> When I try to disable this dreadful update feature I am getting all
> kinds of warnings that the hell will break lose if I do so. I
> suspect that this is bullshit devised by software companies to be
> able to fuck up with people's computers, but I am not sure.
Nope, you're right.
> Can someone knowledgeable explain the risk of turning off the update
> features or at least the most annoying ones, i.e. Microsoft Windows &
> Office, Adobe, Firefox browser and Java?
Turn 'em all off except maybe Firefox. Its updates, in my experience, have always been benign.
My own motto: Never upgrade until you have _absolutely_no_choice_.
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Michael Smith mjs at smithbowen.net http://stopmebeforeivoteagain.org http://fakesprogress.blogspot.com