Vikingod

Source: vnunet
___________
The newsletter editor who uncovered a series of covert downloads in Windows is now claiming that Microsoft's Onecare package is responsible for further unauthorised updates.

Scott Dunn, who publishes the Windows Secrets newsletter, said that the Microsoft security service changes the settings on the Automatic Updates component without warning.

Automatic Updates has an option to prevent patches from automatically installing on a system. This option is typically chosen by users who wish to test patches for compatibility issues before installing.

Tipstaff

Nice blanket response by this guy. Never mind the fact that not everyone that is bitching about this has installed, trialware or not, OneCare in their system.

Look, in Microsoft's defense here, it's not just their f'ing fault. People seem to be overlooking 2 or 3 critical software that almost everyone installs or uses on their system. See, almost all anti spyware, anti virus, or tools of it's ilk (such as registry cleaners, system configurators, tweaking tools, and so fourth) will reset some functions and settings that they deem 'should' be turned on, and some of these settings can include Windows Firewall, UAC, Windows Defender, and even Automatic Updates. Some harmful code, such as viruses, trojans, and so fourth will turn off these things in order to make your system as vulnerable as possible, so that they can spread themselves without being hampered. In the case of anti spyware/virus software, it's part of their function to protect you, and part of that protection (not all of these software, but some, especially ones that refer to themselves as "Internet Security" capable) is making sure that these settings are on, so that you are getting all the necessary critical updates that fix security issues, and that you are fully protected.

I find it surprising that some of these people haven't clued into the fact that it's not just Microsofts $#!7 turning things back on.

__________________