Consumers buying Windows 10 starting should know that software updates and patches will be mandatory going forward.
The Register noted the change to Microsoft’s licensing agreement in .
With the current Windows 8.1 release, users could opt to delay or even nix individual updates, according to . Allowing users to pick the time for downloads is great for people who want to make sure the work happens overnight or at a time they won’t be using their computer.
Mandatory updates make sense in that updated-and-patched software is likely more secure and that the latest fixes and features are deployed. But they can also be irksome — patches can futz with and even break current applications. And, for people with tight data caps on their broadband access, these update-or-else mandates could be a problem
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the changes to , saying they were made to keep customers secure and to deliver “Windows as a service.”
Business customers can turn off automatic updates so that their IT departments or administrators can test them before deploying.
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