Microsoft Corp. has started updating files on computers running Windows XP and Vista, even when users have explicitly disabled the operating systems' automatic update feature, researchers said today.
Scott Dunn, an editor at the "Windows Secrets" newsletter, said that nine files in XP and Vista -- but not the same files in each operating system -- have been changed by Windows Update, the Microsoft update mechanism, without displaying the usual notification or permission dialog box. The files, said Dunn, are related to the XP and Vista versions of Windows Update (WU) itself.
"We started hearing from readers that Windows was modifying files in the middle of the night, even when Windows Update was turned off," Dunn said today. Some machines' event logs pinpointed Aug. 24 as the date when the invisible updates began, but on one of Dunn's personal machines, the log showed the changes taking place this week.
Doesnt bother me. Most people run WU in auto mode so its necessary.
And in fact if you disable WU it doesnt automatically download the updates to the service. MS clarified that issue which seems to be yet another attempt at creating a panic and spreading FUD. Bink nu have the MS response on their website.
Those were also my thoughts initially and they still are.
Although I do wish Microsoft would have did something to decrease the resource usage of Automatic Updates because it makes my computer slow during the first two or so minutes immediately after Windows loads.