teaman

Read this article carefully to see just how deceptive and backdoor Microsoft has become. DO NOT INSTALL THIS UPDATE!! Pass it on!

Life would be so much simpler if Microsoft would tell us what it's trying to put on our PCs. Earlier this week the mystery patch KB 3035583 was unveiled by German site heise.de as a shill for Windows 10. The patch is all about advertising Windows 10 and upgrading to Windows 10, from Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs. Now readers report the patch is marked as "Important" and installs by default through Automatic Update.

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I think the description of the patch by rugk on the eset Security Forum is accurate: It's "an adware/PUA/PUS/PUP for Windows 10 upgrade." But to reiterate, we haven't seen any examples of the advertising. We don't know what the final behavior of this patch will be -- it could be as innocuous as an occasional balloon notification that a free upgrade to Windows 10 awaits or as obnoxious as the botched "not genuine" screen blackouts. This is the plumbing, laid well in advance of Windows 10's availability.

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When I posted that blog, on my PCs, the patch was offered through Automatic Update, but it was marked Optional and it was unchecked -- even if you have Automatic Update turned on, the patch wouldn't install unless you went into the teeming mess and checked this specific patch, giving your OK for installation.

Now, I'm seeing a bunch of mail and posts from people who swear the patch is marked as Important and it's checked, which means that if you turn on Automatic Update (not recommended), or if you casually, manually install all Important patches, you're going to get this one. On my PCs at the moment, the Windows 8.1 PCs have KB 3035583 marked as Important while my Windows 7 PCs still have it as Optional.

Others report that their Windows 7 PCs have KB 3035583 marked as Important. I have no idea why.

The patch itself is unchanged from when it was first released on March 27, according to the KB article. To date, we only have Microsoft's official description: "This update enables additional capabilities for Windows Update notifications when new updates are available to the user. It applies to a computer that is running Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)" -- disingenuous at best.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2907472/operating-systems/windows-10-upgrade-nagware-patch-kb-3035583-now-marked-important-on-some-win7-pcs.html

RWNJ

Get a good malware program. I recommend Malwarebytes. It takes care of things like that. Another good one is Spybot search and destroy. They are both free to use. One more to consider is Advanced System Care. This one has a large suite of tools that keep your computer purring like a kitten. Also free, with the option to upgrade to the paid version. The free version is pretty darn good, but I recommend that you upgrade if you can afford it.

teaman

I don't thinks you understand what Microsoft is up to. They want to block malware and spyware products so their vendors can get in undetected. Look closely at who has generated this KB.

I am not a novice, I have been building PC's for over 30 years and have been a fan of Microsoft since win 3.1, but not anymore for they have gone to the dark side with win 10. When they cut off win 7, I'll be going to Linux!

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

HP has informed me that my computer is no longer supported by them and encouraged me to replace it. It is 5 years old but still worked perfectly until recently. Microsoft has informed me that Windows 7 is no longer supported and encouraged me to update to Windows 10. After the 10 day period "suggested" by Microsoft expired and I had not updated, my machine became plagued with all kinds of unexplained malfunctions.

I cancelled automatic updates - automatic updates continued. I directed my machine to inform me before any downloads were completed - and it ignored my commands.

Apparently, I do not actually own my computer - I am allowed to use it - subject to the whims of HP and Microsoft. Since I have not done as they wished, I am being punished by harassing me through my machine - until I comply.

I wonder how long it will be before automobiles and all OTHER electronically controlled machines - start harassing us until we replace them with newer models? Anything that requires "updates" and does them on their own, will be subject to such manipulation.

He who owns the software - owns the machine and he who uses it - forever.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

I have Spybot and have for years..I love it!! :thumbup:

JMHO Loc: Utah

Malwarebytes is the best one out there. But, it doesn't stop this patch. This patch came out back in March, so unless you choose manually what patches you want to install, it's already on your machine. And, all it is a window that pops up periodically and asks if you want to update to Windows 10. Just "x" out of it, and don't install it if you want to keep your current operating system.

Now, I have just bought a new laptop with Windows 10 installed. To give some background, Windows 10 is Microsoft's competition to Apple and Google's Android operating systems. They are providing apps, through their own apps store, that some are free, and some can be purchased. They also, like Google's (and Apple's) through Windows 10 will collect all kinds of info on the user, even accessing your pictures folder, in an attempt to tailor Ads, etc. to your particular needs. And, it is pretty intrusive. But, having said that, when I set up my Windows 10 on that laptop, you can opt out of a lot of that intrusiveness, which I did. They do give you the option of denying access to a lot of personal info. I'm still playing with the new system, and experimenting with it...I won't be fully utilizing the laptop, and Windows 10, until I'm sure it's safe.

JMHO Loc: Utah

Starting in January 2015, Windows 7 went into extended support (until 2020), which just covers the basics. You'll still receive free security updates, but non-security-related hotfixes will only be available on a paid subscription--but, you had to start the subscription before April 15, 2015. There will be no free support, Microsoft won't honor warranty claims, and the company will not add new features.

A solution to your problem; build your own system, and use the Linux operating system. Then you control everything. I did that once, several years ago, and it worked well, but there are no apps, and programs are limited. Now, that I am older, and some what lazier, I buy the off shelf machines now. I have an HP desk top (and what you say is true about HP), and I have a much more powerful Apple MAC desk top that I use mostly for photography use, which I use PhotoShop, Adobe Bridge, Lightroom, ON1, and Nik Software plug ins that use a lot of memory and require fast processors. I also have an older Mac Book, an Ipad, and now a new HP lap top with Windows 10, that I am evaluating. I mainly bought the HP because I couldn't believe what I could get for $600! This laptop has more memory and power than a Dell laptop I just retired that I paid $4500 for about 6 years ago! Amazing how the prices have come down. But, they are more intrusive now, so one needs to be more careful. Not only are the operating systems more intrusive, but add on software programs are also becoming more intrusive, so beware.