Please disable auto-upgrades on future versions!

Please disable auto-upgrades on future versions!

Instead of giving me the option of downloading the upgrade to 10.51, it attempted to upgrade when I clicked on Opera. This upgrade failed, leaving me with a multi-hour mess to fix. This was on my main desktop.

Today, while trying to use my laptop for the first time in a couple of weeks, Opera again attempted to upgrade the existing configuration.

In the future, please remove the auto-upgrade feature. It removes user autonomy, and in some cases doesn't work.

I have been a longtime Opera user (six years) and have often spoken highly of the benefits of using Opera. This is the first serious issue I have had with it.

Thanks,
McKracky

Welcome to the Opera Community

Please post in the correct forum next time.

Originally posted by McKracky:

In the future, please remove the auto-upgrade feature.

This is vital for many users. Instead, CTRL+F12>Advanced>Security>Do not notify about new versions.

Do note, Opera 10.52 will be released very soon. You can download it from Opera.com if the auto-updater does not work (and if you did not turn it off).

About Automatic Updates

I think the point is that Auto-updates should be DIS-abled by default. NO program should ever download and install anything without the user's express permission. Notification of availability is one thing, actually downloading and installing is another and should NEVER happen.

Originally posted by Y0Y0:

I think the point is that Auto-updates should be disabled by default.

They are. Level of Update Automation (Default =1, notify me about available updates).

Originally posted by Y0Y0:

NO program should ever download and install anything without the user's express permission.

That's what auto-update is meant to do — if you enable it. Most antivirus programs and Windows OS will do the same. I have seen several posts claiming that it happened without auto-update being enabled, but so far I have not seen any recipe for reproducing this alleged behaviour.

Maybe someone installed two versions of Opera with a shared profile, enabled auto-update for one profile, and the other installation got auto-updated? If that happened, it would be down to user error, wouldn't it?

Whatever, if you don't backup your data, and disable Windows System Restore, you're asking for trouble so don't whinge if your system gets messed up by using software.

Originally posted by Y0Y0:

I think the point is that Auto-updates should be DIS-abled by default. NO program should ever download and install anything without the user's express permission. Notification of availability is one thing, actually downloading and installing is another and should NEVER happen.

You are wrong.

Automatic updates should be enabled by default and be done silently without informing the user. Like Chrome does. The user shouldn't have to worry about it.

It should be possible to disable for nerds who want to do that, but it should not even ask by default because it's more important to keep everyone safe and secure than to listen to nerds who obsess over irrelevant stuff.

prd3, prd3, prd3... what is your problem? What terrible has happened to you so that you had to come here to vent it out? EVERY (well almost every, it's not absolute, like many of your comments) post you make is arrogant, attacking, self-righteous and ad hominem. I hope you find proper ways to solve your issues. Honestly. And I'd like to see this forum admins/moderators to intervene, is that continuing behavior really accepted?

I guess the users above are trying to say that, quoting myself from the other topic that pesala linked to: "the check-box in the update dialog is a design flaw (IMHO of course), as it conflicts AND do not honor the the actual preferences setting by being always on, i.e. "force-feeding" automatic updates on."

Originally posted by natural-kutkaa:

Opera is "half"-force-feeding updates with the always on check-box in the update dialog.

Its either force-feeding or its not — there are no half-measures with being forced to do something. If the check-box on the update notification dialogue box defaulted to the user's current setting it would serve no purpose.

Auto-update is not enabled by default — therefore:

• Users who have enabled auto-update do not need to be reminded to enable it, since they have already done it
• Users who have not enabled auto-update do need to be reminded that it is available and recommended, (but not compulsory)
• Users who have disable notification do need to be reminded, when checking for updates manually, that it is available and recommended, (but not compulsory)

Originally posted by natural-kutkaa:

arrogant, attacking, self-righteous and ad hominem

The hypocrisy is stong with this one!

I guess the users above are trying to say that, quoting myself from the other topic that pesala linked to: "the check-box in the update dialog is a design flaw (IMHO of course), as it conflicts AND do not honor the the actual preferences setting by being always on, i.e. "force-feeding" automatic updates on."

Nonsense. If these people don't want updates, they should be forced to jump through hoops to disable them. Chrome got this one right.

opera is set to notify the user about a new version, it will not auto install it the user has the choice by default and that is how it should be for those who know what they are doing but for those who don't then have autoupdates so they don't have to worry about it.

