When did Microsoft say that for users not part of the Insider Program?
Users of the Insider Program need to exercise extra caution as they are being exposed to untested (beta) programs and services that can (in the worst case scenario) destroy their computer. This is the risk they accept as part of the Windows Insider Program.
This is not true of the normal user. Anything we get has already been tested and retested by the beta users (the Windows Insiders as well as Microsoft Engineers) and (hopefully) any negatives left over will be minor ones.
Certainly checking for updates is safe. I do it all the time.
Fyi....
Microsoft releases patches in stages. Patches are assigned alpha labels/categories (B, C, D)
(B)Second Tuesday of each month
- new security fixes and previously released security and non-security fixes
(C and D) Third and Fourth week of the month
- validated, production-quality optional releases, primarily for commercial customers and advanced users “seeking” updates.
These updates have only non-security fixes
MSFT has multiple programs covering testing of B, C, and D updates.
They are:
Pre-Release Validation(PVP), Depth Test Pass(DTP), Monthly Test Pass(MTP), Windows Insider Program(WIP), and Security Validation Program(SVP).
- the first three are Internal, the fourth WIP - only receives non-security fixes(C and D), the fifth, last is invite only for large commercial customers and ISVs.
C and D as noted are optional and intended primarily for seekers.
- C and D releases purpose(while validated internally) is to provide visibility into, and enable testing of, the non-security fixes that will be included in the next Update Tuesday release.
(i.e. optional field testing by those choosing to install the optional C and/or D updates and for those end-users seeking” to
validate the non-security content of the next
“B” release.
Thus, not everything we/you(as consumers) receives(automatically or optionally) is tested by Windows Insiders.
This thread is about KB4524244 which was a 'B' security update release.
- Having the 'B' label/category, like all 'B' releases
***are not*** advance tested in advance by Windows Insiders(WIP).