Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

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Reflective
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Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by Reflective »

Barely two hours ago Microsoft installed four updates which don't appear in Windows Update or in the Programs & Features menu even though I explicitly disabled automatic updates.

Here are my current WU settings: https://i.imgur.com/BKAph8w.png
And here are the updates which only appear in Windows Action Center / Reliability Monitor: https://i.imgur.com/lO0a5Z2.png

Does anyone know how to prevent these unsolicited updates from installing?
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WaltS48
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by WaltS48 »

You don't want to be protected from the WannaCry ransomware attack?

http://news.softpedia.com/news/just-upd ... 5716.shtml
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LIMPET235
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by LIMPET235 »

I "try" to keep abreast of the latest by going to Woody's site...
> https://www.askwoody.com/
& D/L'ing Steve Gibson's weekly, (Done on Tuesdays), "Security Now" video.
> https://twit.tv/
[Ancient Amateur Astronomer.]
Win-10-H/64 bit/500G SSD/16 Gig Ram/450Watt PSU/350WattUPS/Firefox-115.0.2/T-bird-115.3.2./SnagIt-v10.0.1/MWP-7.12.125.

(Always choose the "Custom" Install.)
morat
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by morat »

WaltS48 wrote:WannaCry ransomware attack
Did the OS install a WannaCry fix without permission?

Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Installed Updates

May, 2017 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 8.1 (KB4019215)
April, 2017 Preview of Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 8.1 (KB4015553)
April, 2017 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 8.1 (KB4015550)
March, 2017 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 8.1 (KB4012216)
March, 2017 Security Only Quality Update for Windows 8.1 (KB4012213)

If you have any of those patches, you’re fine.
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Reflective
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by Reflective »

WaltS48 wrote:You don't want to be protected from the WannaCry ransomware attack?
I disabled SMB long ago.

The updates which downloaded to my machine this morning have nothing to do with the ransomware exploit you're referring to.
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Reflective
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by Reflective »

morat wrote:
WaltS48 wrote:WannaCry ransomware attack
Did the OS install a WannaCry fix without permission?
This has nothing to do with WannaCry.
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Reflective
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by Reflective »

LIMPET235 wrote:I "try" to keep abreast of the latest by going to Woody's site...
> https://www.askwoody.com/
& D/L'ing Steve Gibson's weekly, (Done on Tuesdays), "Security Now" video.
> https://twit.tv/
These updates have nothing to do with any security issues. Microsoft.VCLibs along with the other updates are just SDK releases for the Windows Store. But since I log into my machine with a local account there are restrictions in place as to what access I have.

Since I don't use the Windows Store, I don't want anything downloading to my machine which are related to it.

So going back to my original question......does anyone know how to block these installations, possibly with a registry key?
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mightyglydd
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by mightyglydd »

Why don't you ask on a Windows Forum?
This place is DEAD.
#KeepFightingMichael and Alex.
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LIMPET235
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by LIMPET235 »

Try setting it to "NEVER Check..........."
& do manual updates.
I only get/select the Security updates & kill the rest.
[Ancient Amateur Astronomer.]
Win-10-H/64 bit/500G SSD/16 Gig Ram/450Watt PSU/350WattUPS/Firefox-115.0.2/T-bird-115.3.2./SnagIt-v10.0.1/MWP-7.12.125.

(Always choose the "Custom" Install.)
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Reflective
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by Reflective »

mightyglydd wrote:Why don't you ask on a Windows Forum?
The question has already been posted on that forum back in 2014 concerning the installation of Microsoft.ZuneVideo. You'll note from the OP's opening remarks that the installation doesn't appear in Windows Update or anywhere else for that matter. It's just Microsoft deciding users should have that player whether they want it or not.

Personally, I don't like the Microsoft forum having contributed there myself in the past and wasn't very impressed with the responses I saw from Microsoft's so-called moderators who are fond of posting sarcastic and patronizing remarks rather than trying to help users with their problems.
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Reflective
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by Reflective »

LIMPET235 wrote:Try setting it to "NEVER Check..........."
& do manual updates.
I only get/select the Security updates & kill the rest.
It wouldn't make any difference in this particular case.

Also, I do manual updates already and only install security only patches. Martin Brinkman over at ghacks.net publishes a comprehensive report on each monthly Patch Tuesday updates together with links to the respective Catalog downloads so I don't have to go hunting around for them myself.
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Ngamer01
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by Ngamer01 »

I should remind people Microsoft updated Windows Update in older OS's to have some parity with Windows 10's Windows Update. So now in certain circumstances, Microsoft can override your settings to push updates on you.

I'm on Windows 10 Creator's Update and Microsoft still forces update downloads even when I turned on Metered Connections. It just won't install them automatically until I approve it.
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mightyglydd
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by mightyglydd »

#KeepFightingMichael and Alex.
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Reflective
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by Reflective »

mightyglydd wrote:Is this thing on ?.... https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/hel ... pp-updates
"Automatically update my apps" is set to "No".
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Reflective
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Re: Windows 8.1 installing updates without permission

Post by Reflective »

Ngamer01 wrote:I should remind people Microsoft updated Windows Update in older OS's to have some parity with Windows 10's Windows Update. So now in certain circumstances, Microsoft can override your settings to push updates on you.
I disabled the option to override my settings when it was disclosed in an article on Infoworld.
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