What do you think about automatic updates?

[pc-wiz]

I would like to know what you all think about automatic updates. Should I turn it off on customers pc's? I have had some customers get frustrated with the alerts and stuff.

 

[NickCat11]

I leave them on for all of my customers machines. They are extremely important especially when critical updates are released.

 

[RicoS]

Same here........it also cuts down on the repeat call customers........do you want the business back....of course, but not for the same issues. If they dont have to come back to you, they will definately send u more business!!

 

[Tweak]

I leave them on for all of my customers machines. They are extremely important especially when critical updates are released.

This is my thinking, critical updates helps assure (to a tiny degree) they are somewhat more secured which in todays world of pcs is a big deal.

 

[JosephLeo]

I make sure I turn on all basic security settings included in windows with all my customers (Firewall, Anti-Phishing, Automatic Updates, etc.) as well as set a basic monthly defrag regardless of what service my clients ask for. I do however have an option on the bottom of my contract that states 'Do not modify my security features' and inform my customers that I will modify them if they don't sign there.

Why? you might ask- because it generates interest in two other services. "Computer Tune-Ups" and "Security & Optimization"

 

[PcTek9]

depends, personally i turn OFF updates for xp, since i feel like it really messes with the machine, and some of those older machines are doing all they can without adding Internet Explorer version 15 to it, which means another 300 meg of slowness and we wonder why... Especially anyway if you hook them up with something like firefox, opera, chrome, or the fastest yet Arora (for windows/linux).

 

[JosephLeo]

depends, personally i turn OFF updates for xp, since i feel like it really messes with the machine, and some of those older machines are doing all they can without adding Internet Explorer version 15 to it, which means another 300 meg of slowness and we wonder why... Especially anyway if you hook them up with something like firefox, opera, chrome, or the fastest yet Arora (for windows/linux).

Arora is based off of webkit, the same rendering engine of which Google Chrome, Safari, Konqueror, iCab and a few other browsers.

In fact, the latest Arora (v0.8) is based off the same subversion that Google Chrome uses which is "Webkit v.532" So speed wise, the only performance hit would be the features the web browser packs in itself rather than the rendering engine- theoretically speaking of course.

Granted though this doesn't really relate to your post- it's just more of a "factoid".

 

[NickCat11]

depends, personally i turn OFF updates for xp, since i feel like it really messes with the machine, and some of those older machines are doing all they can without adding Internet Explorer version 15 to it, which means another 300 meg of slowness and we wonder why... Especially anyway if you hook them up with something like firefox, opera, chrome, or the fastest yet Arora (for windows/linux).

So what do you do for them when important critical updates are released?

 

[Methical]

I would like to know what you all think about automatic updates. Should I turn it off on customers pc's? I have had some customers get frustrated with the alerts and stuff.

Frustrated with the alerts? Ask them this then ..

"Would you rather be secure with the latest critical updates, or would you rather be open to hackers gaining personal information about you, including bank account info and credit card numbers?"

 

[JosephLeo]

Frustrated with the alerts? Ask them this then ..

"Would you rather be secure with the latest critical updates, or would you rather be open to hackers gaining personal information about you, including bank account info and credit card numbers?"

Then Justin Long pops in with a Macbook and says "Hi I'm a Mac" and the user is switched for good.

Of course- then you can counter him with the fact that Macs get regular updates as well...although usually not so much on the security side but more on the bug side. Macs I will admit are pretty tight on security- uh...let's not turn this into a flame war though.

 

[Methical]

Then Justin Long pops in with a Macbook and says "Hi I'm a Mac" and the user is switched for good.

Of course- then you can counter him with the fact that Macs get regular updates as well...although usually not so much on the security side but more on the bug side. Macs I will admit are pretty tight on security- uh...let's not turn this into a flame war though.

Then you shouldn't of mentioned the word 'MAC' lol
Its like a swearword when the words "PC or Windows" are mentioned in the first post of the thread.

 

[studiot]

Well Joe Leo, suppose you visit a server that is running 24/7 controlling some business or process?

Some Windows updates require/ cause a restart. Do you enable them?

 

[allanc]

I would like to know what you all think about automatic updates. Should I turn it off on customers pc's? I have had some customers get frustrated with the alerts and stuff.

I think enabling it is the lesser of 2 evils.
I have clients with either XP or VISTA call because either the result of the update caused issues or the update itself going into loops, etc.

 

[studiot]

There is another current thread here discussing Windows updates.

Note Microsoft's official published statement:

A Microsoft representative said that the company continues to recommend that customers "test and deploy" the November security updates.

"test and deploy"

Test before you deploy!! Need I say more?

 

[atlanticjim]

I always make sure autoupdates is on.
While sitting with a client looking at his complaint about his computer's speed, I realized that auto updates was downloading and installing. Mini brainstorm: Set the auto updates to "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them". Then I instruct the user to click on that tray icon and download and install only when they are planning to walk away from the computer.

 

[Tweak]

I always make sure autoupdates is on.
While sitting with a client looking at his complaint about his computer's speed, I realized that auto updates was downloading and installing. Mini brainstorm: Set the auto updates to "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them". Then I instruct the user to click on that tray icon and download and install only when they are planning to walk away from the computer.

I like the option but I find some are scared to click shields due to the false infections that mimic the look of MS legit notifications, so it may come back to bite you someday, just pointing the possibility out buddy.