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posted by martyb on Sunday October 16 2016, @09:47AM   Printer-friendly
from the some-folks-don't-need-flexibility,-apparently dept.

The Register reports

Redmond kicks off the era of the force-fed security update

Microsoft is kicking off a controversial new security program this month by packaging all of its security updates into a single payload.

The October security release introduces Redmond's new policy of bundling all security bulletins as one download. While more convenient for end users, who now get just one bundle, the move will irk many administrators, who had preferred to individually test and apply each patch to avoid compatibility problems.

Krebs on Security notes

Microsoft: No More Pick-and-Choose Patching

Starting this month, home and business Windows users will no longer be able to pick and choose which updates to install and which to leave for another time. For example, I've often advised home users to hold off on installing .NET updates until all other patches for the month are applied--reasoning that .NET updates are very large and in my experience have frequently been found to be the source of problems when applying huge numbers of patches simultaneously.

But that cafeteria-style patching goes out the...err...Windows with this month's release.

[...]Microsoft's patch policy changes are slightly different for home versus business customers. Consumers on Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 8.1 will henceforth receive what Redmond is calling a "Monthly Rollup," which addresses both security issues and reliability issues in a single update. The "Security-only updates" option--intended for enterprises and not available via Windows Update--will only include new security patches that are released for that month.

What this means is that if any part of the patch bundle breaks, the only option is to remove the entire bundle (instead of the offending patch, as was previously possible). I have no doubt this simplifies things for Microsoft and likely saves them a ton of money, but my concern is this will leave end-users unable to apply critical patches simply due to a single patch breaking something.

[...]The smartest option is probably to ditch [Adobe Flash] once and for all and significantly increase the security of your system in the process. I've got more on that approach (as well as slightly less radical solutions) in A Month Without Adobe Flash Player.

[...]Finally, Adobe released security updates that correct a whopping 71 flaws in its PDF Reader and Acrobat products. If you use either of these software packages, please take a moment to update them.

Has this change in method and control altered the thinking of any Soylentils WRT their choices of software supplier?
Now for the biggie: Has anyone convinced his boss to depart the Redmond path?

Previous: Windows 7 and 8.1 Moving to Windows 10’s Cumulative Update Model


Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: -1, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 16 2016, @10:45AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 16 2016, @10:45AM (#414826)

    Just go linux / osx / bsd , and keep going, even if it means you have to change jobs.

    Enjoy unemployment, living like RMS, eating your own shit, etc, etc, etc.

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  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by Unixnut on Sunday October 16 2016, @11:08AM

    by Unixnut (5779) on Sunday October 16 2016, @11:08AM (#414829)

    I don't know, in 2001 I started doing Linux as well as being a windows admin. By 2003 I was making so much more money being a Linux admin (lots of work migrating NT boxen to Linux for SMEs), that I ended up specialising in Linux/Unix machines, and I "don't do windows" since then.

    The last windows I did admin for was 2000/NT, and the last I actually used was windows XP. From what I can see, things have just gone downhill from there in MS land.

    I know that I make at least a third more over my windows admin colleagues, primarily because MCSE's are a dime a dozen, as are ".NET developers" round here.

    I am sure RMS could make a metric ton of money, if he wanted to. The fact is he chose the life he leads, he values his principles and freedom that much that he won't sacrifice them for cash. I can respect that.

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 16 2016, @11:59AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 16 2016, @11:59AM (#414836)

      Congratulations, you've just managed to combine Linux advocacy, Microsoft bashing, celebrity hero worship, and the commonly held belief that the poor are poor because they choose to be poor, all in the same comment.

      You're agreeing with every popularly held belief here, dude. It's no wonder a trendy dude like you is swimming in money and pussy.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 16 2016, @08:25PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 16 2016, @08:25PM (#414936)

      I make at least a third more over my Windows admin colleagues, primarily because [MCSEs] are a dime a dozen

      ...and another piece of the zeitgeist:
      If your workplace isn't using Free Software *n?x, that place is in a distinct minority.

      We've also had some stories here which have mentioned how the world is increasingly embracing openness in document formats and software.

      Dave Richards is admin for the City of Largo, Florida.
      Early in the century, he started a rapid shift away from M$ and to Linux.
      He has the remaining legacy Windoze apps on server(s)[1] (and, one assumes, diligently maintains clones of those boxes, anticipating failure).
      Mostly, his servers run Linux and FOSS apps.
      Most of the worker bees have thin clients running Linux.

      [1] M$ licensing and needing multiple servers to comply with those just absolutely sucks.

      -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]