I've never used AutoPatcher, so I don't know, but did it verify Windows authenticity? If not, that would probably be one of the reasons Microsoft would want to see it disappear. Otherwise it's just Microsoft flexing its muscles at the little guy again and reasserting exclusive control over all things Microsoft. In other words, nothing new.
Autopatcher did not verify authenticity (even WGA was an optional install) but that's not their fault. WGA was optional for windows update, too (if you knew which KB# it was hidden under). In addition, most of the patches are available as free downloads from the website already, and can be applied without authenticity checks. The only patch that does an authenticity check was WMP11, which still did it whether you use Autopatcher or the free un-aunthenticty-checked download, or windows update.
Bottom line - AP did nothing different than what was already available - it just made it easier than downloading across a pile of webpages and tons of reboots.
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I've never used AutoPatcher, so I don't know, but did it verify Windows authenticity? If not, that would probably be one of the reasons Microsoft would want to see it disappear. Otherwise it's just Microsoft flexing its muscles at the little guy again and reasserting exclusive control over all things Microsoft. In other words, nothing new.
That is a valid question. If it didn't verify then I guess they had every reason to do what they did.
Autopatcher did not verify authenticity (even WGA was an optional install) but that's not their fault. WGA was optional for windows update, too (if you knew which KB# it was hidden under). In addition, most of the patches are available as free downloads from the website already, and can be applied without authenticity checks. The only patch that does an authenticity check was WMP11, which still did it whether you use Autopatcher or the free un-aunthenticty-checked download, or windows update.
Bottom line - AP did nothing different than what was already available - it just made it easier than downloading across a pile of webpages and tons of reboots.