Is Microsoft Hacking My Computer (?)

Off-topic Chatter
1

Its driving me crazy !

My automatic update settings keep changing without my permission ...

I set it to check for updates but not to download them ...

I just went to shut down my computer and it says to wait or what ever for updates to be installed ..

WHAT THE PARKING LOT !!! I din't install any updates and I did not authorize any updates !!

Has windows become Hackerware !

This is a serious security breach , one that looks to be initiated by Microsoft ...

I paid for windows 8 and I want to run windows 8 and I dont appreciate Microsoft hacking my computer to install nags for Win 8.1 or 10 , or updating behind my back to software I dont want ..

2

10 runs better than 8 or 8.1. It didn’t to begin with but the November update fixed it.

3

The updates were probably committed to install before you changed the settings.
I am watching this carefully though.microsoft seems hell bent to get everyone on 10 whether you want it or not.
Several scripts exist to roll back the undisireable updates. Then if you want to keep 7, 8, ect research all new updates carefully.i now refuse to let xp machines update to anything over my custom install.i think the updates break things intentionallly.
I let one update and winaldl,allen bradley plc software, and johnson controlls hvac pro quit.and caused errors in icom and motorola 2way radio software.
I expect most folks will get screwed with this spyware os called 10

4

Yes I agree ... I think its within the bounds of believable that Microsoft might actively push people to 10 by making older OS versions , not as reliable or stable as before 10 ..

I have noticed something similar with 7 , I like 7 , but it has become flaky as all ... ( was stable and reliable for years - After 10 it has become rubbish )

I am currently testing different flavours of linux ,

Fedora - Ubuntu - and Mint ...

I tried a few others but they were Rubbish ( To me ) ...

Still going to download another half dozen flavours and see how they taste ..

If I find one I like , I will VB and run XP virtually .. ( I have lots of software that only run on XP - radio programming software ) as well helicopter gyro software etc

RE updates :

No , I set it up @ install (OS)... And it just keeps changing on its own ..

I try to avoid KB 2871389 - KB 3008273 like the plague .. In fact I have it written down in front of me on paper so I dont accidentally install either .

I like 8 , it's reliable enough except for the funny business with the update settings ...

Im starting to think anything newer than 7 is NSAware , and quite honestly perhaps no windows product should be trusted as their server software came with back doors going way back ...

I still remember the French Government kicking up a stink about the back doors in their server software ( they dumped Microsoft for Linux )

And when you consider all the Court cases MS has lost over the years for their shady actions , Im surprised they are permitted to trade , and operate a business .

Perhaps ( just perhaps ) they may still be going strong since they provide such an invaluable service to the security services of the USA ... ( Perhaps )

5

There is also a tool that will block the auto update to windows 10, at one point I think microsoft described the auto update as a “bug”. It’s a shame I still have to run windows for some applications but I use them infrequently enough so spend 95% of my time or more in linux (Arch with KDE). The problem with linux is really the user friendliness, many flavors are far better than they used to be but you still run into odd issues here in there with drivers and such. I’m sure you’ll find a distro you like, something with a nice big app base and that plays well with your favorite desktop environment are the key features I look for. Personally I like KDE because I find it’s more straightforward (windows like) and pretty, although a bit heavy so not great for lower powered machines.

6

I believe some updates are mandatory, regardless of your settings. Things like critical security fixes. And yes, I think they abused that feature to install the “update to windows 10” annoyware. But to be honest, the only thing I found better about 8.1 was the touch mode browser which had awesome UI for a tablet. Pretty much everything else has improved with windows 10. The browser got way worse for tablet use though :frowning:

7

As someone who works in the security industry, please leave auto updates on.

It really is needed to prevent you from being “hacked”.

Vulnerabilities are being exploited within hours of being found. That means if you wait a month after an update is published, you have been vulnerable for a month.

Botnets are bad mkay

8

FWIW, we have 5 computers; three running Win 8.1 and two on Win 7. Ot at east they used to. I upgraded one of the 7’s to Windows 10 and ran it a couple of weeks. I did this in December. I fell in love with Win 10.

Then I upgraded my Win 8.1 laptop to Win 10 and I remained in love with Win 10. Now about 6 weeks in I have everything running Win 10 except for the PC that runs 8.1 and is used as a media PC with Windows Media Center. There is no Media center in Win 10 but I am looking at alternatives. As soon as I find one I like the last PC gets upgraded to Win 10.

