[Full-Disclosure] RE: Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 now available.

From: Javier Sanchez (full-disclosure@lists.netsys.com)
Date: 08/07/02


From: full-disclosure@lists.netsys.com (Javier Sanchez (Information Systems))
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 12:11:18 -0400

Here's what I did to make myself feel better.
1. Downloaded the full SP3.exe.
2. Disabled my network adapter
3. Ran the SP3 update
4. Rebooted.
5. Disabled Automatic Updates
6. Re-enabled the network adapter

However, this won't accomplish much if you use the WindowsUdate site, as
both the website and the Auto-update client will both transmit the same
information.

As some consolation, the following text is also provided by Microsoft:
"Because Windows Update does not collect personally identifiable
information, the configuration information and GUID cannot be used to
identify you. "

<SOAPBOX>
I must agree with Darren Reeds comments - SP2 was the last "free"
Service Pack. Microsoft has crossed the point of no return, and it
would be naive to believe that they are alone. Other vendors will
follow. Bruce Schneier crystalized the point one or two Blackhats ago
when he stated that people believe that, because its computer related,
somehow its magically different than the real world. This, not only
applies to security, but it also applies to our privacy. We tolerate
these voilations of our privacy, when we install software, surf the web,
etc. Most of the time without giving it a great deal of thought or
concern. Beacuse its cyberspace? Who do you think runs those systems?
People. I don't have any answers but I ask that we all stay vigilant.
</SOAPBOX>

  
Javier I. Sanchez

-----Original Message-----
From: Nick FitzGerald [mailto:nick@virus-l.demon.co.uk]
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 7:44 PM
To: bugtraq@securityfocus.com; full-disclosure@lists.netsys.com
Subject: RE: Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 now available.

Colin Stefani <cstefani@tideworks.com> wrote:

> Be sure to read the new EULA/privacy statement for Windows update, it
has an
> interesting portion about how Windows Update and Automatic Update
(which
> gets installed with SP3) can, by agreeing to this license, send the
> following pieces of info to Microsoft, this was posted on the MS focus
list
> by Javier Sanchez:
>
> "With the latest version of Windows Update (essentially a mandatory
download
> and now part of SP3) you consent to sending the following information
to
> Microsoft:
>
> * Operating-system version number and Product Identification number
> * Internet Explorer version number
> * Version numbers of other software
> * Plug and Play ID numbers of hardware devices

This adds further irony to the blurb about enabling scripting and
ActiveX, should you visit those pages with (a browser masquerading
as) IE with no scripting nor ActiveX support:

   If you are on a Web site that you trust (in this case, Windows
   Update), and the ActiveX Control is provided by a publisher you
   trust (in this case, Microsoft), it is safe to click Yes in the
   dialog box to accept the certificate and allow the control to be
   installed.

Seems MS is attempting to redefine "trustworthy" how it once tried to
redefine "open" (who else remembers the early NT launches??).

It seems the option "trust MS enough to run its software but not with
any possibly identifying information" falls outside the gambit of
"trustworthy" in MS-think! I hope they point this out _in advance of
taking their money_ to all future potential customers...

-- 
Nick FitzGerald
Computer Virus Consulting Ltd.
Ph/FAX: +64 3 3529854


Relevant Pages

  • RE: Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 now available.
    ... Ran the SP3 update ... Re-enabled the network adapter ... the following text is also provided by Microsoft: ... > interesting portion about how Windows Update and Automatic Update ...
    (Bugtraq)
  • Re: Word 2007 Home & Student Future Updates
    ... I would assume it will contain all of SP2 and SP3 but you still want to do a Windows Update to make sure you have all of the applicable patches for you OS and Microsoft apps. ... Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies" ...
    (microsoft.public.officeupdate)
  • Re: Any experience installing SP3 on a Mac BootCamp partition?
    ... Dear Colin & friends, I tried it, through Windows Update, and I ... I am running XP Pro SP3 on ... My installation is fully updated ... from the updates from Microsoft, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Microsoft Vista
    ... been 77 more applied to my system by Windows Update. ... According to Microsoft, XP SP3 is due "sometime in the second half of ... I strongly suspect I'll still be running XP for the next few years. ... thinking about SP3. ...
    (misc.news.internet.discuss)
  • RE: Windows Update has stopped working.
    ... Microsoft CSS Online Newsgroup Support ... Windows Update has stopped working. ... Click on Start, Run, type REGSVR32 MSXML.DLL and click OK. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)