After commenting at the web site about the Immediate Shutdown of Autopatcher. I tried to contact Microsoft regarding this issue. Below is the exact letter I got. Its as follows:
Thank you for contacting us about AutoPatcher.
I would like provide you with more information on our position.
It is our policy that the distribution of supplemental code such as hotfixes, security updates, and service packs is discouraged. 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 web site. Distribution of these materials without permission is also an infringement of our copyright.
We try and contact anyone who is in violation of our policy as soon as we can, once we are aware of what they are doing. AutoPatcher is not the only company we have contacted.
We recommend that our customers sign up for Microsoft Update (MU) and enable Automatic Update functionality to receive all updates directly from us. In addition, we have enterprise services such as Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS) that we recommend our enterprise customers to use.
We provide this guidance as it is common to see email scams encouraging people to download our latest patches, but the URL takes them to sites where they are actually exposed to malware. In order to ensure that customers are getting actual Microsoft updates and not malware, we recommend customers get their updates directly from us.
I hope this information has answered your query, but if you have any more questions please give us a call on 0870 60 10 100. The lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. If you still have any more questions, please reply to this email.
Many thanks for contacting us.
Warm regards,
JACOB RAJ
Customer Service Professional
Microsoft Customer Services
Protect Your PC: Microsoft recommends that you protect your PC from Viruses and Security threats. Please visit our website http://www.microsoft.com/uk/security/protect/alert.mspx and follow the steps to stay secure.
First of all. The main reason Autopatcher must have been shutdown is because that they suspected them of spreading malicious coding (eg. Malware) in there distribution (This is Crap...). But initially saying that its was also because of copyright infringement saying that "Hey you can't distribute that patch without asking US."
Are the people people nuts? They should put up a poll in their M$ Technet Site and see what the public thinks about Autopatcher.
I for all Love Autopatcher. Its a time saver and is less complicated than a WSUS server that they ask me to try. What's the point of having SUS server for a PC that is totally offline? Like a Distributor PC (Totally remote and offline, except for a 56k Modem). They cannot be updating there Windows Updates from Scratch (Like takes about 8 Hours or more + Telephone Bills). Lame excuse by M$, more or less it seems that they are jealous that a 3rd Party is providing a free service that they didn't provide
Still Praying that Autopatcher will make a Victorious Comeback.
Good Luck..
