Bah! Humbug! Microsoft's "important" update AGAIN

PhylPho

Despite the fact I've marked KB3035583 as hidden, still it comes along with Windows Updates for my x64 Windows 7, described by Microsoft as an Important update in the listing but then coyly downgraded to 'Recommended Update' in a description which reads:

'Install this update to resolve issues in Windows'.

The vagueness, of course, is deliberate; installing this junk creates, not resolves, issues, dumping as it does on one's computer Microsoft's desperate attempt to get users to switch to Windows 10 -- presumably, part of its drive to develop a client base which it can later profitably exploit by making Windows 10 users pay for future updates of their "free" OS.

I never switch to any Microsoft OS that's current. Run a mile at the prospect of being an 'early adopter' (which, let's face it, actually means 'a Microsoft beta tester: unpaid.) I missed the shambles that was Vista's early days by happily staying with XP, and avoided completely the disaster of Windows 8. Windows 10 I've no interest in so long as Windows 7 continues to work well for me, which it does.

Is anyone aware of any action going on in the States as to Microsoft's behaviour? KB3035583 is not an update to 'resolve issues' but the surreptitious installation of a Windows 10 nagware ad. I used to think Balmer was bad but at least he seemed to have had a moral compass, something his CEO replacement all too plainly lacks.

As for refusing to play ball with Microsoft: is anyone aware of the screwing up of Windows Updates because of the refusal to accept KB3035583? My OS is always set to receive notification of updates but to allow me, not Microsoft, to choose to install 'em. I haven't had any such notifications since shunning the original KB3035583. . .

Johnmcl7

I'd recommend GWX control panel if you haven't already, it's a small piece of software which blocks all the Windows 10 related items but allows you to keep on using normal windows updates.

John

esuhl

Yeah. I noticed that update "magically" appeared. So I hid it yet again!

And I've also noticed that Windows has stopped notifying me when there are updates. Manually running Windows Update and re-checking still works, though.

Grrr!

PhylPho

@ john: Thanks for that great tip. I'd never heard of any 'get windows 10' control panel. I've been to the developer's site, donated a couple of squiddies and installed the software. Excellent stuff: it scanned my computer for traces of Win 10, gave the all-clear, but then said this computer was vulnerable to receiving Microsoft's crappy Win10 trickery. It asked me if I wanted to secure the computer against that, so I checked the box and that's it: job done. Thank you again .

@ esuhl: Ah . . . I was wondering if it was just me, so thanks for sharing your experience. If it is the case that by accident or design, Microsoft has changed a user's settings such that automatic notifications are no longer being given, then the sooner I get around to actually figuring out how to use Linux, the better.

PhylPho

UPDATE re updates:

Further to earlier post -- having now installed john's recommended GWX Control Panel -- I'm suddenly getting Windows Update notifications. It seems, therefore, that defeating Microsoft's attempts to force computer users into Windows 10 results in Microsoft secretly screwing you around as a non-person.

This new Windows Update notification relates to the latest updates batch. A couple of the KBs had me wondering if Microsoft was still at its disgusting tricks so I checked with this website:

http://www.infoworld.com/article/3040069/microsoft-windows/deja-vu-all-over-again-microsoft-reissues-kb-2952664-kb-2976978-kb-2977759.html

There's also some interesting reading here re the latest WU:

http://www.askwoody.com/2016/three-obnoxious-win78-1-updates-return-plus-two-warmed-over-patches-kb-3138612-and-3138615/

My download notification today includes KB3138612. Huh. No surprise there then. I've unchecked it and hidden it. It's getting to the point that you simply cannot trust Microsoft not to piggyback stuff and deliver innocent-seeming payloads that are, in fact, malicious. Maybe it should have a name change to Malwaresoft.

oldwally

Thanks for the above,had anyone else on here been getting multiply versions of KB 2310138,they seem to date since last Aug when I stopped the dreaded KB3035583 ?????????

securityguy

"A couple of the KBs had me wondering if Microsoft was still at its disgusting tricks... you simply cannot trust Microsoft not to piggyback stuff...Maybe it should have a name change to Malwaresoft."

One does have to wonder why people who think a software vendor is untrustworthy and "disgusting" continue to use their products. Other operating systems are available, after all, and although I'd hardly say Apple (OSX) and Oracle (Solaris) are angels, Red Hat don't appear to be too bad these days and there's always GNU/Hurd or Debian if you want that sort of "no bosses, maaan" thing and Joyent (who for practical purposes are the inheritors of the OpenSolaris diaspora) don't appear to have done anything reprehensible lately.

frank777

On my x64 Windows 7 - KB 3035583 is an optional update and not an important update, I wonder why?

And I've also noticed that Windows has stopped notifying me when there are updates

ChiefGrasscutter

securityguy wrote: »

One does have to wonder why people who think a software vendor is untrustworthy and "disgusting" continue to use their products.

Well I run win 7pro
I am quite happy with Win 7pro
I will quite happily continue with win 7 until its supports ends in 2020 and possibly for a little time thereafter (I do still have a win XP computer).
Win 7 is a good OS, works, stable and I have no problems with MS in this respect.

What I and and everyone objects to is the seemingly policy of MS to change the operating system of Win 7 by stealth to win 10 - and this is the important bit: regardless of whether you have old peripherals such as expensive film scanners which do not have win 10 drivers so do not work with win 10.

I like many others now block all MS Win7 product updates and only let though the security related ones.

It is also of interest that MS is not foistering this upgrade by stealth policy on the corporate users of Win7 Enterprise edition.....no no no no no, MS are not so stupid as to foist such a things on the big multinational corporate user of Win 7.