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XP/Vista Stealth Updated by Microsoft Without User Consent

XP/Vista Stealth Updated by Microsoft Without User Consent

by , 4:15 PM EDT, September 13th, 2007

This week, some Windows users have noted that, even though they had the Auto-update option turned off, Microsoft accessed their system and made modifications, according to Windows Secrets on Thursday.

"It's surprising that these files can be changed without the user's knowledge. The Automatic Updates dialog box in the Control Panel can be set to prevent updates from being installed automatically. However, with Microsoft's latest stealth move, updates to the WU executables seem to be installed regardless of the settings — without notifying users," Scott Dunn reported.

This isn't the first time this has happened, but previously when Microsoft updated svchost.exe, the Windows Update site notified user that the software needed to be installed. This time, it happend without notice.

The author noted, "These files are by no means viruses, and Microsoft appears to have no malicious intent in patching them. However, writing files to a user's PC without notice (when auto-updating has been turned off) is behavior that's usually associated with hacker Web sites. The question being raised in discussion forums is, 'Why is Microsoft operating in this way?' "

In Microsoft's defense, the updates appear to be to the update system itself. If the updates were not installed, no further updates could be activated when the user turned on the Auto-update option. However, many corporate and government sites insist that no changes be made to their installations without prior testing by them. Microsoft could have notified the users that the update to the update system was mandatory, but let the IT Managers decide whther or not to proceed.

Microsoft, apparently, elected not to do that.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:gopher Posts: 291 Joined: 28 Mar 2002
Subject: OUCH!

Glad I don't have Vista. The whole thing about testing is very telling. As a frequent contributer to Apple Discussions, I can tell you how much every security update and software update has people who say "this update" killed my first born! Microsoft at least should not update systems that haven't had the Backup software run on them. Because if an update fails or a third party application hasn't been tested with the update, you could have a non-functioning system. Having Microsoft apply updates automatically without warning, leaves the user no time to backup before their updates to avoid problems. This is a recipe for a huge disaster!

Close Name:Guest
Subject: And just who ...

... is surprised by this behaviour on MS's part. After, they constantly claim that they know better than you what you need.

M$ new motto: <i>All your base are belong to us.</i>

Close Name:chicknfood Posts: 15 Joined: 13 May 2004
Subject: micro-hard

Moreover, what if a malicious or disgruntled MS employee wanted to cause havoc. Computers flying planes would turn off, bots nets would ravage the internet at the automatic download of a bad program or update.

Yes Armageddon is coming, so don't forget to "save" your computer.

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Quote
chicknfood wrote:
Moreover, what if a malicious or disgruntled MS employee wanted to cause havoc. (snip)


But this also proves that there is a backdoor to your PC that someone can exploit, no mater what your "security" settings are.

Close Name:coaten Posts: 3071 Joined: 10 Oct 2001
Subject:

This happened to me last week. After booting into Windows, the machine restarted itself and, after reboot, told me an update had forced the restart. "Hmm,' I thought, 'how typically Microsoft, the bastards'.

Then the fun started. The update had corrupted or removed the driver for the Mac's optical drive. XP's help system advised me of this and then suggested I insert an installer disc to fix the problem. If the irony hasn't struck you yet, sink another coffee and read that last sentence again.

Ah well, no big deal, I was kinda ready for this. I only boot into Windows to play games. No important work would be lost. Except, of course, I'd have a good reason to play the C&C3 campaign again. Again.

So I used Boot Camp to delete the Windows partition. Then I tried creating a new partition - except I couldn't, because my Mac's drive had files that "couldn't be moved" to make way for a partition.

Which meant that I needed to defrag my Mac's drive. As it turns out, this was the only good thing to come out of this exercise. But this required the purchase of iDefrag.

So, that stealth upgrade knocked out my (Windows) optical drive driver, caused a day of downtime and cost me US$20, not to mention a truckload of frustration.

So, thankyou Redmond. Perhaps you could reveal the name of the person who authorised the execution of the stealth upgrade. I have a blunt weapon with his/her name on it.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Microsoft Rocks!

All U h8rs out there with ur sweet Macs don't know how lucky we R that Microsoft still exists. What would IT departments do all day if Windows worked as advertised?
U think not having an optical drive is funny, how about this, the update put my computer 2 sleep and I couldn't wake it up, from the reboot, straight to sleep. It said please hit any key or move mouse. My keyboard doesn't have an "any" key!

