Windows 7 security-only "Group B" patching remains viable

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There’s been a lot of confusion on the topic of “Group B” patching – the security-patch-only path that I outlined in October. Group B doesn’t want any[See the full post at: Windows 7 security-only “Group B” patching remains viable]

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Well would just like to say……….. thank you Woody for the thumbs up…….. although the debate that went before was possibly necessary and most interesting and informative ….. it was becoming a tad heady for me…… and possibly I was missing some things too, but felt in the main it was simple enough to follow your path and if all hell broke loose then one would have to deal with that at the time……. but of course we all have to make our own decisions and obviously others had different views.
To each his own I say! LT

If you’re going through Hell, keep going.
– Winston Churchill

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I guess the most important point is that Win7 and 8.1 users have a choice.

The debate’s great – and necessary, I think. There are plenty of people who, for various reasons, choose Group A, Group B or Group W. But it isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. As long as Win7 customers make an informed decision, all is right with the world.

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@ Woody and followers: Then it is coming around that due to the unsuccessful attempt of MS to infuse the world with their new Windows 10 OS, MS is going to (eventually force Win 7 & Win 8 & 8.1) out before its quitting date arrives. This assumptive opinion is based on the fact: that after almost 2 years of pushing their very expensive OS, their market share of Windows 10 is still less than 30%.

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@Woody Would you kindly point out the ‘name’ and the date of the post in AskWoody where you give Group B step-by-step instructions for downloading Security Only updates from MS Update Catalog. Thank you.

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Just a quick question. If in Group B should you run the Malicious Software Removal Tool each month? I don’t recall seeing any comment concerning this.

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MSRT “phones home,” but it has for years. I don’t see anything particularly obnoxious about it – although I confess it hasn’t told me about any trapped malware, ever.

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I always post it as part of my MS-DEFCON announcement.

In this case: https://www.askwoody.com/2016/ms-defcon-4-get-windows-and-office-patched/

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I believe the question is far less choosing between Group A and Group B than for a user to know if he is confident in Microsoft’s honesty. If the answer is no, then Group W is the only possible choice.

I have no longer confidence in Microsoft, but there’s worse : after the company’s ethics appears its reliability. I’m not sure if their major challenge at this time is not simply repairing in a day-to-day chaos.

Windows 10, since July 29th 2016, is still wandering, not to mention its Edge, totally unbaked.

Windows Update has been deeply modified because of Win10 imperatives.

I will no longer put my feet, those of Windows 7 rather, in that Kafka soup.

Good luck to those whom, I’m afraid, will learn the hard way what a desperate company can become in terms of policy, as well as in terms of reliability.

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I thought we saw bottom with the end of the “Get Windows 10” fiasco. I’m no longer certain that’s the case.

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I haven’t run it for months and even when I did it never flagged anything. I also have Avast and Malwarebytes instead of MSE.

Win10 22H2 Pro, MBAM Premium, Firefox, OpenOffice, Sumatra PDF.

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MS gloated about fixing this malware on the November 8, 2016:

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mmpc/2016/11/08/msrt-november-2016-unwanted-software-has-nowhere-to-hide-in-this-months-release/

“We came across a browser modifier that sports rootkit capabilities. Not only does the threat, detected as BrowserModifier:Win32/Soctuseer, cross the line that separates legitimate software from unwanted, it also takes staying under the radar to the next level.”

Most malware programs will have addressed it as well, but if you do not run a separate malware program (i.e. you just a virus program) it would be a good idea to have this MSRT update installed.

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Good point.

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Woody,

For W7 users at least, there was an “important” update today for Microsoft Security Essentials (KB 3205972 would make it go to 4.10.209). A couple months ago or so when MS released an update for MSE, I could find zero documentation on what it exactly did…and not only that, it eliminated a useful function of right click MSE scanning of files/folders.

Do you know if today’s release actually does anything for MSE or is it okay to skip this one too?

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Several issues:

1. I have recovered a W7HP64 laptop using the mfg recovery facility and followed the instructions to bring it up2date. KB…369 installed OK, but KB…205 goes into a never-ending “Searching for updates on this computer” and I can’t even cancel it. Should I check for updates without it, given the large number of updates expected?

2. Is KB3197868 the rollup that includes both security and non-security updates? If I were in group B I should hide it, right?

3. Is the KB3188740 Net Frame 3.5.1 rollup OK to install for group B?

4. The instructions mention the date on the right of updates < 1/2015, but WU does not display dates on the right, only size.

5. I had to reinstall MS Security Essentials and during the install the GWX utility warned of W10 files. Should I worry?

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1. Disconnect from the Internet (pull the cable if wired, disconnect if wireless). Go to Control PanelAdministrative toolsServices. Scroll down and highlithe the Windows Update Service, then at the top on the left click on “Stop.” Try to reinstall KB…205 again. Reconnect to the Internet before rebooting.

2 KB3197868 Nov 2016 Security Monthly Quality Rollup is the one that contains security and non-security updates. If you are in Group B you don’t want that one.

3. The .NET update is OK.

4. If you highlight an update in WU, there is a column on the right (on my computer it’s blue). There is a useless description of the update – the date is there.

5. Win10 GWX campaign is over. You don’t need it any more.

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Having ample information for making a thoughtful, informed decision is great,
but since the three options we have to choose from are all sub-par,
I would argue that all is not right in the Windows 7/8 world!

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@Lizzytish,

When I read your comment, I thought, “Oooh, where did the debate get ‘heady’? Did I miss that part?!”

Which previous thread are you talking about? (So many recent threads have touched on these issues.)

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Yup, That did it.

Thanks.

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Maybe it was just an off day for me! But with all the info being offered ……. I just felt I couldn’t absorb it all….. You know I really admire your capacity Poohsticks…. especially when you say you are in the throes of a migraine…… how do you manage…..all that brain power swirling away….. incredible!! I would just succumb to my bed….. full stop…… if it was me! LT

“Passion is easy; commitment is tough.” – Celia Barbour

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I saw that MSE update but since the ‘more info’ link takes you to a full color big photos ad for Win10 and Surface devices, and NOTHING about the KB, I decided NOT to do it at this time. I will wait and do searches with Google and see what sifts out of the ether.

My biggest fear on some of these faintly documented patches is whether you can uninstall them. I worry that after an update, certain setting will be changes and we could end up with forced updates like Win10.

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+1
And extreme thanks and credit to Woody, for keeping us in the loop!

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