How do I prevent Microsoft from installing Compattelrunner.exe malware on my comptuer?

Question

This is the fourth time I have found this malware running on my computer after removing three previous updates responsible for it.

I have accordingly written all Windows products lousy recommendations in every possible venue (e.g. Amazon.com) and filed a complaint with the FTC. The bottom line is, in fact, that it is illegal to install unwanted software on somebody's computer, and Microsoft is ignoring the permission settings for automatic updates. Please tell me if I need to act on this, or if the problem is going to stop.

Here is the review I just posted for you on Amazon.

Based on my experience with Windows 7.

Installs malware (compattelrunner.exe, an executable that can take over more than 70% of your CPU) while disregarding your update settings ("download updates, but ask me which to install"). Reinstalls this malware after you remove it; this review was prompted by finding it on my computer for the fourth time after I removed it three previous times.

http://searchmidmarketsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/malware

"Malware (for "malicious software") is any program or file that is harmful to a computer user." which includes Compattelrunner.exe due to its effect on computer performance even though it obviously does not damage files, hold the computer for ransom, and so on.

Answer 1

There is no problem with the KB descriptions, but rather with what Windows Update tells you; that is, you have to go to the KB page to check every update (unless it says security or Windows Defender). They actually sent out a Windows Defender or other security update a day after I installed another update.

Answer 2

I guess that would be annoying. It showed as a recommended update for me. 

A least the kb description is pretty clear at this point. 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3035583

It's good you have a reminder procedure for updates but every week is probably overkill since they generally once release patches every 2 weeks. But of course this is entirely your call, I just don't like creating extra work for myself. 

Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Answer 3

The issue isn't whether kb3035583 will cause bad effects, but rather that Microsoft misrepresents it as "important" and also as "Solving issues with Windows" when it is clearly optional.

Re: "The disclaimer for this recommendation is obviously: YOU need to run the updates every so often if you tell windows not to do it automatically. Don't take it upon yourself and then forget to ever update again. Security updates are a necessary evil." I have Outlook set to remind me every week to check for updates manually. I know that some, especially the security related ones, are indeed important.

Answer 4

Once you implement the MS registry edits (or any of the other mitigation strategies), which you have done using Never10 I believe you can freely download updates like this without ill effect.

kb3035583 appears as an optional update for me.

I'm pretty sure installing this will do nothing bad to your system but I will eat my own dogfood and test it for you.

Update:

I ran kb3035583 on my machine and it installed. It did not prompt to reboot.

I had process explorer running the whole time during the install and afterwards.

I also ran Never10 and GWX Control panel

Even after a reboot, I did not note the presence of anything extra on my PC.

Both Never10 and GWX report the same status as before the update

TL;DR

Once you run Never10 / GWX Control Panel / manually prevent Win10, you can run all the updates you want and it should still respect your settings to NOT upgrade to 10 and NOT show you a notification icon.

I recommend that diligent people set updates to "Never check" because:

1. I don't want my machine stealing CPU cycles from me to run updates in the background (and Windows update does churn the system when it runs)
2. I like knowing when I've run updates so that if something is amiss right after, I know it's probably due to an update
3. I like knowing when my machine is going to need extra time to shutdown/restart

The disclaimer for this recommendation is obviously: YOU need to run the updates every so often if you tell windows not to do it automatically. Don't take it upon yourself and then forget to ever update again. Security updates are a necessary evil.

Answer 5

I just meant that a lot of machines are CAPABLE of running 7 given the low requirements, but you may not like how WELL it runs on some of these machines. Even something like a Dell Optiplex 745 with an Intel Core 2 and 2GB of RAM runs the OS just fine. But add in an antivirus application, Firefox, open a few tabs, and if you have Facebook or some other sites with high flash advertisement and/or video use......there is not much performance left for anything else.

At this point Core 2s are what I consider the bare minimum for most people running Win7 if they want to browse the web.

There are ways around this that will potentially squeeze more performance out of your PC when on the web :

-install an ad-blocker in your browser (adblock plus, uBlock origin, etc)

-install flash-on-demand plugins like flashblock so that flash video/ads don't launch on their own

The point is, even on a reasonably decent machine like an Opti 745 (which is well above min requirements) there are circumstances where you will have almost no resources left for anything else other than "daily tasks". There is no way to make things like Compattelrunner run smoothly on these systems because PCs like this are already overtaxed.

This may not be your scenario, but there are a LOT of systems out there much worse than an Opti 745 being used as people's "daily driver" and there is no magic bullet for them. It is simply time to update the hardware to catch up with the online experience (or whatever else is causing the bottleneck).