IE to Start Automatic Upgrades across Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7

Another good reason to be glad I've disabled automatic updates.

 

Finally.

 

Can this be disabled in that fashion?

 

Of course. This automatic upgrade only happens to those with Windows/Microsoft Automatic Update enabled. Also:

Source: http://windowsteamblog.com/ie/b/ie/...s-windows-xp-windows-vista-and-windows-7.aspx

 

Oh thanks, I was just about to write a nasty letter to Mr Microsoft! I wonder if the postman will let me have my letter back? Oh crap! I sent an email.

 

Awesome news.

 

I don't know if 'awesome' describes it. I'd love to run IE 9 on my notebook but it interferes with the sidebar & desktop icons. I don't really use IE on it so upgrading from IE 8 is essentially pointless.

IE 9 is a really good browser & works very well on my 64 bit Win 7 desktop. Maybe I'm a bit cracked, but I really do think people should have a bit of a choice about this.

 

It's about time! People still running pre IE8 need to get their heads out of the proverbial sand and upgrade ASAP.

 

I was thinking more about Windows 8 and IE10, a "fresh start" for IE with auto updates.

 

I totally agree people shouldn't have updates forced on them. If I opt out of an update there's a good reason for it based on my system, and not Microsoft, Google, Mozilla or anyone else can possibly know the configuration of every system on the planet. A person already has the option of getting the latest updates automatically anyway if they choose that option. I think this is BS and leads toward a slippery slope. Pretty soon they'll want total control.

 

Why are you calling it BS? You can opt out.

 

A slippery slope to kicking lazy users ~ Snipped as per TOS ~ and securing their OS.

 

I will block this ASAP. I loathe forced updates. It's my machine and I'll make the informed decisions on how to go about updating my PCs. (Shows how much Microsoft fears Chrome. This is clearly a copied idea from them...)

 

Moving those lazy users to new versions will help with Internet security. Overall pro for me.

 

I'll for sure opt out. I dont use IE,period.

 

I agree totally. I can't run IE 9 on my notebook even if I wanted to. I know quite a few people online & off who have had a similar problem with Vista. I bought the notebook with Vista & I am totally satisfied with it. I am not upgrading just because MS bought out Win 7. My desktop has Win 7, I won't be upgrading to Win 8 on that either, although I will update IE. When I purchase another computer I'll most probably buy it with Win 8. That's fine with me.

Updates shouldn't be forced on people without their consent. We've all heard the same utilitarian/teleological arguments that it is all 'for the greater good' before.

I'm not buying it!

 

Taken from: http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/springboard/archive/2011/12/15/ie-auto-updates-good-news-for-businesses-too.aspx

IE Auto Updates: Good News for Businesses Too

by Stephen L Rose


As you may have seen on the Internet Explorer blog today, we have announced plans to begin automatic upgrade for the IE browser. This change will be rolled out initially to a limited audience, beginning in January for customers in Australia and Brazil, and then expanding gradually. We’re re-issuing the IE9 or IE8 Windows Update and removing the additional UI prompt so that it is installed without additional user interaction for a more seamless experience for the end user. The update will ship as a high-priority update for XP and Important class update for Vista and Windows 7. Once issued, this update will install Internet Explorer 8 for users on XP SP3 that are still using IE7 and IE6; users on Vista SP2 and Windows 7 RTM and SP1 will be moved to Internet Explorer 9.

Since, Internet Explorer is a browser for all Windows customers; the auto-upgrade mechanism is designed with Enterprise customers in mind as well. We understand that companies have business reasons to rely on a one specific version of the browser and they need support. The auto-upgrade mechanism doesn’t change the support lifecycle of the browser – an Internet Explorer version will continue to be supported until the underlying OS it ships on expires. This means that if you’ve taken a dependency on a particular version of Internet Explorer, the support for that version doesn’t end simply because of the introduction of the auto-upgrade mechanism.

The important point is that with Internet Explorer you still have the option of using a particular version. For most customers, no extra effort is needed to exercise this option. There are several reasons why, one is that this package will not be shipped via the WSUS and Microsoft update site catalog channel. If you’re using WSUS to manage windows update, you will not need to worry. Furthermore, administrator rights will be required for installation, so end users without appropriate privileges will not be able to bypass browser IT policies.

