Microsoft may force software updates by default

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 22:00:31 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
> Subject: Microsoft may force software updates by default
> To: dave () farber net
>
>
> Dave,
>
> In November of last year, I wrote a commentary for Wired News expressing
> concern over the possibility of Microsoft forcing users to install
> operating system and other updates:
>    http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,56490,00.html
>
> My commentary was based on a story by a Wired News reporter who
> had attended an MS briefing regarding their "Trustworthy Computing
> initiative."
>
> As many of us know, MS patches and updates all too frequently
> destabilize working systems or may even render them unbootable.
> In some cases, security can even be *reduced* after their installation
> due to bugs in the patches/updates themselves.  No wonder so
> many people are extremely reluctant to install them unless
> absolutely necessary and under tightly controlled conditions
> after rigorous testing.
>
> Now comes word from the Washington Post that MS is indeed
> considering making the acceptance of security patches and/or updates
> a default condition, at least for what they believe
> (however accurately or *inaccurately*) to be "home users" of
> their software.  See:
>    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11579-2003Aug18.html
>
> I believe that all of the arguments I made in my original commentary
> still stand as appropriate today -- perhaps even more so.
>
> All users of Microsoft products should be concerned about this issue.
>
> --Lauren--
> Lauren Weinstein
> lauren () pfir org or lauren () vortex com or lauren () privacyforum org
> http://www.pfir.org/lauren
> Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
> Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
> Co-Founder, Fact Squad - http://www.factsquad.org
> Co-Founder, URIICA - Union for Representative International Internet
>                      Cooperation and Analysis - http://www.uriica.org
> Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
> Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy

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