Close Name:coaten Posts: 3071 Joined: 10 Oct 2001
Subject:

That's funny. LOL

Quote
Guest wrote:
All U h8rs out there with ur sweet Macs don't know how lucky we R that Microsoft still exists. What would IT departments do all day if Windows worked as advertised?
U think not having an optical drive is funny, how about this, the update put my computer 2 sleep and I couldn't wake it up, from the reboot, straight to sleep. It said please hit any key or move mouse. My keyboard doesn't have an &quot;any&quot; key!

Close Name:tiny_defensor Posts: 10 Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Subject: XP/Vista stealth upgrade

Would this explain why, despite the years it has been out on the market, XP continues to have a procession of 'security holes' being patched?

Is this why virii will always and forever be a problem on Windows?

Because Microsoft themselves maintain what looks to me like a de-facto 'backdoor'?

Sounds veddy veddy Orvvelian. Hmmm.

Close Name:apex Posts: 63 Joined: 23 Jun 2001
Subject: Happened to me to

I had XP running in Parallels, in the background. It had a few documents open, but I was working on something else in OS X.
When I switched back over to XP there was a window saying "A security update required your computer to be restarted" or something like that. No prompts or warnings saying the update was ready. I have auto-update turned off also. My XP docs had been closed, but I'm not sure if they were saved. All I could say was "Freakin' typical".

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: Double ouch!

I once worked for the US government--well, I BELONGED to the US government, as I was on active duty with the US Air Force for 22 years. This would cause a Department of Defense (DoD) IT manager to have a stroke, followed by a heart attack. If she/he survived, she/he might decide that the old "gentleman's" way out would be preferable to facing the wrath of senior leaders: "You let the computers do WHAT?"

Close Name:burrito Posts: 177 Joined: 07 Aug 2005
Subject:

what i want to know is, how does microsoft do it? do they probe your machine, or does your machine constantly dial home? i know vista does, but i didn't think XP did after inital activation. what ports do they use, and can it be blocked by a conventional firewall?

Close Name:yakirz Posts: 457 Joined: 22 Nov 2002
Subject: Considering

one of Apple's firmware updates may have killed my Superdrive (since sent to Apple and repaired), at least I had the OPTION of whether to install it or not (I'd think Apple wouldn't give me wrong advice on that, but oh well).

If it were M$, it would've been installed whether or not I agreed... at least now when Software Update tells me I have a firmware update, I'm going to look very carefully before clicking Accept.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: If you read the Vista EULA...

it may have been done without their explicit consent, but it was not done "without consent" either. The Microsoft EULA specifically says that Microsoft retains the right to change your software at any time without notice. When they clicked on "I Agree", they gave "consent".

Close Name:Guest
Subject: The easy solution...

Is to turn off any and all networking in your Windows VM.

I will be getting a new MacBook Pro this winter, and a copy of Fusion so I can run MATLAB and SPSS which I will need for a class in data analysis I will be teaching at my university.

When I set up Winblows in Fusion so I can run those apps, I am specifically going to neuter XP so that it can't access any networking functions at all.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Consent

The legality of any EULA is suspect at best. I know ... lets the lawyers and courts decide... but that is expensive.

However, if a company or organization lost millions of $$$ (or even say $500,000) they may find its cheaper to go to court for some sort of remidy.

When a software company sells software the buy is now the owner. He, she or it has the right to use that software as they see fit. I would even say the owner can modify the software as the owner sees fit. The owner has a few rights, but it seems nobody ever remembers this...

Certainly the software vendor has an obligation to correct errors in their software's operation .. or update new features, security, etc.. as needed, but

maybe its time people started thinging about rights of ownership?

Electronics manufacturers have a right to change/improve/modify their products as needed.. but they dont come to your home and change things already in place - unannouced and without consent.

So, no they do not have the right. And you have the right to modify your purchased software to preven this questionable (and potentially harmful) activity.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: EULA/Consent//Rights

Maybe property rights would be a good tactic in this little war. It seems a sort of trespass on Microsoft's part. So, what we end-users need is an electronic trespass law. If we can't get the bureaucrats to generate one - then we need someone to make a software program that notifies anyone invading/accessing our cyberspace/computer properties that they will be subject to trespass and will be tried in a local court of law (the jurisdiction of our choosing) if they continue to further trespass. Perhaps we need to start seeing cyberspace as being governed by similar property law. Cybersphere property laws. Adios.

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