Windows Updates Secret Updates Concern

I am indebted to the excellent Windows Secrets website for news of an alarming development last August involving Windows XP and Vista silently installing executable files, even though users had disabled automatic updates. So fare nine files have been identified, there may be more, and whilst the files appear to be benign it does raise the very serious question about Microsoft loading programs on PCs without users knowledge or permission.

The file downloads occur when users select the ‘Let me choose when to install or notify me but don’t automatically download or install’ option in Security Centre. The revelation appears to have embarrassed Microsoft into issuing an explanation and guarded apology, which basically says that whilst deselecting Automatic Updates does indeed stop any new updates, it doesn’t stop Windows Update updating itself.

If you want to stop all updates and shenanigans like this from happening again then in XP you need to go to Start Control Panel > Security Centre, click the Automatic Updates link and select ‘Turn off Automatic Updates’. In Vista open Control Panel then Windows Updates’ under System and Maintenance, click Change Settings and select ‘Never Check for Updates (not recommended)’, then Continue. Windows will bug you to switch it back on again so right-click on the red shield in the System Tray, launch Security Centre and select ‘Change the Way Security Centre Alerts me’ and uncheck Automatic Updates.

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