9

@old4570: Yep, it has been reported from multiple sources that Microsoft is forcibly re-enabling the Windows 10 upgrade switch:

Apart from the ghastly privacy issues created by Windows 10, I share the theory of some technology experts that once Microsoft manages to migrate most of their userbase over to Windows 10, they’ll probably then switch to a yearly/monthly subscription model which will make Windows lock you out of your computer if you don’t pay up to Microsoft. I’m not much of a conspiracy theorist, but Microsoft has a long track record of being ruthless and unpredictable, and pretty much the entire software industry is trying to move away from fixed software licenses to a SAAS (Software-As-A-Service) model. So it’s definitely probable that Windows is eventually going the same way.

10

I’ve read disturbing things about windows 10 and the spyware keylogger/audio recording/web tracking used to ‘improve user experience’ that is hidden in the eula users agree to by installing. Glad I switched to linux over ten years ago. Currently running arch linux. In my opinion the last good windows version was win 2k pro. For times I do need windows I have xp installed to run in virtualbox.

11

So, ‘be secure by accepting microsoft spyware’?

12

GWX Control panel will remove the windows 10 related updates.

http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/

13

I hope this Windows thread does not get taken over by Linux crusaders.

14

as someone who has run Linux on his personal computers, and on many clients servers, since the '90s, I'd like to encourage anyone who enjoys computers to give Linux Mint a try. see: http://linuxmint.com/

15

:neutral_face:

Do you understand how software vulnerabilities work?

16

It does feel like there is a good chance of that, unfortunately. If they go that way I hope there is a massive uproar over it and people just don’t roll over.
They could try to push a windows “app store” as a alternate means of getting continuing money from windows. Having one place to get software updates is really much better anyway.

17

+1

18

Hey everyone, please try to keep the discussion civil. State your opinion but don’t argue.

19

Yes, I do. I ran a variety of windows versions starting in early 1996 with win95 but started building dual processor computers later that year and switched to nt4 and later nt incarnations. Unfortunately security updates have become a method for microsoft to force users to allow spyware to collect information about files stored, programs installed, computer use, websites visited, etc. and relay it to microsoft to use as they choose. No thanks.

20

Absolutely. It’s the best way to go for them, to make more money and keep it coming in on a regular basis.

Sure, Microsoft wants everyone on Windows 10. Sure, they want to control it 100%. (Bill Gates once made the statement that he wanted to make it so every computer could not be opened by the owner, he felt we should not have that right), Sure it will end up being a yearly charge and if you don't, it will shut down your PC, or severely limit it. Sure, for those of you who are knowledgeable, there are other Operating Systems, but for the billions of just plain idiots out there, like me, windows is it.

I went ahead and gave up and went to Windows 10 for good. I don't care any more. So they are watching me? Hell, the NSA is watching, Google is watching, Face book is watching, Twitter is watching, tons of advertising agencies are watching. Who the hell cares. I don't have data that could be stolen. CC# ??, yes, it has already been stolen more than once, but the CC company I have been with for 20+ years alert me every time it has happened and closes my card and sends a new one, no charge to me. Even the Credit check organizations will let you know the second something is bought and you can set the limit to $1 if you want, so you get real time info about all charges. Sure, worse things can happen, but it isn't all just because of Microsoft. Hell, the federal government managed to let my Social Security number be stolen, so someone else could make false IRS forms using my info, but that wasn't because of Microsoft. It's because people like to hurt, lie, cheat and steal and there's no fix for that ever and never will be, so what the hell.

Microsoft is for the unwashed masses like me, who do not want to learn. We just want to do and it needs to be easy and not be a real tiresome learning experience. I did my mandatory learning to get out of HS. I don't want to do it again, especially with some other OS for a PC again, just like millions upon millions of other users. That is what Gates already knows and depends on, the fact that we just want to use it, not master it or understand it.

For Microsoft, mandatory control of updates actually is a good thing. They will have far less complaints, if they can make updates automatic, especially security updates.

Of course, rebels and conspiracy folk will hate it, but hell, they hate everything anyhow. Just something more to get upset about. I hear that more aluminum foil helps that though.