Pesala, like I posted in that topic too, Opera IS force-feeding automatic updates ON in the update dialog, hence the ""half"-force-feeding updates" peculiarity, it doesn't respect users "only notify" setting. To me this is a big no-no design-wise. And many others agree here and by only seeing the confusion it has brought up. And like I wrote, this would be easily fixed by presenting the same drop-down box (from the settings) in the update dialog AND keeping the selected value in it, plus including a short "label" (e.g. "here's your current selection for updates, consider turning automatic updates on") for that drop-down box.

Originally posted by natural-kutkaa:

Pesala, like I posted in that topic too, Opera IS force-feeding automatic updates ON in the update dialog, hence the ""half"-force-feeding updates" peculiarity, it doesn't respect users "only notify" setting. To me this is a big no-no design-wise.

I agree. I keep having to tick "don't do this" each and every time (or um, well, untick "do this" I suppose).

Originally posted by natural-kutkaa:

it doesn't respect users "only notify" setting

Read my previous post, why it should default to checked.

If the user selects "Remind me later" the auto-update setting is unchanged.

Originally posted by Pesala:

Read my previous post, why it should default to checked.

I have read it too many times already thanks. It doesn't give plausible reason why Opera is force-feeding updates on. It only gives a reason why the check-box should be checked always automatically: if it wouldn't do that, like you stated, the check-box would be redundant*. This is NOT the subject of what we are discussing here. We're not talking about the check-box per se.

EDIT: * I don't agree with this. The check-box could reflect the users setting, i.e. it could be off.. its function would be to ALLOW the user to turn automatic updates on from the update dialog (not going to the settings).

Originally posted by Pesala:

If the user selects "Remind me later" the auto-update setting is unchanged.

Yes? This has no bearing in this conversation. Or maybe only to note that Opera did something right.

Once again, NO PROGRAM SHOULD EVER AUTOUPDATE by default. I don't even allow my AV programs to update without my knowledge.

And the other thread was not derailed.

I agree with yoyo.
NO program should EVER be allowed to auto update. And to allow them to do so is utter lunacy and asking for trouble.

>Once again, NO PROGRAM SHOULD EVER AUTOUPDATE by default. I don't even allow my AV programs to update without my knowledge.

+1

Once again, Opera does not auto-update by default. The default setting is “Notify me about available updates” — the recommended setting is “Automatically install updates.”

Originally posted by natural-kutkaa:

This is a funny forum, I just can't understand why topics get constantly closed because off-topic posts, or because troublemakers post there,

Does it ever even occur to you that you are the trouble-maker due to posting false claims about Opera?

It does not force anyone to update, nor half-force (whatever that is). It recommends that users enable automatic update. If you don't want it it to auto-update, then don't change the default setting.

Why is auto-update recommended? Because a browser connects you to the internet, and your PC is vulnerable to exploits if you choose not to upgrade. Opera 10.51 was an important security update.

The vulnerability is confirmed in version 10.50 for Windows. Prior versions may also be affected.

2) An error when parsing XSLT constructs can be exploited to disclose cached content from previously visited web pages.

The vulnerability is reported in versions prior to 10.51.

The default update check interval is every 24 hours: 86400 seconds.

Originally posted by Y0Y0:

I don't even allow my AV programs to update without my knowledge.

I hope that you do at least allow it to update the virus database automatically?

Originally posted by Y0Y0:

Once again, NO PROGRAM SHOULD EVER AUTOUPDATE by default.

Yes they all should. It's 100% necessary because most people have no idea about updates and stuff like that.

I don't even allow my AV programs to update without my knowledge.

So? You do not represent the majority of people. You can easily figure out how to disable it if you are paranoid.

And the other thread was not derailed.

Huh?

Originally posted by Pesala:

Does it ever even occur to you that you are the trouble-maker due to posting false claims about Opera?

LOL, best laughs in a while.. not, seriously, that would be just pathetic. And topics get/got closed even if I didn't participate in them? Wow, I must have some powers that I'm not aware of.

I urge you, Pesala, to bring forward my open supposed "FALSE" claims about Opera. You're constantly twisting the issue at hand, I guess because you can't defend it in any way. But that was low, really low. This is of course going OT, but that nasty accusation has to be dealt.

