2015-07-13

The GWX (Get Windows 10) KB3035583 trojan horse

So, Microsoft has pushed this trojan horse to every single user of Windows on the planet.  It displays a Windows 10 logo on the taskbar, and it is basically telling you that not only you will get Windows 10 as soon as it comes out, but you should right now begin acting as if you are looking forward to it. Because, you know, you are their biatch.

So, let's see:  a) GWX installs on your machine without your consent; b) once installed, you cannot "quit" it or "exit" it; and c) you cannot find it anywhere to uninstall it.  So, it fits squarely within the definition of malware.

GWX is delivered by means of an innocent looking optional update, KB3035583.  The update is designated as "Recommended", and its description says "Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information."  (I am not making this up, that's exactly what it says, I suppose English is not their forte at Microsoft.)

Of course, with dozens upon dozens of updates each time you check, which give you no clue as to what they are about, and instead each one of them refers you to some web page for more information, you don't bother checking, and so you passively consent to this trojan horse being downloaded and installed on your computer.  If you click on "More information", you are taken to a web page which admits that update KB3035583 is nothing but an incredibly lame and stupid publicity stunt about the upcoming Windows 10.

And so, as it turns out, that bit about resolving issues in Windows was a fucking lie.

How to get rid of the KB3035583 trojan horse:

1. In Windows Update select Change settings, and make sure that "Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates" is unchecked.  This way, the fact that this is a "Recommended" update will not cause it to jump from the "Optional" updates list to the "Important" updates list.

2. In Windows Update select View update history, find KB3035583, and uninstall it.

3. In Windows Update click on "Check for updates".

4. In Windows Update go to Optional Updates, find KB3035583, and specify that you want it to be hidden.


And then in 2017 there is this:
betanews.com: Microsoft will never again sneakily force Windows downloads on users
(Though it is unclear to me whether this is about Germany only or the whole world.)

1 comment:

  1. Yea but it still lists and keeps the check mark in it.So why hide it with the check mark in it.It won't go away.Keeps always reloading with the check mark in it.So next time you do check for updates or have it set for auto then it will sneak in.Now I have to keep an eye on this every time now.I already deleted the patch.Someone should tell them to do a delete it off the list patch.Oh since I did delete the patch it now came up as an important one to install now.

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