Who Got Caught Disabling Windows Update?
Caught red-handed, one computer vendor has admitted that it covertly disables the automatic-update feature of Windows Update, forcing users of some, perhaps all, of its Windows computers to download and install critical updates manually. Of course, many won’t, and they will leave themselves open to hackers and malware. Here's what you need to know... |
Don't Touch My Windows Update!
To answer the question posed in the title of this article: Samsung. But don’t think this doesn’t apply to you because your PC wasn’t made by Samsung. The hardware maker’s excuse for this breach of customers’ security (not to mention its contract with Microsoft) has implications for all Windows users. I’ll explain after outlining how Samsung’s deliberate weakening of users’ security was discovered.
Patrick Barker, a Microsoft MVP (Most Valued Partner), was troubleshooting a client’s Samsung computer; Windows Update “no longer worked,” the client said. Barker found that Windows Update was set to “Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them.” The only worse setting is “Never check for updates.” Barker reset Windows Update to the preferred setting, “Install updates automatically.”
But when the PC was rebooted, the setting went right back to the “let me choose” option! Thinking his client might have a malware infection, Barker ran some expert diagnostic tools to see what was going on.
He found the culprit in plain sight: an executable file actually named Disable_WindowsUpdate.exe forced Windows Update to the dangerously user-dependent setting every time the machine was rebooted. But it wasn’t malware stealthily injected by an anonymous hacker.
Barker discovered that Disable_WindowsUpdate.exe was digitally signed by Samsung, and was part of the Samsung’s SW Update Tool. Every computer hardware vendor bundles its own system maintenance software with its machines. These proprietary programs duplicate many functions built into Windows, and many people consider them to be bloatware that can be removed without repercussions. But there’s one important difference between Windows Update and proprietary maintenance toolkits.
Why Would Samsung Disable Windows Update?
Samsung’s SW Update Tools fetches certain updates from Samsung’s servers, not the Windows Update server. Drivers for Samsung USB 3.0 ports, for instance, are different from the generic USB drivers that Windows Update installs. Samsung’s drivers are written to get the best performance out of the USB 3.0 hardware that Samsung has designed. A generic Windows driver may not work at all with some highly engineered hardware; you must use the manufacturer’s driver.
Samsung says that automatic Windows Updates were overriding some of Samsung’s proprietary drivers with generic ones. The result was that come hardware features might no longer work, or would not run as well as designed. So the company “gave users the choice” to skip automatic Windows Updates and use SW Update Tool instead.
The dastardly thing is, Samsung doesn’t tell users what it’s doing. One could go nuts resetting Windows Update to “automatic” and wondering why in the world it keeps reverting to “let me choose…”
Microsoft is not at all happy about Samsung’s interference with the default, automatic mode of Windows Update. Legal fur could fly, but right now the two companies are “discussing the issue” behind the scenes.
Samsung must have been pretty exasperated with Microsoft, too, or it would not have committed such a serious breach of its OEM agreement to force the issue of incompatible Windows Update drivers. I expect the two tech giants will work out a deal whereby Samsung’s latest proprietary drivers get into the Windows Update database faster. Then Samsung won’t have to disable automatic Windows Updates.
If Samsung’s excuse for disabling automatic Windows Updates is true, then drivers and other software may be “corrupted” – overridden, actually - by less effective generic software installed by Windows Update, at least in some cases.
Blame on Both Sides
It’s probably unrealistic to expect Windows Update to deliver the latest version of every proprietary driver that might be needed; there are legions of such drivers. But instead of blindly installing GENERIC drivers that OVERRIDE proprietary drivers, Windows Update should defer to an OEM and tell you, “There may be a better driver available from the maker of your device.” I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
Samsung and other OEMs could do a better job of uploading their latest proprietary software updates to Windows Update, too. But then you’d have little reason to visit their sites where they can sell you something more.
For now, Samsung is bowing to pressure from Microsoft and tech news outlets. Last Friday, Samsung promised to issue a patch through the Samsung Software Update notification process "to revert back to the recommended automatic Windows Update settings within a few days." As of this writing, that patch has yet to appear.
I know some people advise turning off Windows Update, or picking and choosing which updates to install. I feel this is dangerous, and ill-advised. The chances of being negatively affected by a Windows Update patch are vanishingly small, while the chances of missing something important by not using it are high.
My advice is to you, regardless of who made your PC, is to check and make sure that your Windows Update settings are set to "Install updates automatically." Click Start, then Windows Update, then "Change settings" to verify. Your thoughts on this topic are welcome. Post your comment or question below...
This article was posted by Bob Rankin on 29 Jun 2015
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Most recent comments on "Who Got Caught Disabling Windows Update?"
