Confirmation of stealth Windows Update
section: windows, for your questions: KezNews forum, 14.9.2007
I can now confirm that the stealth Windows Update that I blogged about yesterday actually exists - because I’ve detected its presence on a machine at the PC Doc HQ.
At the PC Doc HQ we have several systems set not to update automatically. This is so that they are kept at a specific patch level for testing duties. Many of these systems are virtual machines but some are physical. When I heard about this stealth update I decided to take a look at one of these systems that don’t update automatically (it was set to download and notify) - and within seconds I found what I was looking for.
Which files are updated depends on the OS you are running. The updated 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
The test system was running Windows XP SP2. Reports and rumors suggest that this update was being pushed out on or around the 24th of August so I fired up Event Viewer and scrolled down to this date … and here’s what I found:
Here’s the entry showing the update kicking off.
source:
blogs.zdnet.com
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Comments(17)
if that is true microsoft pushing updates to machines blindly, it sounds like they are
adapting the idea from hackers (lets push spyware | trojans | etc. through the back door
without the user knowing it.).
microsoft made windows, they have a right to do what they want with it with in reason,
there is nothing in the license that says thay cannot sneak critical updates or
anti-piracy measures onto a windows based computer.
although i don't like the
idea, there is really nothing anyone can do about this.
at least in portugal it's not. it's illegal to enter, download or upload information to
a pc without user know about it, so it's illegal to microsoft to upload some data to my
pc without my permission.
it is not an update of windows but the update client itself. i agree it is wrong for them
to do this, but it is only wu client that was updated so it could continue to run as
expected for future updating needs either stealth, query, or manual.
just for the record that was not a secret update. on 8/24 they patched multiple versions
of windows automatic update software with some bug fixes and other. the reason automatic
update patches are not listed is because they aren't given kb numbers like normal windows
updates, also these client patches don't fall under the "critical" or "recommended"
categories.
nope, your wrong, get on the interwebs more, you fail.
i dont give a damn,just as long it works better...however,if i get the idea,that what
they upload is something like alexa,they're in deep sh...
i mean it...
peace \/
it also seems to have updated corperate/enterprise editions of vista running within
companies with update policies already set in place....
thats not good
microsoft....
who cares? really? if you're runing genuine you have nothing to worry about. if you're
running pirate the you cant moan about microsoft for stopping ur copy from working or
messing with your os.
why not let the police come and search your home without a warrant. if you have nothing
to hide, you are fine right? they never do anything dirty right? sure!
well...1st i cant compare microsft updating a file on ur pc to police invasion but living
in east london which seems to be the toerrorist capital of the world i kinda do wish the
police would search without warrants. maybe we might catch a few muslim terorists that
way. sorry - i digress but it's a london thing :)
seriously though - im running
pirate and if someday it stops working because they've updated a file, then fair play to
them, my bad for using pirate.
glad i use linux now. microsoft is running there self out of business and don't even
realize it. to bad. you can only screw the
public so long until they do something
different.
are these files sopposed to shut u down,if so is any1 's vista down,mine is still
running
if you are using linux now, what are you doing on this site? seems you are still
interested in all things ms. is it like an ex girlfriend you still can't let go of?
more to the point, how do we stop ms snooping?
tell me can you play games using
linux?
- big mamma supervl (vector based linux distro
- supergamer2 (pclinuxos based
linux distro)
why he is still visiting this site. "keep your friends close, but keep
your enemies even closer."
if that was sarcasic, then u know
if it wasnt then research transgaming.com
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Stealth Windows Update
By JFDisney on 14.09.2007 - 15:09