY SPEEDING, SO WHO ARE YOU PISSED OFF AT. THE COMPANY/RETAILER THAT YOU BOUGHT YOUR PRODUCT FROM OR YOUR SELF FOR NOT KEEPING UP WITH TODAYS TECHKNOWLEDGY THATS OUT THIER. THINK ABOUT IT WITH OS SYSTEMS.-Audiobahn73

[jbitkill 0]

my windows system has updated without my consent. it says the system will restart after 5minutes. so i went to the shop trusting the laptop to stay on. came back and i lost my current page. i know i could have used history but is broke. note. i know it is windows update by the event log in the computer management console in admin toolsxxxx-jozh-xxxx

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

Never had that situation before, then again I will not let it install without my approval. Else I just keep the system not-up-to-date until I feel like updating. At least on my Mac it shows you the extensive rundown of what is being downloaded.xboxrulz

[Doveshire Designs 0]

I just can't believe that anyone in today's society would ever believe that they have ultimate control over any computer. With the internet being what it is, available to everyone in the world --- duh world wide web ------ it is never secure to anyone. Just listen to the large companies that report that hundreds and thousands of their clients or employees or any other groups of information has been hacked by someone -- in the world -- and has been used to steal that information to use in an unlawful way. Why would you believe that MS would let you know what it was doing to all of the contracts that is has with the agreements everyone has just 'agreed to' without reading every word ' and often without reading any words' just to get past that part of the enrollment process of whatever files you want to get toNo matter how much control we think we have --- there is always a way to get beyond that.