Unauthorised Windows updates put Microsoft in hot water

Tech News

By Stevie Smith Sep 14, 2007, 12:50 GMT

Redmond-based Microsoft Corporation has this week revealed that it will take a step back and re-evaluate how it issues specific updates to its Windows operating systems following news that fixes were being installed on users’ systems without their prior knowledge or consent.The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that yesterday’s edition of the ‘Windows Secrets’ newsletter has shone the spotlight of concern on Microsoft’s update methods while also questioning the potential ramifications of such conduct when it bypasses a feature allowing users to decide what does and does not run through their operating system."If Microsoft can change things on your PC, after you've set it up to only take changes when you want them, that gives people a lot of fear for what might happen to their PCs," commented Brian Livingston, the editorial director of Windows Secrets, concerning Microsoft’s borderline ‘hacker’ behaviour.By way of response, Microsoft has conceded that it is investigating alternative approaches that ensure the whole update process remains completely transparent to the user, offering that the software giant: "should have been clearer in our explanation of this process earlier in the game." That said, it has also said that this week’s events regarding silent updates are somewhat of a unique and exceptional situation.The unique situation in question revolves around the Update function found on Windows operating systems, which automatically checks the Microsoft Web site for necessary updates, fixes, patches, etc, and then (depending on user preference) either downloads and installs them instantly or gives the user the option of selecting whether or not they want to accept the recommended files. Microsoft’s aim to improve process transparency has arisen because certain updates were found to be installing themselves automatically even when the user had preset the Update feature to manual selection for improved levels of download control.Furthermore, Microsoft’s claims that the silent updates are a one-off incident perhaps holds water considering that the installed alterations were actually delivered to the Update feature itself and were crucial to ensure the receipt of any further upgrades. "Had we failed to update the service automatically, users would not have been able to successfully check for updates and, in turn, users would not have had updates installed automatically or received expected notifications," outlined Nate Clinton, Windows Update program manager, in an online explanation.

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