[Ham-Computers] Avoid one of the "Critical" Windows Updates...

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Hi all,

"Windows Genuine Advantage Notification Tool".

This particular "critical" update was released several months ago, but
only recently has something disturbing about it been published...it's
considered by Microsoft to be "pre-release" software.  The only reason
Microsoft disclosed that it's "pre-release" is due to an investigation
about another attribute of this update...it phones home every time it
starts up (aka, every time you turn on or reboot your computer).  To
make things worse, once it's installed, you can't remove it.

Why Microsoft labeled this "pre-release" update as a "critical update"
is a good question.  It really should have been an "optional" update or
part of their beta test program.  Also, the fact that they didn't
disclose that it "phones home" really has people up in arms.  MS states
that a future update will modify the code to phone home every 2 weeks
and possible have an update that will never phone home.  But that
doesn't excuse them from releasing software under test as a "critical
update".

Here's a link to a recent new article about this...
  http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6083204.html

As always, I suggest that everyone "turn off" "Automatic Updates" in
Windows and manually visit the Windows Update site every couple of
weeks.  For now, install all "Critical Updates" *EXCEPT* for the
"Windows Genuine Advantage Notification Tool".

Note: this is the "Notification" tool, not the "Windows Genuine
Advantage" ActiveX control that prevents you from downloading updates
unless your Windows install is legal.  The WGA tool is required to run
Windows Updates.  The "Notification" tool is not required for
*anything*.

73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O