Unacceptable updating practice

[ScouseBoy]

When I got this computer new about two years ago   I opted not to get  updates from microsoft.    I notice no  problems in  not getting updates over that period of  time.

Most people don't notice the floods of spam emanating from their compromised computer until they start getting letters from their ISP.

            Can you please explain   what  Microsoft   updates     do  to prevent computers getting "compromised?

[Nick29]

When I got this computer new about two years ago   I opted not to get  updates from microsoft.    I notice no  problems in  not getting updates over that period of  time.

Most people don't notice the floods of spam emanating from their compromised computer until they start getting letters from their ISP.

            Can you please explain   what  Microsoft   updates     do  to prevent computers getting "compromised?

Certainly.   The 'critical' updates which Microsoft send out are patches to parts of the Windows programs.  There are lots of evil people out there trying to gain access to people's (and company's and government's) PCs in order to gain access to bank account details and other personal stuff.  Today's internet browsers are now very complex programs which themselves can execute computer code, and it's possible by executing this code inside a browser to create a 'back door' into a computer. 

When Microsoft are notified of these vulnerabilities, they re-write or patch the computer code for some of the programs that make up Windows, and these are the critical updates.   If you choose not to install these updates, then your computer remains vulnerable to these hackers' exploits.  Please bear in mind that in these days of high-speed broadband, a lot of data can flow in and out of your computer, right under your nose, and you will be completely unaware that it is happening.

[jc26red]

Whatever the update yesterday was, it must have been important, I haven't checked.

I've got this pc set to "tell me there when an update is waiting and I'll choose when to update" , well it waited a few hours then went ahead and updated itself without my acknowledgement.  It did give me the little box to delay restart though.  Perhaps you missed the box appearing if you were engrossed in what you were doing, somehow managing to hide it under your browser window. Can easily happen if you have several windows open.

[Nick29]

There were 2 critical updates on 11/10/2011 - one was for IE9, and the other one was to solve a vulnerability issue in the .NET framework.

[pjbuk007]

Have just read the whole thread. Because I am waiting for a skype from far far away and a bit bored.

People who set up their computers to NOT receive (MS) updates are making themselves very vulnerable, but, worse, are jeopardizing all the rest of us. If you have a Windows operating system PC you can easily find (just GIYF) information as to how your, yes YOUR PC, can easily be taken over and used as a spambot. And many other bad things can happen - email accounts compromised, keyloggers installed, loads of other Bad Things. It is the huge numbers of naive windows users which make this operating system so vulnerable.

So, please, update your windows OS and RTFM. (GIYF)

Even my 85 year old Mum knows better than some of the posters on this thread!

[Gadget]

Hi

I think you have misunderstood what many posters have said. It's not that we don't update, it's that we update regularly but when it's convenient for us not to Microsoft. Microsoft do give you this option.


gnu 

[ScouseBoy]

Have just read the whole thread. Because I am waiting for a skype from far far away and a bit bored.

People who set up their computers to NOT receive (MS) updates are making themselves very vulnerable, but, worse, are jeopardizing all the rest of us. If you have a Windows operating system PC you can easily find (just GIYF) information as to how your, yes YOUR PC, can easily be taken over and used as a spambot. And many other bad things can happen - email accounts compromised, keyloggers installed, loads of other Bad Things. It is the huge numbers of naive windows users which make this operating system so vulnerable.

So, please, update your windows OS and RTFM. (GIYF)

Even my 85 year old Mum knows better than some of the posters on this thread!

                   Microsoft  make their operating system too  complicated.   It should not need so many updates.
                 

[Bilge]

Microsoft should research their product properly before releasing it upon it's vunerable customers.

pjbuk007 not all users are techno geeks.
Some of us have trouble switching the things on. We were sold the product as being friendly to all abilities of user!..........Not the case!

[Braindead]

I can't say I've ever had Microsoft update my computer and restart without telling me - if it needs a restart, I always get a message asking me if it's OK or would I like to delay the restart. My update settings are standard as far as I can tell.

As to Microsoft testing their products before release, yes they should, but they can't anticipate how future threats outside their control will develop and many updates are a response to new issues.