Microsoft has apologized for a Windows Server update that automatically installed the Windows Desktop Search tool on users' desktops without approval. The mistake happened because Microsoft reused the same update package for when WDS was first published in February as an optional update that was only applicable to systems with the search tool previously installed. 
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Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-12-15
Member since:2007-02-26
"Never ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence."
Variations on that same quote here: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Robert_J._Hanlon
Member since:2006-10-01
Member since:2005-11-12
Member since:2005-07-06
It wasn't an accident... they were just testing how far they can go without being detected.
Think about it - in most cases, users will not detect this update when its being installed; when their machine starts slowing down (as mine did *) they'll either disable/remove it (if they know what they are doing), use it (if they need it - instead of Google search) or upgrade their machine ("because it's too slow") switching to Vista instead.
I may sound paranoid, but what exactly did Microsoft lose because of this mistake?
- Gilboa
* My workplace doesn't use auto-update; They push authorized updates down-stream only after they test them; however, being an incompetent bunch, they chose to authorize this update even after I, and others like me called to warn them about this update. Needless to say they are enjoying the joy of having the number of support calls quadruple.
Lucky for me I mostly use the Windows XP machine to read mail 
Edited 2007-10-30 06:14
Member since:2006-06-03
Member since:
2005-12-15
I don't know why, but I have suspicions about how 'accidental' this was, given Microsoft's battle over searching with Google.