Re: Can SP3 be considered as malware?

fade2gray wrote:
From bitter experience, I have learnt to always have Automatic
Updates set to "Notify me but don't automatically download or
install them".

Anyhow - I recently performed a clean install of XP Pro/SP2,
downloaded and installed all the Windows Updates I could find for
my machine excluding kb905474 (not wanted and hidden) and then I
was shortly after offered SP3.

I downloaded SP3, then made a Norton Ghost backup before installing
it. After the obligatory reboot, I was asked if I wanted to turn on
Automatic Updates or leave it til later - I opted for the latter.
When I went to verify my AU preferences, I found that the option
had been set to automatic. Not being 100% sure that updates were in
fact set to just notify, I restored my backup making sure that AU
was set to notify only, re downloaded and installed SP3
emphatically not selecting automatic updates, only to find that the
installation procedure of SP3 had again set it to automatic.

Isn't this how some malware behaves?

I also find that the hidden kb905474 is no longer to be found - has
it been now installed as an integral part of SP3?

I cannot say my experience has been the same as yours. If it is 'malware' -
it doesn't work the same way in all cases - so it's not very good malware.
My settings remained the same for AU on all systems installed upon thus far.
(Most of mine are 'download and notify' or 'do not download, but notify'.)

As for 905474 - no idea. This is the 'official' list:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480

Never bothered me anyway, though.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


.

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