As I posted last Feb, Enterprises can still use the IE Blocker Tool and that fact has not changed. In fact, as you’ll see from the IE team’s blog, a big consideration for our auto upgrade is how we are balancing the needs of all our customers, including our business users. The IE9 Blocker Toolkit helps ensure that IE9 is introduced to PCs at the right time. This way you can still test any updates before they are pushed out to your users. For non-managed environments, this will improve safety and security of the browser experience as well as performance and standards compliance. Lastly, if some users are accidentally upgraded, it’s possible to roll back to previous version of Internet Explorer as well.

As I meet many IT pros during my Springboard Series Tours, I am amazed to hear how many of you still get complaints from end users that their machine is “slow.” We joke about users installing 5 different tools bars and the advantages of a standardized Windows environment but when we get into the details of it, many of you are surprised when we discuss the 1,400 security policies that you can use to standardize and lock down IE in your environments. No more multi-tools bars, no more extraneous or unsafe browser plugins, no more hijacked home pages or browsers adjusted to unsafe settings. IE is built for the Enterprise. From the Internet Explorer Administration Kit 9 (IEAK 9) to help you install IE easily into your environment to the ability to easily deliver Internet Explorer 9 through Automatic Updates

Need more information? Check out the Internet Explorer blog to learn more why you should consider Internet Explorer as your standard corporate browser. Want to learn more about the IEAK and IE Blocker tool? Check out the links below.

• IEAK 9 Release Documentation
• IEAK 9 Licensing Guidelines
• IEAK 9 Frequently Asked Questions
• Internet Explorer 9 Blocker Toolkit Download
• Internet Explorer 9 Blocker Toolkit FAQ

And of course check out the Springboard Series for Internet Explorer for more information, tips and tricks to help you manage Internet Explorer in your environment.

 

Tell me how having less people with vulnerable browsers is not good? Consent is still there, except this time opt-out instead of opt-in.

That statement presents misunderstanding, ignorance, or lack of care.

 

I'm a supporter of this. I also support opting out of it, as frankly, if you want to surf around the net on a vulnerable browser, you go right ahead. Just don't complain when you get nailed for being a hard head and/or lazy. Not being able to use IE 9 or so because of system requirements is a valid excuse. Otherwise, you don't like it, move to a different browser.

 

The only question I have is if you have Windows set to "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them," is it still gonna install IE automatically. Rose's article says they're removing the prompt from the IE interface, but doesn't answer this question clearly.

The Gavin article says, "Today we are sharing our plan to automatically upgrade Windows customers to the latest version of Internet Explorer available for their PC....We will start in January for customers in Australia and Brazil who have turned on automatic updating via Windows Update." Windows has always offered the latest versions of IE through automatic updates, so I can't think of anything different that would warrant a big announcement unless the plan is to start automatically forcing the update regardless of your automatic update preferences.

I suppose the announcement could just be to alert IE users that the update will no longer be available through the interface but only through automatic updates, but it's not completely clear. To me it seems like a pretty dumb idea, even for MS, to override a person's preferences. Hopefully they're just poor communicators and not dumb.

 

It's not good. It's also not really my problem. I'm just a bit sick & tired of governments/corporations & the like telling me how to live.

That's OK then.

And this statement is just flagrant trolling.

 

I don't think that IE 8 is particularly that vulnerable, but I hardly ever use it anyway. Predominantly because I don't like it. Of course it's best to be up to date. I was actually a tad disappointed that I couldn't use IE 9 as it is a vast improvement over IE 8.

What I worry about are people who will not know how to roll-back or stop this update & will have the same problem as me. There have been quite a few people who have had the same problem around the world. If I was particularly cynical, I would venture to think this was a Micro$oft ploy for making me upgrade my notebook from Vista to Win 7. I'm quite happy with Vista. It's just a good job I'm not that cynical.

 

This is a reply I got from MS forums:

Multiple opt-out mechanisms will be available for businesses and consumers who choose not to upgrade:

If you previously refused an update to IE, you will not be automatically updated.
As is the case today, you’ll be able to uninstall an Internet Explorer update and roll back to the browser that came with your Windows version.
Enterprises can block the automatic installation of IE updates using Microsoft’s Blocker Toolkit for IE8 and for IE9.
Microsoft has committed to making opt-out mechanisms available for future IE releases as well.

So I assume forced auto-updating is not going to happen.

Yeah, I'm hoping not dumb either.

 

I think that's the most hippy-ish statement I've heard in a looooong time. Companies pushing improved products for free is now telling you how to live? Oh my