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September 12th, 2007

Confirmed: Microsoft is fiddling with system files without permission

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 1:30 pm

Categories: In the news, Microsoft, Stealth Update

Tags: Permission, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Corp., Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

In Focus » See more posts on: Vista

Breaking news - Latest from Microsoft

[Updated: Sept 13, 2007 @ 6.50 am - After checking a system set not to automatically update I can confirm that this stealth update is real.]

If this turns out to be true, it has some very serious (and disturbing) implications:

vistalogosmall.jpgMicrosoft Corp. has started updating files on computers running Windows XP and Vista, even when users have explicitly disabled the operating systems’ automatic update feature, researchers said today.

Scott Dunn, an editor at the “Windows Secrets” newsletter, said that nine files in XP and Vista — but not the same files in each operating system — have been changed by Windows Update, the Microsoft update mechanism, without displaying the usual notification or permission dialog box. The files, said Dunn, are related to the XP and Vista versions of Windows Update (WU) itself.

The files on Vista are:

  • wuapi.dll
  • wuapp.exe
  • wuauclt.exe
  • wuaueng.dll
  • wucltux.dll
  • wudriver.dll
  • wups.dll
  • wups2.dll
  • wuwebv.dll

And on XP SP2:

  • cdm.dll
  • wuapi.dll
  • wuauclt.exe
  • wuaucpl.cpl
  • wuaueng.dll
  • wucltui.dll
  • wups.dll
  • wups2.dll
  • wuweb.dll

If this turns out to be true (and I want to make it clear that I’ve not confirmed this) then this will be a very serious betrayal of trust on Microsoft’s part. Not only is it hard enough to keep track of changes done to a Windows installation as it is, but if Microsoft (or other companies) start updating systems without consent, this will lead to all sorts of trouble. On top of that, it paves the way for companies to make silent updates to technologies such as DRM and anti-piracy features.

Microsoft needs to address this issue and address it fast because the fallout from this could be very damaging.

Thoughts?

Adrian Kingsley-HughesAdrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations

Want to get in touch? Got a tip? Feel free to drop me a note! I ALWAYS respect anonymity. I'm also on Twitter (@the_pc_doc)

