Block Windows 10 with a new utility from Steve Gibson

[NOLA IT Pro]

https://www.grc.com/never10.htm
I just came across this utility today. It looks as if it will solve some problems for us with non domain Windows 7 Pro machines.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Thanks but I will stick with GWX Control Panel Steve Gibson is a hack reporter who thinks he is a tech. Sometimes he stumbles on something but more often he is just a no nothing who spreads half truths because he too ignorant to get his fact straight.

 

[phaZed]

Yeah, Gibson is a tool. He railed against Windows XP, too.

 

[alluseridsrejected]

After watching that video Leo Laporte sounds like the tool. A M$ tool. MS is screwing up big time with their privacy rules and update settings in Win 10. Why would I want to put Win 10 on a system if it's privacy disclosure policy apparently violates HIPPA? And as someone that has worked for years in ISO 9001 certified data centers, the M$ policy of we decide what updates go on your computer and when just absolutely does not cut it and no IT professional should be endorsing this garbage from M$!

 

[alluseridsrejected]

and I meant HIPAA...

 

[nlinecomputers]

Windows 10 Enterprise does allow you to turn all of that off. If you are a data conscious business then you shouldn't be taking FREE upgrades. There is a reason it is free. http://blog.capterra.com/hipaa-compliance-and-windows-10-5-things-you-need-to-know/

 

[alluseridsrejected]

The last statement at the bottom of your HIPAA link says:

Bottom line: Until Windows releases instructions for HIPAA and HITECH compliance, do not upgrade to Windows 10 if you deal with PHI.

And my understanding is Enterprise only allows you to delay updates not control them as any business with a change control policy in place would want to do..

 

[nlinecomputers]

According to this: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt598226(v=vs.85).aspx#install_updates_LTSB

You can point Enterprise and even PRO to a local WSUS server. That will let you control updates.

 

[glennd]

according to https://www.grc.com/never10/details.htm

Never10 manipulates the values and security permission settings of the following two registry keys:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Gwx
  Under this key, the 32-bit DWORD value “DisableGwx” is set to 1 or completely deleted.
  These will be referred to as the “Gwx” key and the “DisableGwx” value.
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
  Under this key, the 32-bit DWORD value “DisableOSUpgrade” is set to 1 or completely deleted.
  These will be referred to as the “WindowsUpdate” key and the “DisableOSUpgrade” value.

 

[HankArnold]

https://www.grc.com/never10.htm
I just came across this utility today. It looks as if it will solve some problems for us with non domain Windows 7 Pro machines.

I'm happy with GWX Control Panel. Steve may be a smart guy, but in the video, he comes across as an hysterical fool.

 

[glennd]

I'm happy with GWX Control Panel. Steve may be a smart guy, but in the video, he comes across as an hysterical fool.

I reckon they both look like jerks. I had to switch it off...

 

[glennd]

According to this: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt598226(v=vs.85).aspx#install_updates_LTSB

You can point Enterprise and even PRO to a local WSUS server. That will let you control updates.

Which raises the question i've been pondering for a while: I presume Windows updates accesses the Microsoft servers at a known IP and port? How hard would it be to discover the server addresses and set up firewall rules to effectively block Windows updates?

 

[katz]

Windows 10 or not...that video sounded like a comedy bit more than anything. And quite annoying. Unplug the Ethernet cable?? What the heck???

That's not the Leo Laporte that I loved to watch on ZDTV many moons ago...

 

[mlfixer]

I had to uninstall GWX Control Panel. Malwarebytes kept alerting me that it was trying to reach out to outside IPs. There is no need for that when disabling Win10 upgrade notices. The moment I stopped using, the alerts stopped.

 

[cypress]

I had to uninstall GWX Control Panel. Malwarebytes kept alerting me that it was trying to reach out to outside IPs. There is no need for that when disabling Win10 upgrade notices. The moment I stopped using, the alerts stopped.

Interesting, I have not seen this issue even with computers that have Malwarebytes Premium running. Was GWX Control Panel running in monitor mode?

 

[nlinecomputers]

I've never seen that either. It does check for updates on demand. Perhaps it also does this in the background. What IP or Website was it trying to reach?

 

[NOLA IT Pro]

Not to beat a dead horse, but here is a good comparison of both utilities.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/30...er10-vs-josh-mayfields-gwx-control-panel.html

 

[glricht]

I had to uninstall GWX Control Panel. Malwarebytes kept alerting me that it was trying to reach out to outside IPs. There is no need for that when disabling Win10 upgrade notices. The moment I stopped using, the alerts stopped.

I always use the portable version. Don't want to install something like this on a customer's PC.