Jephree, Dan, Tallin, I think your posts are very unreasonable.

Most people are computer literate only in how to use them to do the few things they use them for, like E-mail, web browsing, writing a letter, doing E-cards.

Telling these people to turn off automatic updates is not a good idea as they are also the ones most susceptible to malware infections. Therefore, keeping current with updates, even including MS Malicious Software Removal Tool once a month is a plus for the entire computing community. If it prevents a few computers from becoming infected that's good for all of us.

I also think you are reacting to forumitis, which means all we ever see are people who have problems. I have no idea what the actual numbers are but I would not be at all surprised to find 90% or more of Windows users have no problem with automatic updates.

"Have you not noted before that most people aren't experienced enough in their computing practices to do so safely?"

I always add that what I do/use/practice is My Opinion ONLY, and that if you have a decent AntiVirus and Firewall, a lot of the Microsoft additional programs/patches are not necessary.


"Is this something that you recommend that the average joe do?"

I make no recommendations. I simply state what I do and why.


"Perhaps you need to ad a disclaimer."
I did, (IMHO) plus the above statements.

Hi Rich,

Ztruker wrote: Telling these people to turn off automatic updates

I re-read all the posts in this thread again, no where do volunteers' tell anyone to do anything. I myself use the suggest word. Each thread contains each and every volunteers' opinion as far as I can read. Members may or may not take those suggestions on board as stated in The Terms of Service.

kind regards,

Ztruker,

Given the time stamps on our posts I must have been still typing when your post went up.

I have to side with tallin on this. I/we always state our "opinion/preferences" only, not state that someone should "do as I do". I don't see anything unreasonable in that.

Dan, you're a staff member here. What you say has a lot of weight so stating what you do is the same as telling someone this is how they should do it.

Tallin, I did read that article and others like it, and recommending is no different than telling.

My point was, and still is, that the vast majority of people don't have problems with Windows Updates. It serves it's purpose in protecting them from some forms of malware infection. "Recommending" that they turn it off does them a disservice.

Telling them to set it to Notify but not download is better but rather pointless as most will simply click Install now anyway. The only advantage I can see to this method is that you control when it occurs. This is how I have my systems setup because I want to watch what happens then check the system out when the update completes so if there are any induced problems I can start backing out the updates until I find the culprit. I've had a problem with one update in the years I've been doing this.

I suspect we'll agree to disagree on this though I really wish techs would stop recommending that people turn of Windows Updates unless there is a specific reason to do so.

Sorry to have usurped this thread I'll get off my horse now and return ya'll to regular broadcast.

"Dan, you're a staff member here. What you say has a lot of weight so stating what you do is the same as telling someone this is how they should do it."

Thats a pretty broad statement, and one I disagree with. It's not "the same as" at all, by any means.

Again, I make it clear that what I do is what I do. They are free to make their own choices. I've always stated that a good AV and Firewall makes a lot of difference (and protection).

I think that most just want to get their work done on their computer or be entertained by it, or check their email, etc but they don't typically think about safe computing practices online (or the best care of their computer in general) and therefore if they aren't willing to be preventive in their practices they should be willing to pay someone to fix the problem if they can't fix it--kind of like owning a car. However many really can't learn or don't take the time to learn about preventive practices. I understand that some can barely turn on their computer and check their email, play their games, etc. and pertaining our topic they have no concept about what to do/not to do with their computer perhaps partly because someone hasn't told them and partly because they don't care. Such people if they have a problem not only are they willing to pay for professional help because they have to (or take the time to come to a forum if they can't pay for it) but they are going to take any advice like it is as good as gold because they don't know better and they trust us 100%. You can use disclaimers (which I agree that we should) but they are going to follow what we say anyway especially if we have a fancy title [no matter what it is] and lots of posts. That is a responsibility that we all have to bear and not take lightly; I'm not saying that you don't because I know that you do. Also I guarantee you that 99.9% don't even read the terms when they signed up. I know that I didn't, but I have since.

That said I think that because most people don't care automatic updates should be enabled because such users aren't going to make sure that their computers are up to date and patched. Therefore if they don't care, don't have good computing practices, and don't have automatic updates they are a danger to themselves and everyone else. I recognize however that it might be different for "power" users like us. However if you are someone in authority like you dan or you are in a group that stands out from the rest like me (which to them really doesn't matter) and you say that you don't have auto updates enabled they might think that they don't need to either. Even worse is the mid level user who knows just enough to get themselves in trouble but they don't know enough to get themselves out or out of trouble or to avoid it in the first place. They may even be naive enough to think that they are invincible. They are more likely to look at such they statement and think that they don't have to do either when most don't have enough computing skill to do so safely like you do. Do you understand where I am coming from?

There's so much bantering going on here, the Original Poster hasn't been back.................

Agreed, my apologies to soundsev3n for starting the hijacking of his thread. I would not mind having everything from my post on deleted.

Well, that wouldn't be right either. Information has been "shared", be it off topic. Just because Moderators can edit/delete posts, it's not done on an arbitrary basis. (At least by me anyway.) ;>)