Is turning off updates for Microsoft suggested?

[babylonsister]

How about Firefox? I'm getting update notices regularly; do I actually need them? It never seems like they improve anything.

And if it's suggested that I can/should, can you explain how I go about doing that?

Thank you!

[unhappycamper]

1. I think auto updates (especially to XP) should be shut off.

A lawyer friend of mine had automatic updates turned on. One of them about a month ago said "we're going to make sure all the files you create/use with earlier versions of Micros$oft Office no longer work." She's been trying to restore her files now for two weeks, which is problematic as she is a lawyer and all her work is in M$O 2003.

To turn off updates on an XP system:

Click on Start
Click on Control Panel
Click on System
When the System window shows, select the 'Automatic Updates' tab
Click on 'Turn off updates'
Click on OK


Good luck!!

[babylonsister]

2. Done, and thank you! nt

[Egnever]

10. Thats a pretty silly story

First that message you claim she got is totaly bogus there never was such a message. Secondly every time microsoft does an automatic update it creates a restore point that you can return to should the patch create any problems. Now admitedly sometimes those restore points dont work for one reason or another but if your computer is still running you can always remove an update through add and remove programs.

Turning off Updates is not smart. The second an update is released it is advertising to the world what the security hole is, leaving that hole open becomes more dangerous the second those updates are released.

You are welcome to do anything you want of course but the story you are spinning here is silly in my opinion.

[hobbit709]

3. I keep Automatic Updates turned off

If you look at the list of updates, 99% of them are fixes for security problems in Internet ExploDer and Outlook. Since I refuse to use those programs, I'm already more secure. My theory is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Once I install XP on a system all I add is Service Pack 3, which I have on a flash drive.

Also go to Control Panel, Security Center and select Change The way Security Center alerts me. Uncheck the Automatic Update alert and you won't get that annoying little popup that says "Your System may be at risk".

[hermetic]

4. Thanks for that

I turned off MS updates ages ago but always got the "reminder" popup whenever I started my computer.

What about the FF updates though? No Script is always updating. Could we live without the updates or are we better off just putting up with the minor annoyance?

Thanks again.

[hobbit709]

5. Don't know about Firefox-I don't use it.

But somewhere in settings, options, preferences, there should be a way to turn it off.

I use SeaMonkey which is also put out by Mozilla. It has more of the look and feel of the old Netscape browser which is what I started on.

[unhappycamper]

6. The Firefox auto updates are a minor annoyance.

Suggest you take them every time you start up Firefox.

I would, however, suggest you NOT always grab the latest Firefox from Mozilla. I like to let other folks get burned when something does not work as advertised. I usually upgrade a few months after the latest.

[MyNameGoesHere]

7. It is your choice, and I am sure the hacker world would thank you.

I think more people should not use security updates. I mean after all the underworld of computer criminals shouldn't have it so hard to hack into your system. I suggest turning off any firewalls as well.

It never ceases to amaze me, if a car manufacturer issued a recall, stating that your car could blow up or crash into walls if you didn't get this fixed, people would be in lines to get the fix. But somehow they miss things like, IT COULD ALLOW ACCESS TO YOUR SYSTEM AND ALL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, does not trigger the same alarm.

By the way these same people suggesting to turn it off really do not like Microsoft. Now if you really want to know the truth and best practices about updates, I would go somewhere else. Do not take the word of ONE forum site alone.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

8. DON'T turn off automatic updates

Even if you don't use Internet Explorer, an application you have might use it (even without you knowing it). The security updates are important, even if you don't think you need them. When an update patches a vulnerability in the system, it helps to protect you from unscrupulous people who have no problem stealing your identity or harming your computer. Let me give you an example: if you lived in a high-crime area, would you leave a hundred dollar bill taped to the inside of your windshield and your doors unlocked? Would you blame the car company for having an inadequate security system if that hundred dollars was stolen? Essentially that's what you're doing if you get your identity stolen from your computer without taking preemptive measures to protect yourself (ie, "locking your doors").

My advice would be to keep the updates turned on, but don't allow Windows to install them automatically. Instead, tell Windows to notify you of new updates so that you can download and install them yourself. And contrary to popular belief, Windows won't download updates to software programs you don't have - if you don't have Microsoft Office installed, for example, you won't get updates for Outlook (keep in mind that Outlook Express is a completely different application from Outlook, and is installed with IE).

As for Firefox updates and add-in updates, install them all if you can. There are a lot of security vulnerabilities in Firefox that are patched on a regular basis. The only way to protect yourself is to install those updates. But, you don't have to install entirely new versions of Firefox right away. Give them a month or 2 before installing because Mozilla is famous for releasing poorly tested versions of FF.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

9. + 10,000

Well said.:thumbsup:

[woo me with science]

11. This is the right answer. nt

[Earth Bound Misfit]

12. I concur nt

[babylonsister]

13. Thanks, everyone! nt