Examining Microsoft Update

eggsovereasy writes "The Inquirer is reporting that a group in Germany has deciphered the information sent to Microsoft during an update using Windows Update and says that information on all software installed on your computer is sent, even that which is not Microsoft's own software." The original article is, unfortunately, pay-per-view. Update: 02/26 18:19 GMT by T : ionyka points to this "related article from ITWorld that deals with Microsoft's transferring of information through Windows Media Player. When you open up Media Player it sends information back to Microsoft like what movies you play, what songs you listen to and where they come from."

Comments

Re:/Tin Foil Hat Off

[rabtech]

quote: "But why must this be done on the server, and collected at Microsoft? Can't the client download a list of what MS has for updates, and decide what the local system has?"

Were you born stupid? The list of patches that Microsoft must have is HUGE. They have patches for Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP. Thousands of pieces of hardware... tons of bug fixes, security patches, and hotfixes.

So you want everyone to sit there and wait 10 days while Windows Update downloads the ENTIRE list? Bzzzzzzt! Wrong answer... the most efficient method is to have it send a list of what you have to the server, which can then check it against the database and send only the relevant information.

Re:Complete Breach of Trust

[terraformer]

How about a breech of their settlement with the federal government? They are not allowed to have any undocumented APIs in their Windows and Office products. Not that the Resident in Thief and his trusty sidekick AG AssCrack will do anything about it mind you...

Re:Surprise, surprise...

[Yort]

Fast. Easy computing. That's why I pay for my software..

Riiiiiight. WindowsXP (and maybe Win2000) is the first time Windows FINALLY got some of this stuff working. Have you ever tried to find a driver for your system with Win95/98/ME? Holy crap is it stupid. I mean, come on - Windows couldn't even find the driver that was on THE SAME FREAKING DISC that the OS was installed from?

I'm sorry, but I've worked with Windows too much to buy that it's "fast, easy computing." It's only fast and easy for those who have people like me fix their problems for them...

Troy

Got Privacy?

[PhxBlue]

Call this flamebait if you want to; but if you like your privacy, your best option is not to run Windows in the first place. Granted, MS' behavior here is sleazy. . . but that's nothing new from Microsoft. And if Microsoft can't get to your data, someone else can probably get to it through one of Microsoft's myriad security holes.

This is kinda a non-issue. Yeah, it's despicable; but it's kinda like a weatherman saying there's a 100% chance of rain while it's pouring out, and you mutter to yourself, "You don't say. . !"

Re:How does this differ from RH Update?

[Oliver Defacszio]

Oh, you fanboys give me a headache. The ONLY reason why you (and I mean YOU, not one) can trust Red Hat is because nobody uses linux. On that cold day in hell when any of the OSS vendors actually does anything businesswise, this type of tracking will become equally common, albeit suddenly acceptable by the Slashdot sheep. Why? ALL businesses of any consequence are looking out for number one exclusively and you are just a dollar sign. Is it a spectacular reality? No, but that's how the western world works.

Microsoft does this because it can and probably feels that it must to stay on top. If a few users get mad and leave but the overall market share stays high because a higher percentage of users are pleased with a 'one-click' Windows update, fine. It's a cost-benefit balance. Red Hat, on the other hand, can't afford the loss of even one doughy geek and is in the unfortunate spot of pandering to malcontented weirdos like the Slashdolts. Look at it this way: if you fart in bed, everyone knows who did it and now there's hell to pay. Fart in a football stadium and, sure maybe some people leave or throw things at you, but hey, you just farted in a football stadium. Benefit beats cost again.