This is all in service of 365, which is an inferior product. So I understand the bad taste this leaves but it’s not really anything to worry about.
I don't think this is normal. It may be common, but I don't think it is normal. I find this deeply creepy for an OS vendor to think it's okay to push an update that collects data passively from machines. This isn't even collecting telemetry on active users. This is collecting telemetry on installed software.
I get that the Overton window in this shifted a long time ago, and in the tech community I'm in the minority, and especially on hacker news where so many people work for tech companies that track their users every way they can, but I am saying I find it deeply concerning that this sort of thing is a "run of the mill" telemetry update.
I'd go so far as to say this has antitrust implications. MS is using their dominance in one market (operating systems) to collect market data about another market (office software). Their competitors (Google, Zoho, etc) do not have the luxury to scan most of the world's computers on a whim to see what software is installed.
chrome://settings/cleanup>"This update will run one time silently without installing anything on the user's device,"
by definition not an update
> This update is intended to help Microsoft identify the number of users running out-of-support (or soon to be out-of-support) versions of Office, including Office 2013, Office 2010, and Office 2007. This update will run one time silently without installing anything on the user's device.
Sorry, how can this be interpreted in any way other than Microsoft pushing an update who's only purpose is to scan my computer to collect data for them?
And Microsoft has 0 goodwill in this department after pushing updates that made ads start appearing in start menus. These aren't "fears as facts," it's pattern recognition.
How do you think that a windows update checks for out of date office packages in a way that you would not define as scanning?
Also, please don't do ad hominem. I have no motivation outside of the personal one not wanting to be worried that every piece of tech I own is phoning home what I do.
The idea that the OS vendor can push telemetry that scans my computer, not even analyzing activity, but rummaging through my old files, is crazy.
They've taken what was originally a sort of okay idea, automated updates for security, and turned it into something absolutely nuts. I have a windows PC for the occasional game, and these days I feel like I have to treat it as defacto malware.