Right to Reply: Should any industry representatives wish to comment on any posts on Hardware 2.0, I will be happy to publish their reply verbatim on this blog.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 181 Talkback(s)
MS fiddling with system
'""NOTHING"" IS FREE IN THIS ETERNAL WORLD INCLUDING eula. (Read the rest)
Posted by: murali_nair40@... Posted on: 10/22/07 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Its their OS which you rent  deaf_e_kate | 09/12/07
Its their OS which you rent  ricksterjs_z | 09/13/07
Control of Business Processes  Jambalaya Breath | 09/14/07
That will change  jsjag1 | 09/13/07
I guess if you look at things a certain way...  MacGeek2121 | 09/13/07
Ethereal tonight  jsjag1 | 09/13/07
At first  Jambalaya Breath | 09/14/07
Renters have rights...  ja4509 | 09/13/07
Actually  Jambalaya Breath | 09/14/07
Shame on them!  vmeck@... | 09/26/07
Try again.  frankframer | 09/13/07
aaahhh but does that apply to software????  deaf_e_kate | 09/13/07
Many things are so but  jsjag1 | 09/13/07
Sure, no problem  CobraA1 | 09/13/07
Sure, sure.  Chippolus | 09/14/07
Better check  jsjag1 | 09/13/07
If you live in an apartment...  MacGeek2121 | 09/13/07
Place a not  jsjag1 | 09/13/07
It's their right  John L. Ries | 09/12/07
Re: It's their right  posted | 09/12/07
I was being sarcastic  John L. Ries | 09/13/07
I knew dat!  Ole Man | 09/18/07
It *was* good...  Starderup | 09/28/07
Hold on there pal!  ja4509 | 09/13/07
Hook, line and sinker!  Dr. John | 09/13/07
brief comment  roaming | 09/12/07
What legal right?  jsjag1 | 09/13/07
Oh, dear  John L. Ries | 09/13/07
Depends on their laziness  Chippolus | 09/13/07
Good for you!  Ole Man | 09/18/07
Bull  frankframer | 09/13/07
That's three fishes  John L. Ries | 09/13/07
Sorry, John, you gotta be a little more ethereal  Ole Man | 09/18/07
Poor analogy.  Chippolus | 09/13/07
Don't know  John L. Ries | 09/13/07
Dammit! And I thought it was just raccoons!  Chippolus | 09/13/07
Couldn't answer that one, either, eh?  Ole Man | 09/18/07
Mandatory recall?  jsjag1 | 09/13/07
Not the law, the hazard  Chippolus | 09/13/07
But it's your choice  John L. Ries | 09/13/07
Granted.  Chippolus | 09/14/07
Agreed  jsjag1 | 09/13/07
Yes.  Chippolus | 09/14/07
Poor analogy, but ...  davbran | 09/13/07
That is why  Chippolus | 09/14/07
RE: It's their right  tstimmell | 09/14/07
Sounds like Apple  mdemuth | 09/12/07
trying to slide stuff by while not informing  deaf_e_kate | 09/12/07
re: MS hiding updates and bugfixes in their downloads is not a new concept.  Arm A. Geddon | 09/12/07
re: the point is installing without one's knowledge  deaf_e_kate | 09/13/07
Sorry -- not like Apple at all  mark@... | 09/13/07
There is a saying in the US Navy...  Linux User 147560 | 09/12/07
Abuse? Care to explain?  NonZealot | 09/12/07
re: wuapi.dll file gets updated  Arm A. Geddon | 09/12/07
Explaination Required  Harry Bardal | 09/12/07
If Joe Blow HAD been negatively affected by it  Michael Kelly | 09/12/07
Myopic  Sheeva | 09/13/07
nah.  xuniL_z | 09/16/07
Huh ? Abuse? Care to explain?  ndatus | 09/13/07
Back-doors  MarshallTown | 09/13/07
Well, what if we don'r allow internet access??  markofkane | 09/13/07
Um ok.  Skullet | 09/13/07
Your apathy is noted.  Linux User 147560 | 09/13/07
Apathy  donthetech | 09/13/07
Actually there is absolutely no  xuniL_z | 09/16/07
no No guarantee of privacy in the constitution?  Ole Man | 09/18/07
In the Navy?  xuniL_z | 09/16/07
RTFL  rpmyers1 | 09/17/07
You are also told, like a child  Ole Man | 09/18/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  ShoreLeave | 09/12/07
yes, this could become very interesting. [nt]  Arm A. Geddon | 09/12/07
have to agree too if it's true.  Arm A. Geddon | 09/12/07
tunneling over http  D. T. Schmitz | 09/12/07
re: tunneling over http  ShoreLeave | 09/12/07
WhateveR  D. T. Schmitz | 09/12/07
They do admit to doing this...  Ambivi | 09/12/07
They do admit to doing this...  ShoreLeave | 09/12/07
An admission  Ambivi | 09/13/07
Re: They do admit to doing this...  none none | 09/12/07
Windows Update updating without permission  bksgs1 | 09/12/07
Re: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  none none | 09/12/07
They *HAVE* permission  Yagotta B. Kidding | 09/12/07
Which is why they ask for your permission again  SteveTheWirePuller | 09/12/07
Easy answer this question ...  MisterMiester | 09/17/07
Abuse from Software  theoxygenthief | 09/13/07
Darned if you do, and darned if you don't?  John Zern | 09/13/07
Blame  Sheeva | 09/13/07
MS advertises critical fixes on a regular basis  John L. Ries | 09/13/07
Only two possible reasons...  wolf_z | 09/13/07
Third reason?  Holiday34691 | 09/13/07
not close  initsinfacy | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  srobtjones@... | 09/13/07
Why?  WiredGuy | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  Sheeva | 09/13/07
