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Microsoft Forces Desktop Search On Windows Update

Posted by kdawson on from the what-part-of-no dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Register is reporting that the blogosphere is alight with accusations of Microsoft forcing Windows Desktop Search on networks via the 'automatic install' feature of Windows Update — even if they had configured their systems not to use the program. Once installed, the search program began diligently indexing C drives and entire networks slowed to a crawl."

2 of 579 comments (clear)

  1. Re:No Conspiracy Theories by mattpalmer1086 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Fabulous - my first Troll mod :) I actually felt I was making a serious point, although I guess I put it rather briefly.

    People don't have a realistic alternative to Windows yet. It's not just a technology issue either. Microsoft only improve products when they face competition, and ensuring they don't have to do that is one of their principal business strategies.

    Since Microsoft is (a) in the game of making money, (b) has a monopoly position in the market place and (c) continues to shut out competitors, then I contend that Microsoft don't care whether they piss off their users or not, and never really did care, except in those areas in which they are yet to dominate.

    Pleasing users is not Microsoft's game. That's what their competitors have to do.

  2. Re:Enough with the stealth auto-"updates" dammit! by mysticgoat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Fuck the Storm botnet. We have bigger problems with a piece of malware called "Windows Update".

    There is a fix for the "Windows Update" problem. If universally applied, it will also fix the Storm Worm.

    You know what it is.