(See all 47 comments for this article.)Posted by:
Nezzar
29 Jun 2015
So far, I have had no problems with windows updates on my Windows 7 computer. I use the automatic updates, but I still have to tell Windows to install the updates.
Bob, what about the optional updates? Do they always need to be installed? I have four of them waiting for me to make a decision about them. I admit that i usually don't install the optional updates.
Posted by:
Greybeard
29 Jun 2015
HP delivers employee PCs with Windows Update turned off. They push out updates automatically. Of course, not realizing this (because they also didn't tell us), I ran it manually. It applied 113 updates, including (IIRC) 26 critical updates. Yep, that automatic push is really keeping HP's machines current!
Posted by:
Chris
29 Jun 2015
"Install updates automatically"
How quick we forget...
Never will I do this again.
Posted by:
rosshi
29 Jun 2015
hi Bob, But Who Wants #Windows10 I DON'T DO YOU When #Windows7 Is King... What's Think: In This Age Of; WE WANT YOUR INFO, Could #Microsoft #Google #Facebook Etc Be Being Forced To Work On Bejalf Of The #NSA #GCHQ #BILDERBURG #G7 Our Fraudulent Governments #Microsoft Are Signing Thwir Own Death Warrant & Starting A New Era In Computing As We All Learn And Unifi #LINUX...
In 2020 Goodbyw #Microsoft It Was Nice While It Lasted Hello #Chromium...
Posted by:
William Merriam
30 Jun 2015
Like many responders I have my machines set to
download and notify but let me choose when to
install. I am little concerned with defective
updates but have on several occasions been in the
middle of a game or creating a document when my
machine freezes, the desktop disappears and then
the computer reboots, wiping out whatever I was
working on. That said I always install critical
and security updates and maybe twice have had a
potential problem in the last several years.
Posted by:
David Stevens
30 Jun 2015
As I travel with an ASUS laptop running on XP (and often in outback Australia with limited time and download speed. Although I work with the 'ask me' option on there about 10 MS downloads that are want to be downloaded but are irrelevant to my XP. If I used the 'automatic' option I would never be able to be sure that the programs were relevant and also defaulting to 'install and close' every time I log on.
Posted by:
rich
30 Jun 2015
Like the others here, I have had negative experiences with Windows Update that have inspired me to go the "Ask me" route. I have not regretted this ever and have never encountered anyone whose experience differs. Microsoft does too many things too awkwardly too often to let them loose in my machine without my close supervision.
Posted by:
Tazio57
30 Jun 2015
I always choose. Windows update frequently wants to install updates for apps or hardware I don't have or use such as Skype or Samsung phones.
Posted by:
Grump
30 Jun 2015
I had the opposite problem in losing many hours of work due to an unexpected MS auto-download/re-boot.
Seems a previous one had switched my system back to Auto without telling me...grrr!
Posted by:
Val
30 Jun 2015
Hello Bob! About 4 years ago I bought new desktop Dell machine and forgot to turn off automatic updates. After about half year without a problem, one of the automatic updates gave me a black screen with choices how do I want to start up. None of choices was working except DIAGNOSTIK! But diagnostic was running all day long without stop. After 2-3 days without luck I decided to reinstall windows! It was horrible experience. I did not backup every day only once in 2-3 weeks, so I lost a lot of data! Never will do this again! Only “let me choose”!
Posted by:
David Adams
30 Jun 2015
I have update turned off because left on it loads updates to Office Live which have repeatedly messed up my machine big time. Only solution to do a System Restore. So I do the "leave me to download and update" an deselect Office Live.
When Microsoft fix it (though I don't know how I will know), I will revert to "Update Automatically"
Posted by:
Therrito
30 Jun 2015
Although I have a legit copy of Windows, ever since MS sneaked in the patch that checks for pirated copies of Windows I have lost complete faith in MS. I have my machine set to check for updates but let me choose which ones to install. I will not allow MS to turn my machine into a useless boat anchor again.
I also do not install any of MS's drivers for any of my hardware as I know that they are typically not as good as the ones provided by the manufacturer. I diligently keep my drivers up to date on my rig as well as updates therefore I know that it is always patched properly and with all of the latest driver updates.
Yeah, it's not the "recommended" thing to do (according to MS) but in MY case I think it's the right thing to do. I guess I'm just getting a bit cantankerous in my old age. lol
Posted by:
Judy
30 Jun 2015
I got reminders to upgrade to 8.1 from 8.0.
I had ignored these, because I did not want 8.1.
One day I got a message that my computer was going to shut down for updates. It was down for about an hour. (Very annoying) When I was able to get on again I had 8.1. A lot of things had changed on my computer. If I had been aware that these changes would be made I could and would have done something to save what I wanted.
