Microsoft pushes out 'secret' updates
A curious story emerged in the blogosphere this week: ZDnet blogger Adrian Kingsley-Hughes discovered that Microsoft has been pushing out "stealth updates" to users of Windows XP and Vista. That is to say, the company has been changing system files via Windows Update without notifying the user with a notification or permission dialog box. What's more, it was discovered that these updates take place even if Windows Update is set to "manual" or "off".
As you might imagine, this revelation sparked an Internet-wide flame war, with Microsoft haters far and wide decrying the company for what has been seen as a secretive and malicious attempt to tamper with users' systems. But is it really all that bad? Ars Technica got in touch with Microsoft for a little clarification and here's what they said: "The files that are being updated are part of the Windows Update client itself. Windows Update automatically updates itself from time to time to ensure that it is running the most current technology, so that it can check for updates and notify customers that new updates are available. This is normal behavior, and it has worked this way since the service debuted several years ago." So there you have it, folks. The "stealth" updates are merely updates to Windows Update itself, nothing worth crying foul about.
For more on the near fiasco:
- see the ZDnet post that started the fire
- and the Ars Technica story that put it out
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By Buff Oon | Posted 2:31am | May 4, 2008
There is a rumor widely being reported by some in the Security Software Community that Microsoft did not create the "Vista" OS, but that a large group of Virus and Spyware hackers created "Vista" as a highly functional virus similar to an OS that is able to download several types of Adware/Spyware, Trojans, Bots and Worms disguised as a windows update file system.
The highly functional spyware is designed to steal Identities, log surfing, work habits and shopping/purchasing habits and is able to secure even banking and credit card information off the victims.
It has also just been discovered that the malware might also most probably be able to destroy the computers of thier victims covering any traces of hacking or security breaches.
It seems that Microsoft, being the large Multi-level, Multi-product, Multi-tiered Management and Multi-promotional Product Marketing Conglomerate Institution, was under the impression that one of thier departments was tasked with creating a new OS, we now believe to have been "Vista".
This is apparently how this large group of hackers was able to work in the open, using Microsofts sometimes inability to know
who is doing what, when and where and who is in Charge.
The Computer manufacturers who Installed the Virus into thier new computers as an OEM OS were apparently unaware of the Huge ruse pulled on them, being more interested in introducing thier
new line of multi-processor business and industry models as Vista Ready, right along with thier lesser models for the private purchaser markets.
Highly Unlikely?
April U. Full