Really confused about updates now, can i ask for some advice

OK I used to update my win 7 U x64 every month like most of us, then came along the sneaky updates and using GXW Control Panel, then came patchocalypse and since then i have held of any updates from the main PC (left laptop longer as it only get used as a back up, however since patchocalypse has been and gone i have heard of so many stories of the best way to patch i'm now well confused .

To be honest my lack of trust in MS is at an all time high, so not intrested in updates i don't need i only want updates to keep my system up to date and from my understanding that would be what the call the "Roll-Up" an i right or do i have the wrong end of the stick?

The following 2 images come from the laptop











and this last one is from the main PC



So has the nightmare of patching been sorted yet, as i say i'm only intrested in keeping the system (and me come to that) safe.

All1

Hello mate now personally I set my updates now and have for a long time to show me before I download and install and I look for the ones I want say ones for security patches and any .NET ones the rest I leave alone because in my mind a few updates that one sees are causing issues.

In any case quite often I select the updates and they still do not download so I just don't bother. In a sense it seems to me that if the system constantly needs updating then it means it is not that perfect to start with I compare it to cars and the way they keep giving them facelifts to make them look more stylish or aggressive when the vehicle still runs as usual.

Everyone seems to have their own ideas on what is the best way to handle the Updates question.

I still just download & install all the Windows 7 Updates as they come to hand & I have never had a problem. The GWX try on was disconcerting but I managed to block that.

I do not install 3rd party software drivers the Microsoft might recommend. Instead I get them directly from the makers website.

Yep well I am just the same Ranger I am not a fan of the Windows driver update feature it is way too weak for me and the "aftermarkets driver sites bar one I will not use and the one I do sometimes I am very careful with and uninstall whenever I am done with it.

Thinking about it now I did run a batch file from the Ten Forum tutorial on disabling the upgrade to 10 and never got round to changing it and am wondering if it is messing with my updates??

No one can really advise you as it's a decision you will have to make.

You can just install the Important Windows 7 Updates & ignore the Optional ones if you wish, or you can just install all the Updates & be done with it. To keep your system secure you should at least Install all the Important ones.

I think you are being a bit paranoid worrying about MS prying into your system. There are billions of Windows users around the world so MS are not likely to be interested in any one computer.

Hi,
The scary thing is MS using the word "quality" to describe them now :)
Otherwise just monitor the News section for the security only links like a lot of us are now doing
https://www.sevenforums.com/news/

I'm trying to find happy medium, keeping my system safe and not leaving myself wide open, anyone elsehelp me wih some up to date links on what to do?

Mate as Ranger has said there are literally billions of users around the world and Microsoft are not the only ones who like to know where you have been what you have don bought or whatever take for example Google and Apple they amongst the many collect any info you are likely to put on your system and it only takes a hookup to the net and it is freely available.

Just lately I watched a few TV documentary programs that looked into cyber crime and the business of hacking and it was quite apparent to me that if someone wants to get into your system for whatever reason they will. You only need to see what that Anonymous site can do to see it is futile and the best way of securing any info that is so important to you is not to put it on the net.

I have to admit I was very anti 10 until I eventually came to realise that privacy as such is not truly a realistic expectation in the broad world we now live in and I thought now why would anyone be interested in what I was posting or looking at unless it was an illegal activity or had some monetary value to be taken from me.
It is a risk that we all take every time we login and if you spend the rest of your life worrying about it then I think is going to be a miserable way of life. Just look at the number of sites you must have that you enter info/data into banks, shopping sites, forums, and the stuff they enter into your medical records etc etc

I am not saying don't be careful just you need to accept that it is a way of life now and the old world order of privacy has now been well and truly compromised by the advance of technology.

Back to updates I like the others do download when they will critical and important ones the optional's well I do not have the time or patience for one thing to research them - it just cuts into your time to deal with other stuff.

This is my list of updates I hid, mind you this is from fresh installs done in the last 3 weeks. I`m pretty sure Microsoft is back to normal with updates, but you still have to read what each and every one is for.

Security updates you can pretty much just install, but read up on any other recommended/important ones, if you don`t want/need them, just hide em.