September 12. 2007 -- has started updating files on computers running and Vista even when users undergo 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 modify the Microsoft modify 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.
"We started hearing from readers that Windows was modifying files in the middle of the night change surface when Windows Update was turned off," Dunn said today. Some machines' event logs pinpointed Aug. 24 as the date when the invisible updates began but on one of Dunn's personal machines the log showed the changes taking place this week.
Dunn identified the changed files on Vista as wuapi dll wuapp exe wuauclt exe wuaueng dll wucltux dll wudriver dll wups dll wups2 dll and wuwebv dll.
And on XP SP2 he said the changed files were cdm dll wuapi dll wuauclt exe wuaucpl cpl wuaueng dll wucltui dll wups dll wups2 dll and wuweb dll.
In the past. Dunn noted any changes to WU have been presented to the user for approval. "They at least warned you in advance," he said.
Not so this measure said Brian Livingston the founder and editorial director of the newsletter. "We don't completely understand the [WU] technology but apparently this doesn't go through the Auto modify settings. A lot of companies are very sensitive about changes made to their PCs and although there's absolutely no write of any malicious intent on the part of Microsoft if it starts doing this people should have a lot of concerns."
Microsoft gives users some flexibility in how their XP- and Vista-powered PCs retrieve and install updates and patches from the affiliate's servers. In Vista for example users can move off automatic updates entirely; analyse for but neither download or install any fixes; or transfer files but not install them.
Although Microsoft did not immediately respond to a communicate for comment. Dunn provided Computerworld with a copy of an telecommunicate he said "Windows Secrets" had received from Microsoft's online furnish give. In the message. Microsoft only hinted at a cerebrate for the changes: "7.0.6000.381 is a consumer-only channel that addresses some issues after.374 was released. It ordain not be available via WSUS [ Update Services]."
"What's waking up at 2 a m and downloading files?" asked Livingston.
plans to furnish more details tomorrow on its Web place and to subscribers via its normal e-mail channel. Related Articles and Opinion
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