I remember having a similar problem with virus software. I think Windows is scared of good virus programs finding out that Windows itself is one massive spyware program. Windows has been taking far too many liberties with their updates. It feels very intrusive. They need to include a feature that allows the user to turn off automatic updates.

Powershell, regedit, gpedit.msc and Services already allow users to do that. The trick is not disabling automatic updates, but doing manual ones. Get WSUS or a similar program to install only the ones you want.

Many untrustworthy things come in sleek, sexy, stylish packages.

For example, Hello Barbie is very stylish (well, in certain circles). Too bad you can't trust her.

The Nissan Leaf is a sporty looking vehicle. Too bad it too can't be trusted.

One has to look beyond the allure of stylish, sleek and sexy to stay safe [these days - but it has really always been so].

Hence my decision not get "upgrade".

Well this is why I have AdBlock installed (And that is the ONLY REASON WHY I have it installed, the lack of ads is just a concequence. I can put up with ads as they are supposed to be, but its the fear of Malware within them that's the problem).

And I also have my Avira Anti Virus installed.

And isn't it the duty of the owners to curate the ads it displays on their websites?

If they easily allow ads containing malware or any of these Automated crap than the fault is on them.

The great thing about Windows is the amount of third party software available to solve Windows problems. =)

uBlock Origin has a much smaller memory footprint than AdBlock, so it may be worth it to switch.

A website has an ad rotation from a specific ad provider. Said ad provider does check their ads, but it takes some time, in which period the ads may or may not be displayed. Especially in the case of 0-day exploit, the ad may not be flagged as malicious until the exploit is disclosed.
If the website owner chooses their own ads, then yes, it is their fault, but few do that.
True, especially when they just do stuff first party software already does. The ability to download and install updates manually is included in powershell, but if one isn't aware that they can disable automatic updates on Win10, I find it best to point them towards the "one click" solution.
Do ask if you want info on how to do that with Windows' own tools though, I think I should be able to dig up the relevant MDL thread.

1. I know you are offering me better options than AdBlock but so far I am content with it. And I don't notice or understand this "Memory Footprint" you are mentioning.


2. So a ad's malicious content has to have happened in the first place for it to be later flagged as dangerous malware? Because I feel sorry for the person who had it to suffer through it first to than tell other people to flag it as malware.

Just try this: http://www.chip.de/downloads/CHIP-Windows-10-Zwangs-Update-Stopper_83248302.html

Download "CHIP_Windows10UpdateStopper.exe" and run as admin.
If you see the question "Enable or Disable OS Upgrade?" press d.

Now the connections, which are downloading the Windows 10 Upgrade files should be blocked.
This may help you for now, if you don`t want to get the upgrade files again on your machine (after you´ve deleted them.)

I will continue to just not update my Windows but I will keep your offer in mind. Its just that right now I am busy studying for college stuff and all this just sounds like a lot of work to set up.

No.
Let's say that a new vulnerability appears for a piece of software, that allows specifically written code to run arbitrary code. Once the vulnerability has been identified, it can be patched, and the specifically written code can be identified as malware. If the vulnerability is not identified, the code may be seen as gibberish.

Nope, it´s done in less than 2 minutes. :)

Yeah another one of MS's stupid moves WRT Windows 10. I'm still happy with my Win 10 install, but I have to block 7 from upgrading on at least one of my VMs, because I need to support a variety of Windows OS' in my work.

Except for Vista because, seriously.

I am tired of people worrying that Windows 10 is somehow spyware. Are that many people up to that much legally questionable stuff? Do they really think Microsoft really gives a flying toss about the porn they watch? Not to mention, if these same people kept updates on, they've already joined the telemetrics. Not to mention, many of you probably have a Facebook anyway.

Also, I've never had any software vanish under mysterious circumstances on WIndows 10. Remember to download your software from the actual sources, people. :V Not C-Net or whatever mysterious place you procured them from. Check the URLs, too. Sure, I've had SmartScreen appear a few times and try and stop me from running software so fresh that the paint was still drying, but you can negotiate with that. I've had no issues whatsoever with Windows 10 otherwise.

To put it more neatly, I'm both a nihilist and sage when it comes to my data.

Not only do I not really know or care what data there is, but also, I'm not even sure any of it matters. It isn't like I'm torrenting 40 TB of Estonian fetish pornography. And even if I was, I bet that'd make Microsoft mark my data as invalid for inquiry and discard the lot, seeing as I'm not a consumer they're interested in.