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Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
Logged into the computer at the office (remotely protected using duo.com two factor, but I digress) and the HP support assistant had updated. I purpo
[See the full post at: Patch Lady – HP support assistant being a bad patcher]
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
When finally forced to, I replaced my old HP Probook W7 with a new W10 one, bought from a third-party IT reseller. It came out-of-the-box with a generic W10 Pro load, so I added the useful HP apps (Client Security Manager, Sure Click, Support Assistant, etc.).
HPSA very quickly manifested to be troublesome, so I deleted it. It’s redundant to the professional IT tool, HP Image Assistant, so if HPIA supports your model(s) of HP computer(s), I’d very much recommend it over HPSA.
Between HPIA, the HP Support and Drivers web site, and Security Bulletin Alert emails from HP Support, I promptly identify and install needed patches from HP.
I thought we grew out of this nonsense.
I see little evidence of growth. Operating systems really don’t do more than they did in 2009, even though computers could be argued to be an order of magnitude more powerful.
Modern marketing is more and more about herding people into changing their definitions of “acceptable” and “normal” to make more money. “Opt out” campaigns used to be considered unacceptable intrusions! Now we’re inundated and hardly anyone bats an eye – good on you for posting this outrage here! Each time someone does something like this and gets away with it, it becomes more likely they (and others) will do it again.
And HP… Don’t get me started. Their once good name seems to be all but used up. Ever since our HP Envy printer’s software recognized refilled ink cartridges, claimed they were non-genuine, then marked them as damaged… Not to mention it probing our computers and setting off security alarms. Grrrr. Not in my house. The printer hit the trash heap and HP gets no more of our $$$.
-Noel
HPIA is a godsend! Miles better than that HPSA rubbish.
“I purposely have this set these days because firmware updates are a key way to ensure that Windows 10 is healthy and patches well.”
Care to explain that more fully? I purposely avoid firmware updates as I never needed them on earlier versions Windows where I would use a given Dell Small business computer until it was 5 years old and then purchase a new one. I was taught years ago to avoid firmware updates unless absolutely necessary. Why are you saying that has changed?
Dell loves to try to panic a user into believing a firmware update is direly needed. That has never been true in 21 years of owning Dell XPS desktop computers (currently Dell XPS 8930). So, I don’t understand your comment. I do HATE Windows 10 and prefer my older Dell (almost 8 years old) with Windows 8.0 Pro…notice I deliberately never “upgraded” (actually a terrible downgrade) to 8.1 Pro. I can’t stand using any of Dell’s c***y junk to tell me I need this new driver or a new bios update or whatever. And that is even though I have Dell Enterprise support on Windows 10 Pro (currently 1809)…it shouldn’t be Enterprise but those are the techs I get if I call.
I can’t stand HP except for my ancient (21 year old) HP Deskjet 882C printer which is an outstanding product from the old days when computers and computer related hardware were well built and strong.
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