includes a list of the "top 25" unnecessary [**] files typically thrust onto a user's system
http://billpstudios.blogspot.com/2010/06/legal-software-more-annoying-then-most.html
[**] I'm saying UNnecessary, based on the ones I recognize and have used WinPatrol to disable. But I can't vouch for them all. Caveat Emptor.
I note with some satisfaction the #1 "legitimate" annoyance on BillP's list.
I'm biting my tongue to avoid saying it, but ...
emoticon.Devil.title
Seriously, though, I allow no software to auto-update, other than my AV. It is a practice that has stood me in good stead over the years.
A tempest in a tea pot I don't have the Google Toolbar, its been offered - I just say NO! By the way MSASCUI.EXE is Windows Defender, do you really not want it to be kept updated? If I have the base product, I have absolute no problem allowing automatic updates. I have, in the past ten year’s only one automatic update issue, a NVIDIA driver update from Microsoft. Actually I find Winpatrol, and most other programs, designed to improve performance either useless or worst.
Michael;
1) You'll get no argument out of me about avoiding the Google Toolbar, or any of their software. I've been preaching this for years!
2) As for auto-updating Windows Defender, my understanding is that (at least with XP) you must first enable Windows Automatic Updates. This I will never do. Don't trust MS. (It's not WD updates I worry about, but some of the other questionable downloads from them I've had to avoid over the years). In any event, WD only auto-updates about weekly. I prefer to manually download the WD daily updates, from https://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Definitions/HowToWD.aspx
3) As for WinPatrol, I find it most useful. But I can agree to disagree.
MSASCUI is Windows Defender's User Interface... so for people using that program (in particular, for whatever realtime protection it offers), I would not consider this unnecessary. So i correct my above initial statement that all the processes on the list are unnecessary.
Like Joe, I am a big fan of WinPatrol... for its many aspects (not about to discuss them all here). For me, it's a "must have" program, and one of the first programs I install on any new machine under my control.