WindowsUpdate.com

[kingtbone]

Hey, I have to finally post about something that's been bugging me for a long time. When you click on product updates at the WindowsUpdate site, it says

Windows Update is customizing the product updates catalog for your computer. This is done without sending any information to Microsoft.

How is it possible to get this information without sending any information to them? I'm not concerned or paranoid that they are searching through my system, it's more that it just seems a bit hard to believe. I see it as being impossible to not send ANY information to the site. Your thoughts or explanations would be appreciated.

[MacGyver]

They send all the information on the available updates to you, the little applet you download from windowsupdate.microsoft.com parses it on your computer, checks for any updates that have already been installed (look in c:\program files\windows update\) and comes up with a list of possible updates for the software and hardware on your computer. From there you can choose to download whatever you want.

Cnet's CatchUp service works in the same way.

[kingtbone]

Originally posted by MacGyver:
<STRONG>comes up with a list of possible updates for the software and hardware on your computer. From there you can choose to download whatever you want.</STRONG>

But does the webpage come up locally? Doesn't your computer have to send the information to their systems for what updates to display?