Windows Update isn't asking anymore. Even if you configured it to ask you before updating anything on your system, it updates the update mechanism without asking you, and without telling you. There's no telling what exactly the (unavoidable) update mechanism does, either.
So, your computer now belongs to Microsoft: they decide what software runs on your machine, and any notion of control of your own computer has been rendered quaint. In a way, I understand their position: they get all of the blame when viruses and worms exploit known bugs for which people haven't applied their updates. But my sympathy is running out because somebody put all of those bugs in Windows in the first place, and three years after their security audit the bugs keep coming – even in their newest versions.
Now that Microsoft has softened you up to expect that they can (and will) patch your system without your knowledge or permission, there's a great precedent for doing it for other reasons: to repair their DRM when bypassed, to disable your computer when they think your Windows license is invalid, or to start advertising on your desktop. They're going to monetize that big installed base they have, and they will do it any way they can. Just so you know who's in charge: on Windows, it isn't you.
3 comments:
I turned off Windows Update six months ago, and it's been off since then. Theoretically, I haven't gotten any updates since then, which presumably would have included the update to "keep updates silent" that you speak of.
I wonder... is it really off?
According to the news, you've been pwned. If you haven't turned on your machine lately, you might want to block windowsupdate.microsoft.com and windowsupdate.com at your router. It is a criminal organization you're dealing with, after all.
That's a good idea about blocking at the router, but it's probably too late. Oh well, it's just the boys' computer in the basement. I don't care as much about the condition of that computer. The only app I still run on it is Quicken.
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