Microsoft Just Can't Leave Our PCs Alone

By Doug Barney

A month or so ago, Windows siteWindowsSecrets.com reported that Microsoft Corp. ofRedmond, WA, was changing end users’ Windows AutomaticUpdate settings and files, even if users asked them not to.

The site, headedby former InfoWorld columnist Brian Livingston, has a new scoop. That OneCare, aservice that is Microsoft’s answer to the Norton security suite, will apparentlydownload patches and updates – no matter how hard users try to stopit. 

Users have long been paranoid about how much Microsoft knows about them,and Windows Genuine Advantage (the company’s anti-piracy system) only added tothe angst. I’ve long defended Microsoft on all these measures, but overridinguser privacy settings is enough to make me start thinking serious about a Ubuntudesktop (Wal-mart has one for $200).

MeanwhileMicrosoft just set a new record (almost) for earnings gains. The latest quarterhad the fastest growth since 1999 (when times were great for pretty mucheveryone in tech!).

Profits increased 23% to over $4 billion on sales ofalmost $14 billion.

This sure wasn’t based on mega sales of the Zune. No,Halo 3 and even Vista did all the heavy lifting.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/oct07/10-25MSFTQ108PR.mspx