Online updates are generally a good thing in Sneak's opinion, compared to the vulnerable alternative, but once upon a time it was only antivirus tools that updated on a regular basis. Then Microsoft added Windows Update to its operating system, followed by an update service for its Office suite, and now it seems that almost every application has this feature, and the frequency of updates seems to be on the increase as well.

Sneak wouldn't mind so much if these were a painless process or transparent to the user, but this isn't always the case.

For example, Adobe's Reader tool for Windows recently signalled for attention and asked to download an update. Sneak obliged, only to find that there were in fact three updates, each of which required Windows to be rebooted before the installer would continue with the next one in the sequence.

Following the final reboot, Adobe Reader suddenly discovered yet another online update (an upgrade to v7.0.8) that it said needed applying. Halfway through the install, this one also decided it needed a Windows restart before it could continue.

That's four reboots in one day, before Sneak has even got around to deploying the regular cumulative update patches and malicious software removal tool from Microsoft.

A quick scan of Sneak's Windows PC reveals at least half a dozen other applications that boast an automatic update service. Where will it all end? At this rate, PC users will spend more time watching their computer downloading updates and rebooting than doing any actual work.

22 Dec 2006