I have a candidate for that. A file called LOADQM.EXE It conncects straight to the Windows Update site without your knowledge. Use MSCONFIG and disable it, no further harm is done by doing this. I also would like to know more info about the file called SERVICES.EXE which seem to do something similar, but if blocked, let's say with a firewall like Zone Alarm, Your internet connection stops responding...

Page 6 top left talks about DRM and automatic download of DRM updates. This is inherent in DRM as it allows changes in DRM systems when security is broken. Its a good reason not to use DRM. It also says that no personally identifiable information will be retrieved. Is there something else or is this just a bad translation.

LoadQM is the MSN Explorer Query Manager. If you use MSN Explorer, its enabled and checks for updates. Services.exe is the Win2K process that handles system background services which includes network components like DNS.

How is this even news? Just because NeoWin and everyone else ran it (never even mind what they were thinking when they ran their own little commentary along with the bad translation) doesn't make it 'news' or even 'need to know'. You'd think these kind of things would have failed at the common sense checkpoint. Ever heard of Windows Update? Now it automatically finds the patches for your computer. Gee, I wonder how it does that, maybe 'examine the computer of the user for versions of the used software and download updates for it'?! Now why does the 'installation history' have the entire history of what you did at Windows Update? Addressing the paranoid privacy nuts among us, how is knowing you are using IE6 'individually identifiable'? I'd be worrying about my IP if I were you. Talk to a Microsoft hater and you'll get all these lectures of 'there are no precedents of this' and the 'fuzzy laws' regarding shrink wrap licenses in the first place. If Microsoft put in there 'by using this software you agree to worship Bill Gates', would that be held up in court? Not everything in an agreement, even legal binding one can be enforced or can stand up under examination, hell, it's illegal to suicide in certain places. Anyway, don't lose any sleep over it, if Bill wanted to, he can hire private investigators and partner up with the hundreds of personal info companies out there and find out more about you than you may know yourself.

Blocking Services.exe is a very bad idea. It's basically the manager for a lot of the critical background operations of Windows 2k/XP, such as DNS, and several other important windows functions that are too small to be grouped under thier own process.