TheBackShed.com

Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : MSFT : Windows Update : More Trickery !

Author

Message

G8JCF

Guru

Joined: 15/05/2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 676

Posted: 04:53am 16 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Hi

I just received 2 proposed "important" Windows Updates

KB2952664 and KB2990214.

As per last time, the explanation for what these are is vague, but again appears to be a way for MSFT to enable in place upgrading of Windows 7/8 to a later version.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2607794/microsoft-windows/microsoft-confuses-windows-7-users-with-sudden-release-of-kb- 2952664.html

and

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2909525/security/re-issued-patch-kb-3013769-crashes-skype-for-business-rolls-win10-nagw are-kb-2990214-resurfaces.html

MSFT still haven't learn't to stop abusing the automatic updates channel.

I would strongly recommend that you set your Automatic Updates to Download, but Ask to Install - that way you can check what is going on before they break your computer/feature.

At this rate, I'm sorely tempted to join the ranks of the LINUX brigade

Peter

The only Konstant is Change

MicroBlocks

Guru

Joined: 12/05/2012
Location: Thailand
Posts: 2209

Posted: 05:26am 16 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

You mean like this. :)
I guess every OS has its problems.
At least with windows they get scrutinized by infoworld (apple fan boys).
I just set it to download only and decide which ones i want.
My biggest update problem is 'google chrome', which is making itself more unuseful with every update.

Those automatic updates are for people who do not have a clue how computers work ( i would guess 90%) to stay at least a bit protected against security threats.
For people who know a little more, well don't do the automatic updates.
That is true for every OS, especially ones on a server.

Microblocks. Build with logic.

G8JCF

Guru

Joined: 15/05/2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 676

Posted: 06:42am 16 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Hi @TZ

Apples and Oranges IMHO, the link you gave is about technical problems, whereas MSFT is abusing (imho) the update channel for Marketing and Sales reasons in these instances. One can excuse MSFT for genuine technical screw-ups - nobody is perfect - but when they result from a commercially driven perspective rather than from an attempt to genuinely benefit their customers, then MSFT deserve all the approbation/mis-trust which such actions generate. (I know marketing/sales people can make anything sound like they are only trying to benefit the customer without any concern for their own bottom line - but we can smell the BS/deception - as did FTDI when they protested that they were merely protecting their customers' investment in Genuine FTDI products by preventing their customers from using dodgy cloned products !!!)

Peter

The only Konstant is Change

BobD

Guru

Joined: 07/12/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 935

Posted: 08:33am 16 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

KB2952664 and KB2990214 don't apply to me as I only have Win 8.1. KB3013769 is on offer but I've been ignoring it and soon it will go into the Hidden file.

My main concern is Office 2013. The updates this month were 1300 megabytes approximately. I'm wondering if MS is trying to push us to the subscription Office 365.

Grogster

Admin Group

Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9593

Posted: 02:39pm 16 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

I also have KB3013769 sitting here in limbo, and also KB3013816 - not sure what that one is about, but it too, is in limbo.

I have to agree with all that Peter wrote. While it is fine to use Windoze Update channel to actually update security issues - and they do - it is a bit different, when they start releasing "Updates" that prepare the OS for reception of the next OS without even asking if the user WANTS to upgrade to the new OS. That, and perhaps preparing the OS for upgrade to new products and services, for which the user must then pay to access - although the user does not actually know that yet - this is not really very nice behaviour.

Again, this is why pretty much all tech-savvy people have Automatic Updates set to download only(but you decide if you want to install any downloaded updates), or have updates disabled totally.

I guess it also does depend on how security concious you are on the web too. I have had more then one job fixing machines FULL of bots, spam-ware and various other viruses, cos the user is a high-bandwidth connoisseur of various porn sites....

Normally, these nasties get in with pop-ups on those kinds of sites along the lines of: "Install me, and I will download all the free porn you could ever want." Following their lust, they install it, and it is actually more often then not, a package of various viruses and other nasties. The machine is usually easier to totally wipe and re-install by the time I get them, then trying to clean the breeding ground for viruses that this machine usually is by the time they send it to me.

...but I digress...

