Thanks xStainDx for this. A growing number of Microsoft Corp. customers are angry and frustrated with what they say are the company's thinly veiled attempts to use its well-publicized security initiative to get them to upgrade or buy new software.
Users contacted by eWeek last week reported various technical problems with Microsoft's automated services that let customers download and install patches for applications such as Internet Explorer 5.5 or Windows NT 4.0. They also said that when they contacted Microsoft support personnel, they were told that the software they were running was outdated. The solution: Upgrade to a more recent, more secure version.
One user with extensive security training, who asked not to be named, said she recently installed Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, which includes security fixes. The installation destroyed her network connection, forcing her to uninstall the service pack and leaving that machine exposed to the vulnerabilities the update should have fixed.
Others say that the combination of problems with Windows Update and other such services, along with Microsoft's decision to release some of its patches solely through these automated tools, have led them to dispense with installing some fixes altogether.
Although Microsoft has agreed as part of its consent decree with the Department of Justice to continue to provide support and updates for its older products, the users say the company seems to be penalizing customers who use legacy applications by making it difficult for them to obtain patches.
News source: eWeek - Microsoft Users Upset With 'Security Updates'
