June 2015 Patch Tuesday updates: What do they do?

[HP Win7 User]

OK, so after getting spooked by the "hidden agenda" of a series of recent 7 updates that apparently track your computing habits and install Windows 10 nagware, I uninstalled all the updates on my computer and have decided to start from scratch.

I just got a notice about a series of updates coming in on "Patch Tuesday" (9 June) of this month. I've looked up some of them and they seem to be somewhat important (I hid all the "recommended" ones which were nothing more than Windows 10 crap), but I'm curious to know what exactly do they "patch" or otherwise do, and how do they do it.

In layman's terms.

Microsoft's security bulletins are too technical for my understanding and I want to make sure I'm not installing adware, nagware, spyware -- or upgradeware.

The updates are:

• KB3058515, Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (and which has apparently had some problems)
• KB3033890, Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (apparently something to do with Windows Media Player)
• KB3057839, Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
• KB3059317, Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
• KB3063858, Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems

The last one is just MRT (KB890830) which I know to be safe.

For the first two, do I need to install them if I never use IE or WMP? I actually have them "turned off" (inaccessible) in Programs & Features. Should I install them anyway? Is it likely to cause problems? Is it just a waste of time and drive space since I use Waterfox and VLC and have actually never touched IE and WMP?

With the next three, the articles keep making mention of files or links that are "specially crafted." What exactly does that phrase mean? The last update's info page mentions the possibility of someone putting a hacked DLL on your computer through a remote execution, but it specifically mentions accessing network shares. Can I ignore this last one because I don't have any network shares? Can the DLL come from the Internet too?

Is it OK to install these "important" updates? As I said, I've already disabled the "recommended" ones and won't be installing those. Do any of these contain spyware or nagware?

 

[carwiz]

I installed them all including 11 or 12 for MS Office products. The only problem I had was with Word on the first use after the updates. For some reason, it reset Add-in security and I had to OK one that I have but don't use often. (PDF generator)

 

[AddRAM]

All those updates are fine to install.

 

[NoelDP]

There is no 'spyware' in any MS update - any data sent back to MS is not personally identifiable. The data sent back is mostly configuration data and/or error messages, to allow MS to target their efforts on troubleshooting the areas which are actually causing problems in real installations, and in particular issues which may impact on a smooth upgrade to Win10.

Yes, there is minor nagware about Windows 10 - but no more (in fact, I think, less) intrusive than there was about the upgrade from XP or Vista to Windows 7. It also gives the option to actually download the free upgrade that will be available when Win 10 is released, which is more than the earlier ones did.
I have the Win10 icon sitting in my notification area, and elected to hit the 'reserve me a copy' option after a couple of days of it sitting there doing nothing much. It hasn't done anything more since, to the naked eye, although it has run the upgrade compatibility test and tells me that I'll have to uninstall a couple of programs before upgrading (UBCD4Win and VPC2007 - neither exactly showstoppers, as I haven't opened either in more than a year) - and one that I'll have to uninstall, but can reinstall after the upgrade (I may not bother - it's the file-mover alternative for my Buffalo NAS).
The icon just sits there unless I click on it, and I never notice it (I could hide it, but what's the point?)

The only time it does get obtrusive is when I go to Windows Update itself - but usually, one click and it's gone.