Feeble Threat  Chippolus | 09/13/07
Spyware  dmhunter@... | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  earwax | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  earwax | 09/13/07
Damaging -- how?  Yagotta B. Kidding | 09/13/07
You are wrong, it does hurt sales  legalista | 09/13/07
net stop wuauserv  seannj427 | 09/13/07
The Evil Empire Exposed  pvhastings | 09/13/07
PVHASTINGS Gas bag deployed!  Chippolus | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  tactgroup@... | 09/13/07
Some people care...  Chippolus | 09/13/07
Yap, yap, yap yap  Ole Man | 09/18/07
Total Solution To This Problem  itanalyst | 09/13/07
Then go to VirtualBox  ja4509 | 09/13/07
A point to consider...  ja4509 | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  thruska | 09/13/07
What a bunch of sheep! Baaaaaaaaa...  reholli@... | 09/13/07
RE: Baaaaaaaaa...  reholli@... | 09/13/07
Oh god, another thinker...  Chippolus | 09/13/07
I also refuse to believe  Ole Man | 09/18/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  chuck@... | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  juddpuppy@... | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  bjbrock | 09/13/07
...don't forget....  Feldwebel Wolfenstool | 09/13/07
RE: What gves Microsoft the right to force updates on my machine  Irish_Imp | 09/13/07
The question is...  John L. Ries | 09/13/07
Where's my EULA..  Feldwebel Wolfenstool | 09/13/07
Damn automatic upgrades  hersheyboy | 09/13/07
Slight Difference  tboucher@... | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  djcentral | 09/13/07
One Detail Overlooked  MasterJoe | 09/13/07
Good point  John L. Ries | 09/13/07
What are you talking about?  Chippolus | 09/13/07
As I said in an earlier posting,  legalista | 09/13/07
Mostly right...  Chippolus | 09/14/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  Bmoredre | 09/13/07
What do you expect  levinson | 09/13/07
Block the port used.  shadowriath | 09/13/07
Uh... no we can't unless you are  Linux User 147560 | 09/13/07
Linux Membership drive!  Chippolus | 09/13/07
So you are one  Linux User 147560 | 09/13/07
Not exactly...  Chippolus | 09/13/07
Think you  Linux User 147560 | 09/13/07
Oh no...  Chippolus | 09/13/07
Chuckles...  Linux User 147560 | 09/13/07
but I will razz anyone i can  Ole Man | 09/18/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  vidoblog | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  levinson | 09/13/07
What part of "Turn Off AutomaticUpdates"...  richard@... | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  Holiday34691 | 09/13/07
They should be more clear  geast2@... | 09/13/07
Microsoft is spying ....  bjbrock | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  On Site PC | 09/13/07
revert to SP1  On Site PC | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  tallgirlL | 09/13/07
So---What is the cure?  SirCatlord | 09/13/07
yes ther 5is a cire  On Site PC | 09/13/07
The cure is simple enough  stephen.villano@... | 09/16/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  donblume@... | 09/13/07
Is Microsoft crossing the border illegally?  tehahn1 | 09/13/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  v10charlie@... | 09/13/07
My Two Cents  hforman@... | 09/13/07
I disagree.  Chippolus | 09/14/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  as901 | 09/14/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  tekmajor@... | 09/14/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  Trent Black | 09/14/07
It is the opinion that is shocking....  Trent Black | 09/14/07
Go play with your blocks.  Chippolus | 09/14/07
And how much did microsoft put in their pocket?  crawdad2k | 09/14/07
Almost Nothing will run without Windows Vista or XP... Nothing!  Chippolus | 09/14/07
Chippolus.....  SenlacHill | 09/15/07
Yap, yap, yap, yip, yip, yap  Ole Man | 09/18/07
Microsoft or Microhack, make your choice Bill!  crawdad2k | 09/14/07
Microsoft's Ominous Actions  jollyrgr3@... | 09/15/07
Microsoft's Ominous Actions  stephen.villano@... | 09/16/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  jsjag1 | 09/16/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  swynens | 09/17/07
You Sound Surprised! LOL!!  llharl@... | 09/19/07
I'm not surprised  Vladilyich | 09/20/07
Sneaky Microsoft  philami@... | 09/21/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  grayfrier | 09/25/07
Unauthorized Update Also Happens w/Win2k  IP-Man | 09/26/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  neostuma | 09/27/07
Apples and Oranges  neostuma | 09/27/07
RE: Is Microsoft fiddling with system files without permission?  MNosJam@... | 09/27/07
It comes with the territory.  Starderup | 09/28/07
MS fiddling with system  murali_nair40@... | 10/22/07

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