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from the "because-the-updates-might-not-work" dept.
Security researcher Patrick Barker has caught Samsung deliberately disabling Windows Update on Samsung PCs in favor of its own bloatware service:
The problem was spotted by independent security researcher Patrick Barker after a Windows user complained that the Windows Update function, which automatically downloads patches and security fixes from Microsoft, was being randomly disabled.
The culprit turned out to be a piece of code called SWUpdate, which Samsung bundles on its machines to handle driver updates for its hardware. SWUpdate, in turn, runs an executable called Disable_Windowsupdate.exe as part of its standard operations. Guess what that does.
At first, the researchers were concerned that the software might be malware, although it did appear to be signed by Samsung itself. A call to Samsung technical support yielded the following response:
When you enable Windows updates, it will install the Default Drivers for all the hardware [on the] laptop which may or may not work. For example if there is USB 3.0 on laptop, the ports may not work with the installation of updates. So to prevent this, SW Update tool will prevent the Windows updates.
Samsung has not replied to The Reg's request for comment but a Microsoft spokesperson emailed us the following statement:
Windows Update remains a critical component of our security commitment to our customers. We do not recommend disabling or modifying Windows Update in any way as this could expose a customer to increased security risks. We are in contact with Samsung to address this issue.
Original Submission and Original Submission
(Score: 4, Insightful) by edIII on Thursday June 25 2015, @10:29PM
I'd like some more information too. At first glance, Samsung isn't wrong to do that. Windows Update, has, and continues, to be a source of a great fuckery. More than once, I've been forced to deal with the exact same issues, and selecting certain updates to run is about all I can do. Generally, I would never update drivers from Windows Update, but choose to update it directly from the manufacturer's website instead. In any case, the problem of Microsoft *electing* to do these things on their own is a known issue. For every machine I work with there is a drivers folder in the root that contains the exact files needed to install for precisely that reason.
There were many times I wish Microsoft would give me a checkbox to lock the device preventing any, and all, driver updates. Similar to how you lock stuff down in the repositories on various flavors on Linux/BSD and prevent updates.
We can laugh at Samsung for seemingly adding to bloatware, but all I can do is nod my head in agreement with them on the problems with Windows Update. Microsoft may be mad and embarrassed, but it's still on them for screwing up Samsung hardware drivers on working machines.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by bzipitidoo on Friday June 26 2015, @12:01AM
Also, Windows Update can be trusted only so far. Several times now, MS has abused the system to pass off their own malware as security patches. They tried to spin Windows Genuine Advantage as a security feature, not troubling to explain that it is not security for the user, it is security for MS against the user. Most recently is the "Get Windows 10" nag icon that MS loaded onto users' computers through Windows Update, and which is too difficult to remove. If the user simply uninstalls it, Windows Update puts it right back on in the next update.
There was also the time they corrupted their malicious software removal tool with an anti-piracy addition that would silently check the user's computer for copies of MS Office and other MS products that appeared to be pirated.
Trust should never be abused. A few years ago, the CIA abused a medical charity, perhaps the Red Cross, to provide cover for a covert operation. Now the targeted citizens no longer trust the doctors, and it has made it harder to eradicate disease, reach people with vaccinations. Guess the CIA feels that's not their problem. The Bush administration infamously "spent" America's reputation to hoke up evidence of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Then they pressured others to fall in line by implying that disagreement was disloyalty. They still don't get why lying and cheating is a bad idea. Need to reread "The Boy Who Cried Wolf".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 26 2015, @01:45AM
Woah man! It is all connected. All freaking connected!! You just blew my mind!!!
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday June 26 2015, @03:53PM
It's funny, I've been reading about that "free Windows 10" nag icon but it hasn't shown up on this machine at all. I doubt W10 will run on this five year old W7 notebook.
mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org
(Score: 2) by edIII on Friday June 26 2015, @08:12PM
It's on mine right now, and just like he said, I can't remove the farking thing from the system tray. However, it did make my system tray exactly 8 items, so I got that going for me right?
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Saturday June 27 2015, @05:28PM
Oddly, it showed up in my tray this morning. I'm afraid if I install it I'll either be stuck with it or will have to install kubuntu (which I intend to do anyway).
mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Friday June 26 2015, @03:50PM
Windows Update, has, and continues, to be a source of a great fuckery.
Indeed, I've had MS updates break drivers in the past (IIRC the last one was when I upgraded to XP. The next day I couldn't get on the internet because MS replaced the perfectly functional driver with one that didn't work at all). But even when they don't break your machine it's a pain in the ass; this 5 year old W7 notebook runs fine except when Windows Update rears its ugly head, and it's completely unusable until its forced reboot.
The worst in a long time was this week. I decided to submit a couple of stories to magazines, all of whom require a Word document, and I can't get Open Office to write a file that Word doesn't refuse to open, so I installed the version of Word that came with the computer. Two reboots later Windows informs me that the Acer updater is incompatible with Windows, despite the fact that it hasn't whispered a word about it in the five years I've had this thing.
Now every time I reboot that notice comes up. There's a checkbox for "don't show this message again" but like most of Microsoft's barely functional software, the checkbox has no effect.
Microsoft simply writes shoddy software. Period.
mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org
(Score: 1) by SDRefugee on Friday June 26 2015, @04:41PM
Windows Update, has, and continues, to be a source of a great fuckery.
Boy aint THAT the truth.. A Windows 8.1 fresh install on a Dell Precision M4400 with Nvidia Quadro video, machine works just fine until the flood of updates that WU decides the system needs.. After they're all applied, and a reboot, the machine now immediately bluescreens right after login, with a TDR_VIDEO_FAILURE in part of the Nvidia driver that WU decided the system needed.. The fix was to get the system into safemode, uninstall the crap WU Nvidia driver, and put the latest/greatest on from the Nvidia website.. Seriously stupid... And a nice middle finger to the asshole/assholes at MS who screwed up the old "F8 for Safemode" on Win8.1.. Tried both F8 and Shift-F8, neither got me into safemode on this system... Thank God for ClassicShell to make this steaming turd usable...
America should be proud of Edward Snowden, the hero, whether they know it or not..