New info on stealth updates

I have composed a webpage with all the info I have so far, and I'll be
adding to it as I learn more.

http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/wu.html

There is no KB number to reference, and if you look at the event viewer
entries they leave when they update, they are referred to as 'Automatic
Updates'. I don't think MS could have made this more vague and
uninformative than they already have. The link below shows screenshots
of the event viewer entries:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=779

MS ****ed off alot of people by invading their privacy installing these
updates without notice, plus have raised serious security concerns about
both XP and Vista. Bad move on their part!

--
Priceless quotes in m.p.w.vista.general group:
http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/kick.html

"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett

The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly Known as Nina DiBoy' wrote:

> MS ****ed off alot of people by invading their privacy installing these
> updates without notice, plus have raised serious security concerns about
> both XP and Vista. Bad move on their part!

find at sysinternals
process monitor
file monitor

Will may help give you a deeper insight of what
is going on, and they work on both Vista and XP.

I'd also consider an active packet monitor in
the pathways to see who/what shakes what/where.

NT Canuck
'Seek and ye shall find'

From: http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/wu.html

>> If you have a machine which has not been updated yet with the stealth updates, and AU
>> is turned off, then you turn AU on, those files will be updated without notification to
>> the user before the bubble pops up from the systray stating updates are available.

The above is not correct. There's confusion over the AU|WU settings via
the applet in Control Panel and the SERVICE.
If one disables AU|WU via the CP applet and the Service has NOT been
disabled, then the system *will* update the files required to download
and install updates. Said files are known as the Windows Update
Agent/Client and are system files.
In fact, the EULA for XP, which few can wade through since it's so long,
specifically states that MS *will* update system files when MS deems it
necessary.
Does that make this acceptable ?
NO !

So, if one wants to disable *ALL* updating, then disable the Automatic
Update Service in XP, the Windows Update Service in Vista.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/blog...showentry=1166

Could Microsoft have done a better job communicating the fact that the
Windows Update Agent/Client was about to be updated ?
ABSOLUTELY !
Did this escapade lower User Trust in Microsoft's updates ?
ABSOLUTELY !

Now it's up to MS to regain said Trust. Your move, MS.
COMMUNICATE your updates, as you did in late May, to the WUA and Trust
can be rebuilt.
Remain silent on such updates and Users all over the World will be
turning off Automatic Updates.
It's not really rocket science, is it ? <w>


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============



The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly Known as Nina DiBoy'
wrote:

> I have composed a webpage with all the info I have so far, and I'll be
> adding to it as I learn more.
>
> http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/wu.html
>
> There is no KB number to reference, and if you look at the event viewer
> entries they leave when they update, they are referred to as 'Automatic
> Updates'. I don't think MS could have made this more vague and
> uninformative than they already have. The link below shows screenshots
> of the event viewer entries:
>
> http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=779
>
> MS ****ed off alot of people by invading their privacy installing these
> updates without notice, plus have raised serious security concerns about
> both XP and Vista. Bad move on their part!
>

CORRECTION: > If one disables AU|WU via the CP applet and the Service
has NOT been disabled, then
> the system *will* update the files required to download and install updates.

IF one chooses to set the Automatic Updates *options* to " Turn off
Automatic Updates " than the Windows Update Agent/Client will *never* be
updated. I just tested this on a VPC installation of XP Pro that had not
been booted since April.
The ONLY way that the WUA will be installed is when AU's options are
either " Notify me ", " Download updates for me, BUT ... ", or Automatic.
All THREE of the above options will install the latest V. of WUA without
ANY User interaction.

MowGreen [MVP] wrote:

> From: http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/wu.html
>
>>> If you have a machine which has not been updated yet with the stealth
>>> updates, and AU is turned off, then you turn AU on, those files will
>>> be updated without notification to the user before the bubble pops up
>>> from the systray stating updates are available.
>
>
> The above is *correct*. There's confusion over the AU|WU settings via
> the applet in Control Panel and the SERVICE.
> If one disables AU|WU via the CP applet and the Service has NOT been
> disabled, then the system *will* not update the files required to download
> and install updates. Said files are known as the Windows Update
> Agent/Client and are system files.
> In fact, the EULA for XP, which few can wade through since it's so long,
> specifically states that MS *will* update system files when MS deems it
> necessary.
> Does that make this acceptable ?
> NO !
>
>
> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/blog...showentry=1166
>
> Could Microsoft have done a better job communicating the fact that the
> Windows Update Agent/Client was about to be updated ?
> ABSOLUTELY !
> Did this escapade lower User Trust in Microsoft's updates ?
> ABSOLUTELY !
>
> Now it's up to MS to regain said Trust. Your move, MS.
> COMMUNICATE your updates, as you did in late May, to the WUA and Trust
> can be rebuilt.
> Remain silent on such updates and Users all over the World will be
> turning off Automatic Updates.
> It's not really rocket science, is it ? <w>
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
>
> The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly Known as Nina DiBoy'
> wrote:
>
>> I have composed a webpage with all the info I have so far, and I'll be
>> adding to it as I learn more.
>>
>> http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/wu.html
>>
>> There is no KB number to reference, and if you look at the event
>> viewer entries they leave when they update, they are referred to as
>> 'Automatic Updates'. I don't think MS could have made this more vague
>> and uninformative than they already have. The link below shows
>> screenshots of the event viewer entries:
>>
>> http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=779
>>
>> MS ****ed off alot of people by invading their privacy installing
>> these updates without notice, plus have raised serious security
>> concerns about both XP and Vista. Bad move on their part!
>>