Originally posted by Pesala:

It does not force anyone to update, nor half-force (whatever that is).

You were given explanation of the "half"-forcing, it's too late to play like that anymore. I haven't said that Opera is forcing anyone to update. Don't twist things around. Frenzie, who has posted about half of the posts you have, agreed with me on this "Opera force-feeding automatic updates ON" -issue, thanks Frenzie for the support.

Originally posted by Pesala:

It recommends that users enable automatic update.

No. Recommending is giving out an ADVICE on a choice, NOT MAKING the choice! Hence the claim "force-feeding auto-updates ON".

Originally posted by Pesala:

If you don't want it it to auto-update, then don't change the default setting.

It's Opera that does NOT honor the users choice. It is Opera that changes the setting, IF I don't "opt out" EVERY time in Opera's update dialog before I accept the update trough.

How hard this can be? If I select "only notify" and do nothing else to that setting afterwards, the next time after I've updated through the update notification dialog, Opera starts to update itself without notifying me. Who was it that ACTIVELY changed that setting from the initial value that I CHOSE? It sure wasn't me. Do you start to see what we are really talking about here Pesala? Have you seen the growing new topics about auto-updates? I bet that most of them don't know what happened but they're not happy that suddenly Opera is auto-updating itself even though they have not selected it.

EDIT: * I don't agree with this. The check-box could reflect the users setting, i.e. it could be off.. its function would be to ALLOW the user to turn automatic updates on from the update dialog (not going to the settings).

Too true, I often don't remember what settings I had left in preferences. Though, those settings are there and Opera does point to the main change to explain any changes. However, being half brain dead after a stroke, I can appreciate that some (including myself) might appreciate a heads up before an update automatically downloads.

It is a bit of a shame that quantifying and qualifying the cognizance and experience level of others would be brought into debate by the gurus instead of offering real solutions and help by the sharpest pencils in the box.

Originally posted by Pesala:

Once again, Opera does not auto-update by default. The default setting is “Notify me about available updates” — the recommended setting is “Automatically install updates.”

It does not force anyone to update, nor half-force (whatever that is). It recommends that users enable automatic update. If you don't want it it to auto-update, then don't change the default setting.

Maybe it's not supposed to, but it does. On a clean install, with no user alteration of settings, it WILL auto-update to a new version. I've had to manually stop it twice (at least).

I do NOT want x.51. I'm quite content with x.10 and plan to stay with it for some time.

Originally posted by natural-kutkaa:

Recommending is giving out an ADVICE on a choice, NOT MAKING the choice! Hence the claim "force-feeding auto-updates ON".

The check-box is enabled — that is recommending that you enable auto-updates. If the user clicks the button to update and install update Opera with that check-box enabled, then they are choosing to enable auto-updates. Opera did not click the button for them — they chose to do it.

Enabling security is for your benefit, not Opera's. It is not like those opt-out options on some installation programs to install the Ask toolbar, which are for the vendor's benefit. If you want to opt out of using the most secure version of the browser, then you can, but Opera should not allow that to happen by users just clicking through without thinking. It should be opt-out, not opt-in. That is not forcing, nor half-forcing, it is recommending.

Originally posted by Y0Y0:

Maybe it's not supposed to, but it does.

So far, this is just a baseless allegation that several users have made, but I have not yet seen a recipe to reproduce it, so we have to assume that is just user error. The fact that several users have made the same error is not surprising. It is very easy to click a check-box without thinking — I have accidentally installed an unwanted toolbar at least once before.

Originally posted by Pesala:

Opera did not click the button for them — they chose to do it.

False. Opera is doing and continuing to do it even though I continue to uncheck the box. If I uncheck it once, it should NEVER be checked again unless I check it.

Originally posted by Y0Y0:

False.

So Opera clicked the button for them and automatically updated itself?

No wonder threads get closed as "derailed." This thread claims that autoupdate is the default. It is not.

Originally posted by natural-kutkaa:

I haven't said that Opera is forcing anyone to update.

Sorry to disappoint you, but that is exactly what you did say.

Originally posted by natural-kutkaa:

I really don't understand why Opera decided to do it the way it's now, not very user friendly, "force feeding" updates.

Then, when challenged, you changed your stance to "half-force feeding." Hopefully, you will finally come around to agreeing that it is, in fact, recommended but optional.