![]() It’s clear that corporate executives have made a deliberate decision to use Automatic Updates to install software that benefits the company, whether or not it helps users or has any relationship to users’ security. That was because Microsoft assured the public that Automatic Updates would only be used to distribute security updates rated as “critical.” Microsoft’s abuse of its security upgrade mechanism to stealthily install Genuine Advantage, in addition to April’s outrageously buggy patches, is inexcusable. I’ve previously said that home users of Windows (as opposed to advanced users) should keep Automatic Updates turned on. After several inquiries seeking comment, a Microsoft spokeswoman told me: “Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with an interview at this time due to lack of spokesperson availability.” The Redmond company is filled with thousands of talented and well-meaning developers, but they don’t drive the corporation’s policy in this area. In the face of the missteps described above, Microsoft has said almost nothing by way of explanation. No responsible company, however, slams its biggest, most legitimate customers with a change of this magnitude with little or no notice other than a press release the day before. No one expects Microsoft to give away its products for free. Microsoft had previously said the tool would be strictly opt-in, but the midnight installs flooded some companies’ help desks with calls from panicked users. I consider the surprise Genuine Advantage downloads to be the most severe blunder. (Microsoft explains in KB 905474 how to disable the warnings until the next update is installed.) It’s impossible to use Add/Remove Programs to remove the GA app, which displays warnings (once per hour after 14 days) if the software considers a copy of Windows to be nonlicensed. Windows Genuine Advantage, a Microsoft program that checks Windows installations for valid licenses, was pushed out as a “critical” security update to the U.S., U.K., Australia, and other countries beginning on Apr.25 so users could install a version that corrects the problems. The security bulletin was re-released on Apr. The problem caused Microsoft Office components and some other apps to freeze when accessing files in My Documents or My Pictures, interfered with Windows Explorer and Send To, and prevented Internet Explorer from visiting typed-in Web addresses unless they were prefixed with http. MS06-015, released on the same Patch Tuesday as MS06-016, conflicted with widely used nVidia video drivers, some HP printer/scanner/CD/DVD software, Kerio Personal Firewall, and some other applications, as described in KB 918165.But Redmond, six weeks later, hasn’t issued a corrected MS06-016 patch to save people from having the problem in the first place. The company describes how to backup, delete, and then import the Address Book to fix OE. 26 and published Knowledge Base article 917288. 11, made it impossible for some users of Microsoft’s free Outlook Express e-mail program to open their Address Books or reply to e-mails. Security bulletin MS06-016, released on Apr.It was apparently inserted into the Automatic Updates mechanism by accident, according to some newsgroup comments, although Microsoft still hasn’t explained the gaffe. Almost no one needed this hotfix, although it seems to have done no harm. 25, two weeks after Redmond’s regular Patch Tuesday distribution. 2005, was downloaded as a “critical” security patch via Automatic Updates on Apr. An obscure hotfix for XP SP2 machines, patch 900485 from Dec.I’m going to use this space today to give you the best advice I’ve been able to pull together.įor those who don’t know the details of what I call Microsoft’s April Fool’s patches, here’s a quick recap, in increasing order of severity: Woody made some very good points, which Microsoft has done nothing to rebut. Reacting to several mistakes Microsoft made in its Automatic Updates downloads in April, Woody railed against Redmond’s patching strategy, saying, “Windows auto-update is for chumps.” I published a Woody Leonhard column as the top story last issue while I was traveling, knowing that he’s opinionated and always gets strong reactions. TOP STORY To auto-update or not to auto-update
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