[ducttape45]

Updating software to ensure it remains secure is ok, but, here's the concept that might be getting lost. I want to make the changes myself by loading the updates, I don't want someone else doing it for me without my knowledge.

It's the same thing with Microsoft Updates. I don't want Microsoft automatically updating my software. Consider the following:

1). If I allowed them to do that, I'd have a Bing desktop right now with a Bing toolbar in my web browsers. I don't want Bing software on my computer. Using the search engine is as far as I want to go with Bing.

2). I don't have IE11. If allowed Microsoft to install that automatically, I'd have to uninstall it because the Air Force Outlook Web Access Email system doesn't play well with IE11. So I have to stay with IE8 until someone in the government gets their act together and figures out how to make it work.

So as you can see from those two small examples, not all updates are beneficial. Overall, I WANT CONTROL OF MY COMPUTER, not some faceless individual or corporation. It's a choice, a preference.

[ansel12]

I have been trying to harden an xp computer for back up use, and updating seems to be the major part of security.

What I’m reading is saying that even plenty of security ware can’t be depended on to protect against system flaws, and browser flaws.

[jimt]

Overall, I WANT CONTROL OF MY COMPUTER, not some faceless individual or corporation. It's a choice, a preference.

And there's always the old saw "Iffen it ain't broke don't fix it."

Too often the "downgrades" eliminate some critical functionality to be replaced with drivel or unnecessarily complicated (but NEW!) user intercourse.

No thanks - I'll choose.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I’m with you on all points. It’s something about using WinME that got me that way. I want control. I do not want to be told that my PC is not secure from willy nilly updates at the whim of whoever says my PC is not secure.