Microsoft shuts down AutoPatcher

 

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By Simon Aughton

Posted on 30 Aug 2007 at 12:26

Microsoft has moved to close down a service that provided an alternative means of updating Windows.

Antonis Kaladis, developer of the AutoPatcher software, revealed that he had received an email from Microsoft requesting "the immediate take-down of the download page".

Although unhappy with Microsoft's action, Kaladis says that AutoPatcher is history. "As much as we disagree, we can do very little," he says.

Microsoft says that it wants all Windows patches to come from its own servers, citing security risks of third party distribution, but denied that the decision is related to recent problems with Windows Genuine Advantage.

"This policy is in place due to concern for the safety and security of our customers, as we can only guarantee the download's contents when it comes from a Microsoft website," the company claims in a statement. "We contacted AutoPatcher earlier today to request that they stop redistributing our Microsoft intellectual property."

Karadis says he hoped to come to a compromise. "Rest assured everyone, we're doing everything possible in order to reach some sort of an agreement with Microsoft," he claims. "As many suggested, perhaps a script which downloads files directly from microsoft.com and integrates them into AutoPatcher is an agreeable solution. At this point, it's really up to Microsoft to decide."

AutoPatcher simplifies - or simplified - frequent or multiple Windows updates by collecting up-to-date security patches, add-ons and registry tweaks into a single package capable of updating systems to Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows Server 2003 SP1 or Windows Vista from a local file, without having to connect to Microsoft's server each time.

It also allowed the updating and securing of insecure systems without having to run the risk of connecting to the internet.