On 9/14/07, Paul G. Allen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > OK, here's something interesting, and I wonder if XP does the same > thing. I remember back in my days at Akamai I found (by sniffing my > network connection) that W2K would phone home before the login screen > even popped up, but this is a little twist on that I think. > > I booted my W2K PC this morning with the LAN connection disabled. Now I > realize that in a networking environment, the system has to connect to > the domain controller in order to authenticate the user. However, when > the OS came online, Windows Update reported that a new security update > was available. > > It's nice to know that Windows phones home without me telling it that it > can. I'm curious to know how often newer versions of Windows phone home. > > I also find it interesting that it seems the only way to disable the > network connection completely (once you've configured it), is to unplug > the cable or un-configure it. > > It makes one appreciate Linux that much more. > > PGA > -- > The information contained in this e-mail message is confidential, > intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If > the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient, or the employee > or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are > hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying > of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this > e-mail in error, please contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Paul G. Allen > Software Engineer BSIT/SE > Quake Global, Inc. > 858-277-7290 x285 > > > -- > [email protected] > http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list > Newer versions do the same thing because MS can't imagine that you wouldn't want to have them constantly checking your system for pirated software, and automatic updates and security fixes, of which most of the latter wouldn't be needed if they'd get it right to begin with. The latest thing is their GenuineAdvantage executable, which embeds itself into the registry and, in addition to informing you with annoying pop-up balloons of new updates, forbids you from updating anything until they've rifled through your system to check for unlicensed software. Oh, and you you won't be allowed to update anything unless you have GA installed, so just saying no to it is not an option. If they find anything suspicious, the update stops. One way to mitigate this somewhat is to get a copy of XP anti-SPY from http://xp-antispy.org and follow the directions. One of the things it does, its turn off all automatic updates. Be aware though, you'll still need to install genuine advantage if you want to do updates and the updates automatically turn all the stuff back on that antiSPY turns off, all without your knowledge or consent, of course, so you need to run antiSPY after each update. AntiSPY doesn't remove the genuine advantage software, unfortunately.
Robert Donovan -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