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

G8JCF

Guru

Joined: 15/05/2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 676

Posted: 02:57pm 16 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

@G

I see you've been around the block on this kind of thing a few times

It's a trust thing for me. It takes a lot (years) to build up a good reputation, but seconds to lose it. For example, I used to really feel that FTDI were a really great company (and they're from Scotland to boot as well), with great innovative products, but that one trick with the Driver Update has put them into the "Treat With Great Caution" category, All Shields up etc.

MSFT has never been "lovable", "cuddly" etc, but I did trust them to the extent that they cared about what the world (their customers) thought about them, but maybe as they look into the abyss of falling revenues/market share, the ruthless underbelly is starting to come out/become visible, and they are starting to care much more about survival (short-time) rather than customer satisfaction (which if they forget about will eventually desert them and then it won't matter - look at Compaq, DEC, PRIME, WANG, Boroughs, Data General, CDC, Motorola, Polaroid etc etc - how many once great names are now just brand names used by the highest buyer ? Here in the UK Polaroid branded products are actually the own-brand products of a supermarket called ASDA (part of WalMart))

"Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Peace" as "someone" once said !

Peter

The only Konstant is Change

hitsware
Guru

Joined: 23/11/2012
Location: United States
Posts: 535

Posted: 04:25pm 17 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

http://www.maketecheasier.com/fix-ubuntu-update-errors/ > http://www.maketecheasier.com/fix-ubuntu-update-errors/

The trick for me with Linux are small distros ...
Ubuntu is way worse than Microsoft for invasion ..
But say "Puppy Linux" ??

Try " Porteus " for a good time

Edited by hitsware 2015-04-19

Grogster

Admin Group

Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9593

Posted: 09:16pm 17 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

hitsware said The trick for me with Linux are small distros ...
Ubuntu is way worse than Microsoft for invasion ..
But say "Puppy Linux" ??

Try " Porteus " for a good time

Yes, indeed. Ubuntu is a monster these days. Fantastic if you WANT all that stuff, but if you want a lean, mean Linux system, then Ubuntu is not for you, IMHO.

I have dabbled in Puppy Linux, and I really like it. I keep going back to it every few years to try out the latest distro.

By Porteus, I assume you mean this?

Had not heard of Porteus, so having a look at it now.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

hitsware
Guru

Joined: 23/11/2012
Location: United States
Posts: 535

Posted: 05:48am 18 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Yep ......... That's it ..

The only thing that drove me back
(temporarily anyways) to Windows
was that I could not get any Linux
I tried to handle the printer right.

Grogster

Admin Group

Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9593

Posted: 07:35pm 18 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Printer support was always a turn-off with Linux of old.
I thought that would have been fixed by now.

I suppose there are many printers out there, and new ones coming on the market all the time, and all support Windoze, but many probably do not have any Linux drivers.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

BobD

Guru

Joined: 07/12/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 935

Posted: 01:02am 21 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Here is an article on the offending Windows KB updates and the upgrade to Win 10.
http://www.zdnet.com/article/get-windows-10-microsofts-hidden-roadmap-for-the-biggest-software-upgrade-in-history/

geraldfryjr

Regular Member

Joined: 02/03/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 61

Posted: 06:54am 22 Apr 2015

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

I have been nearly 100% free from MS for several months now.
All of the development software I use works just fine in Linux and under WINE in Linux as well.

MPLABX, ARM C GNU, Code Block's, Eclipse, MPIDE, Circuitmaker, Kicad, LTSpice and more!!

The only program that I really like that doesn't work is Irfanview, other than that the photo editors I do have are great and I just had to learn to use them is all.
I even learned how to make videos using Handbreak in linux before I did using windows stuff.

I use Ulitmate Edition Linux 4.2 for MATE desktop environment or UE4.3 for a windows like KDE desktop environment.
When I want to mess with my sound and MIDI music equipment Ubuntu Studio 14.10 has absolutely every thing I need already installed and ready to go.

I just got everything all backed up for when Win10 does come out and I might keep it around for that just in case program that might pop up, else I still faithfully use and stick by XP64 when I need it.

Cheers !!!

jer

cheers

Keep on DIYin' !!!

Print this page

To reply to this topic, you need to log in.