What exactly does KB2952664 do?

KB2952664 re-appeared (#23) via Windows Update (Windows 7).

Someone needs to write an app that keeps updates hidden in spite of new versions.

GWX Control Panel was updated on 30 March to v1.7.4.0

KB2952664 re-appeared (#23) via Windows Update (Windows 7).

Here's the list of KBxxxxxxx that I have found to be bogus:

...

KB3123862  09Feb2016  Pushes win 10 install files

KB3115445  09Feb2016  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-update/kb-3135445-for-windows-7/2e50c65e-c44f-4cee-94d2-5b44119233a1?auth=1

KB3138612  09Feb2016  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

...

Thanks for the info, especially the February updates since GWX Control Panel has not been updated since 24 January.  I already had most of the earlier ones.  I'm not just concerned with the KB updates anymore since I'm fairly certain a nag came in with my Office 365 subscription upgrade.  The timing just made that software suspect.

Kudos. That is the most comprehensive reply yet to this thread. Trouble is that it's sad this thread even has to exist.

I do wait about two weeks before updating any of our clients machines and I have been maintaining a list of MS Updates for the past couple of years (I know, OCD).

Here's the list of KBxxxxxxx that I have found to be bogus:

KB3044374  14Apr2014  Stages upgrade from Win 8.1 to Win 10

KB2952664  22Apr2014  The Bad One - The auto Installer

KB2976978  12May2014  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

KB2977759  13Oct2014   Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

KB3004394  08Dec2014  Trusted Installer update to enable Win 10

KB3021917  12Dec2014  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

KB3035583  27Mar2015  The other Bad One - The GWX Installer

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2906002/operating-systems/mystery-patch-kb-3035583-for-windows-7-and-8-revealed-it-s-a-windows-10-prompter-downloader.html

KB2990214  06Apr2015  Stages upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10

KB3022345  22Apr2015  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10 (billed as update to "Customer Experience" - yeah, right)

KB3068708  02Jun2015  Update to enable auto-install  of Win 10

KB3058168  16Jun2015  Update that enables Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 KMS hosts to activate Windows 10

KB2505438  11Aug2015  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

KB3075249  11Aug2015  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

http://www.hakspek.com/security/updates-make-windows-7-and-8-spy-on-you-like-windows-10/

KB3075851  11Aug2015  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

KB3080149  11Aug2015  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

Same URL as KB3075249

KB2999226  08Sep2015  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

KB3083324  08Sep2015  Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: Alters Windows to prepare for data collection pending install of Windows 10

KB3083710  06Oct2015  Update to improve performance of "Windows Update Client". Stealth Windows 10 package (Win 8 and Win 2012).

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2989896/microsoft-windows/windows-snooping-and-nagging-patches-return-kb-3035583-kb-2952664.html

KB3083711  06Oct2015  Update to improve performance of "Windows Update Client". Stealth Windows 10 package (Win 7 and Win 2008)

Same URL as above

KB3123862  09Feb2016  Pushes win 10 install files

KB3115445  09Feb2016  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-update/kb-3135445-for-windows-7/2e50c65e-c44f-4cee-94d2-5b44119233a1?auth=1

KB3138612  09Feb2016  Spyware/Nagware to prep for Win 10

http://www.askwoody.com/tag/kb-3138612/

The Ask Woody site is a great resource

The thing that genuinely distresses me is that I was a big fan of Microsoft. I liked the company and I love a lot of their products, but this is just crossing a line. I also know that the word "Spyware" can be considered inflammatory and I also believe it is appropriate when viewed in this context.

While I am fully cognizant that most users will probably never know (nor care) about what Microsoft is doing, Microsoft has destroyed a tremendous amount of goodwill that has existed in the IT community and they may never get it back. I simply don't trust them any more.

Barry,

Thanks for the update.

Those of us who do not want Windows 10 have to be constantly on the look-out ... because it appears that Microsoft will use any means possible to sneak Windows 10 onto our computers.

I recommend that those who do not want Windows 10 do the following ...

1. Keep your Windows Update setting for Important Updates set to "Never check for updates" (you can manually check for updates whenever you are ready ... see #4 below).
2. Keep your Windows Update setting for Recommend Updates set to "Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates".
3. Use the free GWX Control Panel app to insure that Microsoft does not slip a Windows 10 installation past you (either run it in monitor mode, or manually run the app right after you install KB updates from Microsoft ... see #10 below).
4. Manually check for updates when you are ready. Microsoft releases their monthly updates on the second Tuesday of each month ("Patch Tuesday") .... I usually wait three weeks after that before checking for updates (to let the bugs get fixed and the updates Microsoft releases to coerce Windows 10 installation to be identified).
5. Review Woody Leonard's site to see if there are known KB updates (from the previous "Patch Tuesday") that are causing problems, attempting to install Windows 10, etc.
6. After you have checked for updates, review the list .... HIDE any updates that were previously hidden but brought back by Microsoft (such as KB2952664, KB3035583, etc, etc). HIDE any new updates that are known to be causing problems (see #5 above). Consider either hiding all non-Security updates (i.e., KB updates that do not have the word "Security" in its description) or (at least) doing thorough research to determine if you need any of the non-security update and that they (non-Security updates) do not cause any problems.
7. Look through the "Important" tab (in Windows Update) and the "Optional" tab. Make sure that only those updates you want to install are checked ... and those you do not want to install are not checked.
8. Install the updates that you want (I usually do them in small batches: Office updates, .NET updates, Windows Security updates, IE cumulative update, malicious software removal tool, etc).
9. NOTE: if you have Windows Update set to "Never check for updates", and you close/exit the Windows Update window for any reason (such as to reboot after an update), and you go back to Windows Update (to install more updates), then you will have to "Check for Updates" again in order to see the list of updates eligible to be downloaded and installed.
10. When all updates that you want have been installed, run GWX Control Panel to make sure Microsoft has not slipped anything past you.

NOTE regarding IE 11. In most cases, versions of IE below 11 are no longer supported. I never use IE11 for browsing. However, Windows itself does use some of IE11's functions. So, it is important to keep IE11 up to date ... but I recommend using some other browser besides IE for surfing.

Hope this helps.

11. Update GWX Control Panel regularly.