Posted by:
MmeMoxie
01 Jul 2015
Boy, I am with the group, that wants to install, at their own risk. I have done both ways, automatic and do not install, without my approval.
I can't tell you, how many times, that I have had to re-install games, because, of the automatic updates!!! Right now, I have about 6 games, where I need to insert the CD, to activate them, again!!! I have it set, for automatic, to see if, I can get the Windows 10 icon, in the taskbar and it hasn't worked. Oh, it worked on my Hubby's computer, but, not mine. I DO have a Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit OS, yet, the Windows Update does not seem to recognize it.
I am going back to ... Update, when I give approval.
Posted by:
Nightwish_Fan
01 Jul 2015
I felt I had to chime in *on behalf* of customers who don't read geek newsletters or understand the first thing about their computers. Think guys, how those customers outnumber you, by the thousands. Most don't understand anything, they just want their computer to work so they can play on Facebook and watch funny cat videos. Meanwhile their updates have been turned off and all kinds of nasties are helping themselves to these vulnerable people and their computers.
Now, YOU GUYS know what you're doing and that's why there's the option "let me choose". But for the vast majority of computer users, they are better served by the auto Updates. Then, if their kids or tech says 'hey, pops, there's a better driver I can download for you", then THEY "can choose" (like you get to choose) for themselves. But do you guys really think that it was perfectly OK for Samsung to do what they did? It was egregious.
No, I'm not a computer geek, and neither am I a MS groupie. But I'm not a novice either. I read HowToGeek.com and BobRankin, but most, if not all of my friends and colleages have no idea any of this is even going on.
Posted by:
MmeMoxie
03 Jul 2015
@Nightwish_Fan --- You are correct, Newbies or Non-Savvy Computer users must have the automatic updates, from Microsoft, for their protection. I fully agree, with you.
Sometimes, I forget, that not everyone knows much about computers or even, knows how to fix anything, on a computer.
When I did a fair amount of repairing PCs for family or friends, I always made sure, that Window Updates were always set to automatic, for their own protection. Most of them, would never remember, to check for MS Updates and to download them or install them. It is/was just as hard to get them to remember to update their A/V programs, if, they were using a FREE version of an A/V program, that didn't have automatic updates. I started using Avast!'s FREE version, for that very reason ... It has had automatic updates, since, the beginning or for a lot of years.
Thanks for the reminder, about what Samsung has been doing, that is totally wrong, for their consumers. It looks like HP does this, to business PCs ... NOT good, either. I do realize, that BIG business has an IT Department, but, what about the Home Office business or just a Small Business??? They need protection, too, don't they?
Posted by:
Gina
03 Jul 2015
I'm on Windows 7 (for now, while I learn Linux) and like others, go with the "ask me" option after each time it auto updated, PUPS rode in with them. It took too many times of cleaning out garbage that I decided to learn Linux.
Posted by:
Bob McGhee
15 Jul 2015
Dear Bob,
You are naively stuoid and blind about windows updates. Read your reader's comments and WAKE UP. To blindly install every update that the criminals at Redmond send out is an act of sheer stupidity. Relinquishing control of your own PC to a gang that has issue patches for their patches ad infinitum, is purely asinine, especially when you coax your reader to do it.
EDITOR'S NOTE: You are welcome to your opinion, but I won't be changing mine. Without automatic software updates, we'd have tens of millions of impossibly corrupted computers spewing spam, spreading viruses, and attacking others via sprawling botnets.
Sure, there will be some glitches caused by updates, but these are quite rare in the big picture. How many users are savvy (or interested) enough to examine each software update that's offered, and do the research required to determine if it might cause an issue with their computer?
Unless you are an expert in computer security, networking, mass storage devices, font management, print spooling, device drivers, and a dozen other specialties, you're just going to be guessing most of the time. Automatic updates have a huge upside, and a small downside for a tiny percentage of users.
Posted by:
Ronile
19 Jul 2015
Auto update - no way. I had it set that way, but every time it updated I had MAJOR problems and would need to restore. I prefer to have it alert me and I choose what I want to download.
Posted by:
Mouse
24 Jul 2015
I turn auto updates off because it never fails... any time it's enabled, my computer has nothing but problems to the point of having to re-install Windows. This past month I neglected to turn it off on a new computer before I went online to download my firewall and anti-virus and before I could stop it, it started downloading several hundred updates, security patches, drivers, etc. I stupidly decided to give MS another chance (my bad!!) and left it on. My new computer slowed to a crawl and BSD, freezing and random reboots began to occur. It was also downloading updates several times a day. I ended up wiping the HHD of a one week old computer, reinstalled the OS and once again set updates to "never". With a good firewall and anti-virus, my computer runs fast and clean and I've never had any problems with updates turned off; only when it's turned on.