Microsoft Suspending "Patch Tuesday" Emails

New submitter outofluck70 (1734164) writes Got an email today from Microsoft, text is below. [Note: text here edited for formatting and brevity; see the full text at seclists.org.] They are no longer going to send out emails regarding patches, you have to use RSS or keep visiting their security sites. They blame "governmental policies" as the reason. What could the real reason be? Anybody in the know? From the email: "Notice to IT professionals: As of July 1, 2014, due to changing governmental policies concerning the issuance of automated electronic messaging, Microsoft is suspending the use of email notifications that announce the following: Security bulletin advance notifications; Security bulletin summaries; New security advisories and bulletins; Major and minor revisions to security advisories and bulletins. In lieu of email notifications, you can subscribe to one or more of the RSS feeds described on the Security TechCenter website." WindowsIT Pro blames Canada's new anti-spam law.

Comments

It looks like a response to anti spam laws

[Karmashock]

I don't know why subscribe and unsubscribe would not satisfy those laws but apparently MS is convinced they don't... so...

Re:It looks like a response to anti spam laws

[Karmashock]

contextually that doesn't make sense because they're not recalling patches or changing patches but merely informing people ABOUT patches differently.

Previously you could put yourself on a mass email list for patches.

MS is saying they're not doing that anymore.

But they will retain an RSS feed for the same patches.

Therefore, this appears to be a response to anti spam legislation/rules.

Re:It looks like a response to anti spam laws

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft doesn't have 'unsubscribe'. They link to a profile page that doesn't really have unsubscribe options. I've been trying for years to stop partner emails, but the only way is to stop being a Microsoft partner. Weak. I flag them all as spam on gmail.

Re:The Canadian law doesn't apply to these

[msobkow]

You do realize that if you're sending email about a commercial product it's a commercial email, right?

It doesn't have to be advertising -- it just has to be commercial in nature, as in about a product that you charge for, not commercial as in advertising.

Re:Linux?

[chromaexcursion]

This is just a guess, but I believe your assessment why you were modded down is correct. Making comments that might offend people has consequences.
Your post is off topic, and bashes Microsoft for things not relevant. As for your previous posts, having modded comments, previous posts are pretty much impossible to find. Modding is based on the current comment.
I'm not a fan of Microsoft. I've been playing and working with computers since before Microsoft existed. I've posted on this thread. Canada is the party at fault, Microsoft is just responding to a stupid law.
I love bashing Microsoft, but the pickings have been slim lately, they're failing. They won't go out of business, but their clout is gone.

Re:Linux?

[Arker]

Linux is worse off now than windows 8 between Unity, GNOME 3 and the cluster fuck that is systemd

I think you must be confused, Linux requires none of the things you just mentioned, and neither does a linux-based OS.