Microsoft, which has been struggling to regain the trust of its customers, has succeeded again. As expected, Windows Update has released several security and reliability updates for Windows 7 in the last Patch Tuesday. But some more observant developers were surprised by one of the packages released for Windows 7.
Σύμφωνα με τους κανονισμούς της Microsoft, αυτό που αποκαλούν "ενημερώσεις μόνο για την ασφάλεια" θα πρέπει να συμπεριλαμβάνουν μόνο ενημερώσεις ασφαλείας, και όχι διορθώσεις quality or diagnostic tools.
Almost three years ago, Microsoft split the monthly upgrade packages for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 into two distinct categories: a monthly collection of updates and fixes (cumulative updates) and, for those who only want the patches which are absolutely necessary, for safety.
What comes as a surprise for the security update, July 2019 KB4507456, (Security-only update ) is accompanied by the Compatibility Appraiser tool, KB2952664, which is designed to detect issues that could prevent a Windows 7 PC from upgrading to Windows 10.
Among the skeptics of Windows Update, the Compatibility Appraiser tool should be avoided. Their concern about this tool is because it is used to prepare forced updates or to monitor individual computers.
The word telemetry εμφανίζεται σε τουλάχιστον ένα αρχείο, και για μερικούς παρατηρητές το συγκεκριμένο αρχείο μπορεί να πραγματοποιήσει μια "φαινομενικά αβλαβή συλλογή δεδομένων" αλλά μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί και σαν καθαρό spyware.
Ο Woody Leonhard, ανέφερε νωρίτερα σήμερα ότι η Microsoft φαίνεται ότι "προωθεί κρυφά τη λειτουργικότητα τηλεμετρίας" στην τελευταία ενημέρωση:
With the July update only for security KB4507456, Microsoft has rolled in a security update without any warning, adding the Compatibility Appraiser tool, as well as scheduled telemetry tasks. The package details for KB4507456 state that it replaces KB2952664 (among other updates).
Of course nothing has been officially announced by Microsoft, and they don't seem anxious to justify this sneaky behavior? Where the transparency where the Redmond claims to adopt in all its services?
Note that it is very likely that Microsoft is planning to install the Compatibility Appraiser tool as the Windows 7 support expiration date approaches.
Recall that this date is after six months, on January 14, 2020. And although Microsoft will offer paid support for another three years to businesses, the main goal of the company is to move all its users to Windows 10 .
