Windows security check popup on installers?

Radiation · 2 Mar 2009 at 18:11

What's with this thing, why exactly does xp have this, it's been around for ages now but i never thought to bother disabling it, i stop it from connecting to the net but it's slow, doesn't it bother anyone that they call home to check an install is ok?

I searched but couldn't find how to disable it or even any mention of it, main reason is that it forces you to wait when it can't connect until some timeout reached, annoying, any way to disable it?

theheyes · 2 Mar 2009 at 19:15

Can you provide a screenshot?

Radiation · 2 Mar 2009 at 21:27

Its the windows file popup, you know the one you get for certain installers which asks you if you want to run the file and a check box to change whether you want to see it in future (never works though), also has the security centre icon at the bottom with a bit of text.

Im now pretty sure it only does it for installers with security certificates which makes sense as they need to be verified online to be worthwhile.

theheyes · 2 Mar 2009 at 21:59

I think I know which one you mean, the one that appeared after XP Service Pack 2. I can't say I've ever really noticed that it hangs when it can't get a connection though and I've done plenty of offline rebuilds.

I'm not sure if there is a way of disabling it, I'll have to try it on an XP machine at work if I remember/have time. Personally though I think checking that the publisher is trusted is a good thing and have no problem leaving it on. It's not fool proof but it is useful.

Radiation · 2 Mar 2009 at 22:17

Yeah you're probably right, just never liked the idea of all these programs that call home and stuff these days, i suppose its the nature of things and will only continue.