Why KB2999226 installed today?

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Why KB2999226 installed today (4/12/21) on Windows 8.1? I have updates disabled to prevent Windows Telemery to be installed. I am part of Group B. I installed update around March 28, only KB 5000800 and 5000853 , not 5001640 since it sounds like some telemetry data to me. I was checking to make sure updates was disabled for tomorrow MS fire storm updates and I noticed that this was installed today without my permission. I have not install anything new in the last few days. Anyone have a clue is MS is forcing updates on people that have

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https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows-c0514201-7fe6-95a3-b0a5-287930f3560c

Did you install any application recently? That’s an update to Universal runtime and is triggered when something is installed and then the system senses that it’s needed.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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some 3rd party apps require either the KB2999226 or the newer KB3118401 update for Win8.1.

maybe install KB3118401 instead, which supersedes/replaces KB2999226

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Did you install any application recently?

No. March 28 was the last time Windows 8.1 was on the internet. After installing updates, it was disconnected from Internet. Today was the first day back online for checking that everything is disabled. This Windows 8.1 is my backup computer if my Windows 7 computer, primary computer fails on me.

Windows 7 does not get an updates so I am not worried about Telemetry data for it. Windows 8.1 still gets updates and avoid all updates that have Telemetry data.

Does KB2999226 have telemetry data for MS?

some 3rd party apps require either the KB2999226 maybe install KB3118401 instead, which supersedes/replaces KB2999226

Not sure which 3rd party apps would required it. Would it bypass MS updates which are disabled and install itself? How can I find those 3rd party apps and disable them from install updates?

KB3118401 is not listed in the list of safe updates for Group B. Does it have Telemetry data?

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What exact updates were installed on 3/28?  as an update installed on that date could then trigger a detection of additional updates.

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/libreoffice-installs-requires-kb2999226-bad-patch/

For example Libre Office needs that update.

Now as to the telemetry question – there are some that report it has “deep telemetry” but I have been unable to confirm this with my own testing.  (see https://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/412341-remove-components-updates-included-convenience-rollup-msu-file.html )  I don’t see my machines phone-ing home so I would disagree this is happening. Remember you can always set up a personal firewall program or firewall/router and block outbound connections if you are at all concerned.

 

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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Only two of the updates from 2000003: Ongoing list of “Group B” monthly updates for Win7 and 8.1

Yes – Mar 2021 KB 5000853 –
Yes -Mar 2021 (IE11) – KB 5000800 –

No since note about OOB telemery – Mar 2021 KB 5001640 – (OOB update released 3/22/2021 to fix printer issues. )

Plus the Defender updates and Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool.

Not sure how to set up firewall. Too complicate for me. This is reason for checking List which updates are safe to install.

No Libre Office is used.

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https://www.lifewire.com/free-firewall-programs-4129270

 

There’s some examples of personal firewall programs. Ultimately it’s the only way to block telemetry.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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Those programs are beyond my skill level. I will just keep using Windows 7 and hope that it last as long as I do. Otherwise, hope that Windows 8.1 will make it easier to block them. It would be nice if could put them in the host file what to block. My host file on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 has over 1500 websites that block, included all of these

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
http://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
https://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
http://*.update.microsoft.com
https://*.update.microsoft.com
http://*.windowsupdate.com
http://download.windowsupdate.com
http://download.microsoft.com
http://*.download.windowsupdate.com
http://wustat.windows.com
http://ntservicepack.microsoft.com
http://stats.microsoft.com
https://stats.microsoft.com. 

Many people on this site mentioned that MS Telemetry bypass the host file and still connect. That proof that if KB2999226 installed and I have all MS update site block that have no way to do it for a simple computer user like me.
Thanks for the assistance.

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[Alex5723]

Susan Bradley wrote:

For example Libre Office needs that update.

That is one of the reasons to use portable apps :-). Portable apps never install unwanted apps or Windows updates.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by Alex5723.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Microfix

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Seem my post never made here since mentioned ____ (unofficial sites).

Yes, KB2999226 has telemary base on several websites (see Susan’s like above for accepted site. Nothing can be done about it. MS buried it deep into the source code. Since many apps require it, you have no choice but install it.

The programs that might have cause it to install are MS edge, Chrome, Java etc. list is very long and not sure what you have installed.

