XP Updates Being Forced Upon Peons

[KCD]

Noticed tonight that the yellow shield was on. So moused over it & was informed that the download (dl) was 20% complete.

That's a problem, because my choice was set to "notify", not automatically download.

(Like to wait a few days to see if Gates got it right the first time.)

So went to "Windows Security" & discovered that the "Notify" choice was no longer available, I was to eat the dl whether I liked it or not.

Thinking I could stop such I un-pluged the DSL unit, not so. Once the DSL reset the dl was still trucking.

So went to power down the HP but was warned that WWIII would occur if I did not let the dl do its own thing, so I did.

When the HP came back up I again checked the "Notify" & "Apply" options, for whatever good that will do.

Anyone else been experiencing Heir Gates Storm Trooper tactics??

HP Pavilion 1.4 ghz XP sp3 768 ram Avast SuperAntiSpy Malewarebytes & a .357 Magnum

[Panama Red]

Don't think I've seen any XP installs without the "notify" option. Sounds like something is amiss with your os.

Something sounds amiss to me also. If you haven't already, I'd boot to safe mode and run some spyware scans.

[Force Flow]

There *is* a difference between download-and-let-me-choose-to-install and notify-before-downloading

Make sure you have the right one selected.

[KCD]

Thanks for the replys. Yes, it doesn't sound right but trust me it is happening. So here are the details.

"Security Center"

"Firewall" "on" & green

"Automatic Updates" "Check Settings" & mustard color

"Virus Protection" "on" & green.

Under "Automatic Updates"

"Automatic (Recommended)"

"Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them."

"Notify me but don't automatically download or install them"

The Avast anti-virus is run 3 times a week. Windows Defender once a week.
Anti- spyware programs are run each day.
Belarc says I'm current on updates.

Help

[Force Flow]

Are you connected to a domain, or is this a home machine?

[juppy]

Are you sure it was downloading actual security update files and not just a new version of the Windows Update file? I've read that WU will automatically download the newest version of it's WU file even if you have the "notify" option checked. I guess they don't count that as an "update". Only way to keep it from doing that though is to totally turn off WU, but then you get that annoying red shield that hounds you to turn it back on again.

[KCD]

FF, it is a home machine.

juppy, think you have nailed it as that makes sense.

This happened soon after some recent FF plug in / NoScripts updates.

In reading the www.grc.com forum I see that Spyware Terminator is recommended.

So to be sure it is not spyware will load it as soon as Avast completes it's scan.

Thanks fellas,

[KCD]

update:

Spyware Terminator found 243 minor issues that got by SuperAntiSpy & Malewarebytes.

So, juppy, until I'm proven wrong, I'm convinced that you have in fact nailed it.

Thanks

[juppy]

No problem. I just hope I'm right, because otherwise I don't have a clue what could cause that.