Read the Fine Print

nihilist_1137 writes: "This story is about how MS changed its EULA and you just gave them control of your computer. In the section on Windows XP Professional, 'Internet-Based Services Components' paragraph says in part, 'You acknowledge and agree that Microsoft may automatically check the version of the Product and/or its components that you are utilizing and may provide upgrades or fixes to the Product that will be automatically downloaded to your Workstation Computer.'"

Two Perspectives

[spongebob]

One is that Microsoft sucks for doing this... I think most people can agree to that.

Two is that people are stupid if they don't read those agreements. They are so used to clicking next that anyone who has agreed to this deserves to give thier info to M$

I can just see it now

[yobbo]

*Scanning software*
Netscape.exe
*1 Upgrade Found*
Applying Opera 6.01.exe

Okay, I can only wish :)

Message from Microsoft

[Baalam]

"All your computer belong to us"

What's the difference.....

[mickwd]

.....betweeen a Microsoft Product and a Virus/Trojan ?

The EULA.

It Makes Me Angry

[Alien54]

It is this sort of this that angers me. It angers me deeply and profoundly.

This Type of survics should always be an opt-in.

Most US law is on the basis of the ordinary citizen is automaticly opted-out of things unless they opt in. People do not have to opt out of buglary, rape, robbery, murder, slavery, etc.

Businesses now assume that you should be automatically want what they offer, and that we should automatically agree to any condition they impose. Microsoft is one of the largest sinners in this regard.

May Bill Gates be tortured by the demons of all worlds religions in the after life. May he be forced to suckle from the 16 poisoned leathern teats of Gophahmet, Whore of Betrayal, until he bursts from an unwholesome engorgement of curdled bile. And may many other such joys [theonion.com] await him as well.

Don't mind me. I'm pissed, it's early, and I haven't had my coffee yet.

Re:What's the difference.....

[Black Parrot]

> .....betweeen a Microsoft Product and a Virus/Trojan ?

Viruses usually work as intended.

Re: Maybe the users want it

[Black Parrot]

If the users want it, why is it in the EULA instead of the television commercials?

Re:XP antispy Program

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, and if you don't love the big oil companies, then don't buy gasoline. And if you disagree with the RIAA, then quit listening to music. If you dislike the Food and Drug Adminstration, forgo all medications and foods. That'll learn 'em.

Re:I can just see it now

[eburns]

Unfortunatly given Microsoft's past behavior the more likely scenerio is: *Scanning software* Opera 6.01.exe *1 Upgrade Found* Deleting Opera 6.01.exe Applying IE6.0.exe

Re:Of Contracts and Lawyers

[nagora]

The task of any lawyer or group of lawyers is to zealously protect the rights of their client

No, a lawyer's primary task is to make money for their firm. Just as a prostitute's primary task is to make money for her pimp. In both cases it is often, though not always, a good tactic to make the client happy, but that's just a by-product. Also, in both cases law and morality are non-factors.

TWW

Re:What's the difference.....

[Anonymous Coward]

Most linux geeks don't spend all day trying to replicate the success of viruses and trojans.

Re:Why do companies tolerate this?

[praedor]

Minors cannot legally sign a contract. I say, to avoid ALL claims by M$ or anyone else that you are bound by a bullshit EULA, have an underage child handle all the initial parts of your software installs. YOU never saw, nor clicked on any "I Agree" button and the child is not legally bound by such.

Tech support headache

[ruvreve]

When every week Microsoft supplies a large update to all the dialup users, people will start calling in saying my streaming porn movie is very choppy fix it. And most likely they will only have one phone line so they will disconnect half-way through the update to call tech support and when they get back online for awhile it'll be fine until the update starts over.....then they will call tech support again. This wouldn't be very funny except I guarantee it will happen. Just like the cdrom coffee cup holder probably happened because the funniest things come from real life.

Re:Maybe the users want it: Yeah, Right

[theancient2]

The 85% bit has been covered already, so let me just address the rest of the FUD you've got going there...

I know stopped using MSN because of compatability problems caused by the updates... updates that they couldn't turn off...

We're talking about Windows XP updates here -- which can most certainly be turned off. In fact, one of the first things XP does after installation is ask whether you want updates to be installed automatically or not. If you change your mind later, bring up System Properties, and select Automatic Updates.

One person actually had to reinstall her machine because one of the updates completely hosed her system...

XP has a few features designed to prevent this kind of thing. One is Add/Remove Programs -- every automatic update I can think of has installed an entry there. Second is System Restore. I've never had to use it, but I hear it works well for restoring system DLLs that you didn't want replaced. Third, there's the feature that prevents different DLL versions from stepping on each other's toes. (I'm not clear on the details of that one, so I'll leave it at that.) And finally, there's Driver Rollback, which I have used. If you update a driver and your hardware doesn't work as well anymore, hit the button and go back to the old version. Any of these can be done without rebooting, much less reinstalling the OS. At least that's what my experience with XP has been.