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anonymous wrote:

The programs that might have cause it to install are MS edge, Chrome, Java etc. list is very long and not sure what you have installed.

I do not have any of those programs. Windows 8.1 is a fresh install after Windows 10 was force on it a few years back. I had to get Best Buy to remove Windows 10 and install Windows 8.1. MS cost be over $200 bucks. Only programs install was Google Earth but have not use it in years. After that, it has not been online more than 30 min to not install Windows 10. I install updates than shut it down and disconnect the network cable from it. I use my Windows 7 computer only. It was not forced install of Windows 10 and it’s telemetry data. The reason might be there is only 300MB free space on it. But it saved me paying another $200 buck to reinstall the original OS.

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[GoneToPlaid]

I am a Windows 7 Group B user. I do have KB2999226 installed on my computer. This update for the Universal C Runtime does allow for very limited telemetry if the author of a program chooses to enable telemetry within their program code in order to learn why their program crashed. KB2999226 is extremely limited in what telemetry it can send. It is somewhat similar to the archaic Windows Error Reporting tool.

I recall that MS Office 365 installs KB2999226 so that if an Office app crashes, MS can learn why the app crashed, such as if the crash was within the app code itself or within a called DLL due to incorrectly passing a parameter to the DLL. I do approve of this kind of extremely limited telemetry since it provides MS and other programmers with just enough information to realize that that they have a problem in their code.

KB2999226 is nowhere as invasive as the infamous KB2952664 for Windows 7 and the KB equivalent for Windows 8 which not only tracked literally everything which a user did with their computer, but also tracked what the computer did itself while booting up and while running at all times. This is why I switched to Group B and have remained on Group B ever since.

At the end of the day and from one Group B user to another, you don’t need to have any worries about KB2999226.

And then of course there is the famous abbodi86 topic for how all Windows 7 and Windows 8 users can prevent telemetry from being sent to Microsoft:

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/2000012-neutralize-telemetry-sustain-win-7-8-1-monthly-rollup-model/

Note that aboddi86’s script merely stops all telemetry. His script does not remove the updates which continue to gather telemetry.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by GoneToPlaid. Reason: typo

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anonymous wrote:

Only programs install was Google Earth but have not use it in years. After that, it has not been online more than 30 min to not install Windows 10. I install updates than shut it down and disconnect the network cable from it. I use my Windows 7 computer only. It was not forced install of Windows 10 and it’s telemetry data. The reason might be there is only 300MB free space on it.

Google Earth uses KB2999226  and it auto updates so it might have caused the update to install. Google Earth use telemetry to send to Google and this is why it needs the newest update for the telemetry to work. If you use the program, than you have to accept that.

 

You can use Windows 8.1 now. MS is not forcing Windows 10 updates any more since they were suited and lost the case. It is almost safe to use it. Or you can use the filled hard drive trick to avoid it install if you are worried like you had in Windows 7.

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@anonymous

Sorry to be late on the scene with this one, but I found this Topic after searching the internet for ‘why does KB2999226 install without permission?’. Thought I would add my penny’s worth in case it may help someone.

I think I am near to a ‘Group B’ type Win7 user, only installing security updates, and others if I really have to. WUC is basically set to Off and I have tightened down CEIP settings as recommended by many on this good site.

I have not installed anything in last 2 years other than Security Updates, until I needed  .NET Framework 4.8, so I went ahead and installed KB4503575 (perhaps recklessly using WUC), and noting it also pushed KB4019990 on my Installed Update List. Fair enough, apparently KB4019990 required to update the d3dcompiler_47.dll component, seems harmless, let that one go.

But I was still out by one Update when reckoning up my totals of updating history. Then I spot this KB2999226 installed 15/01/21! Okay nearly a year ago, but totally without any knowledge on my part. Now thinking back, I did connect a Nokia Lumia 635? Windows 8.1 phone to my PC about this time. Windows software was required for the USB connection and dialogue box popped up of the Desktop taskbar notification area, saying it was installing software (and if I remember correctly, updates too!). I thought no more of it at the time, but this clearly is when I beleive KB2999226 got installed on my Win7 x64 Pro system.

I suppose I could try deleting all traces of KB2999226 out of my OS (if that is possible), reconnecting the phone and see if KB2999226 reinstalls.

 

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