windows update

In recent days, Infopackets.com has received several inquires like this one: "Dear Infopackets team: I recently made the switch to Windows 8 and love most of the new features. I understand that Microsoft occasionally releases patches and updates as ... part of their continued improvement to the operating system. Are these updates even important? Is there any way I can stop these updates from automatically downloading and appearing on my system without my knowledge? Love your site! Christopher D." My reply: You might be able to stop the patches, but you really don't want to. Regularly updating ... (view more)

As of February 22nd, 2011, Microsoft is officially in the process of rolling out Windows 7 Service Pack 1 to all Windows 7 users via the Windows Update (automatic) feature, as well as through Microsoft's website. Why a Windows Service Pack is ... Imperative In general, a Windows Service Pack is a method of bringing together multiple changes to the operating system. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 ("SP1") is a single download (also available on DVD) that includes all major and minor security and bug fixes since the original release of Windows 7, up to the last software update made available ... (view more)

Microsoft's recent decision to offer its free Security Essentials software through Windows Update has caused a major uproar amongst antivirus developers . In what appears to be an effort to make at least one major security firm happy, Microsoft has ... partnered up with Symantec to offer that company's software at no charge, too. Retailer PC Mall is also a part of the deal, which involves offering small businesses the Symantec EndPoint Protection Small Edition software package when they buy a new copy of Microsoft's operating system (OS), Windows 7. The offer will be available until the last day ... (view more)

A prominent security firm has taken a stand against Microsoft's decision to offer its free antivirus software, Microsoft Security Essentials , as part of its recent Windows Update. A member of Trend Micro's management team not long ago referred to ... the move as one "commercializing Windows Update". Last week Microsoft began offering U.S. Windows users its free antivirus program, Microsoft Security Essentials, through the Windows operating system's built-in update service. The offering works like this: if Windows detects that a user is not using any antivirus software, the option of upgrading to ... (view more)

According to Jeff Williams, the principal group program manager for the Microsoft Malware Protection Center, computers in countries with high rates of software piracy are more likely to be infected by malicious code because users are leery of ... applying security patches. In China , the piracy rate is nearly four times higher than that of the U.S., according to a recent Microsoft report. Oddly enough, the use of Microsoft's Windows Update service (used to patch security flaws) in these countries is significantly less than in the U.S. (Source: networkworld.com ) Brazil and France were identified ... (view more)