NVidia drivers 270.xx+ create hidden password-protected user account on your computer

[VirtualLarry]

Google for "UpdatusUser". You will find interesting info on this hidden account that NV drivers create on your computer.

This apparently happens, if you happen to leave the option for "NV update" checked off when you install drivers.

There has to be a better way to manage driver updates, than creating users on someone's computer.

Edit: This account DOES NOT SHOW UP, if you go to Control Panel / User Accounts, User accounts.
You have to click on "Parental Controls", then it shows up!

http://www.reclaimyourgame.com/show...e-a-hidden-UpdatusUser-account-on-your-system!

 

[Rifter]

WTF? will check this when i get home, if this is the case im going to send one hell of a postal e-mail to nvidia.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Yeah its there alright. Not really a big deal but being kinda OCD about my computer means I'm uninstalling NVUpdate then, not that its ever a secret when a new driver is out.

 

[Rifter]

Yeah its there alright. Not really a big deal but being kinda OCD about my computer means I'm uninstalling NVUpdate then, not that its ever a secret when a new driver is out.

yeah im to anal about security to let this slide. I have a feeling im going to go postal when i get home. What privliges does the account have?

 

[soccerballtux]

wtf?

 

[VirtualLarry]

What privliges does the account have?

Mine says "Standard User". So I don't think that they can remote in to your computer if you're running Pro or Ultimate. I think that requires a password-protected Admin account.

 

[ZipSpeed]

Good to know. I've seen it on two of my computers but haven't bothered to find out what it was.

 

[ViRGE]

This is how they silently install profile updates. Optimus has had this for years. I thought everyone knew this?

 

[petrusbroder]

It does not hurt to read the whole thread which OP links to.
There it is said that creating this user account actually limits what the updater does ... and that this may be better for the owner and user of the computer than running the updater in "God mode", i.e. giving the updater all the permissions of the system.
Apparently this is only valid for Win 7 systems since Win 7 has UAC.

 

[Will Robinson]

Its a "feature"...:whiste:

 

[VirtualLarry]

In some ways, I would almost prefer that they do their updating under SYSTEM, I mean, that's basically what it's there for, right? It just seems crufty to me to have an additional User on my system. But then again, Linux apps do this, too, so perhaps NV's driver team took a hint from their Linux driver devs.

Also, this might be done to prevent security holes, should someone find a way to exploit NV's update service, so that they cannot take over your entire system.

Whatever, I don't want it on my system. Which should be easy enough to fix - uninstall the NV Update service from Add/Remove Programs, or just don't install it in the first place when installing NV drivers.

Edit: What I really DONT like, is the fact that they HIDE THIS FROM YOU. If there was a legit reason for creating a user account on your computer (such as in Linux), then why did they feel that they need to hide it? That's really what bothers me the most.

 

[petrusbroder]

...
Edit: What I really DONT like, is the fact that they HIDE THIS FROM YOU. If there was a legit reason for creating a user account on your computer (such as in Linux), then why did they feel that they need to hide it? That's really what bothers me the most.

I agree 100%.
They should have announced it as a kind of improvement and given the user a choice!

 

[Grooveriding]

They've done this for a while. Don't like it either and never understood why something so invasive is needed for a simple driver install....

 

[Lonbjerg]

If people think this is an issue I have to *ROFL*

A none-priviliged account...oh the tinfoilhats will be strong with this one

 

[Mark R]

Also, this might be done to prevent security holes, should someone find a way to exploit NV's update service, so that they cannot take over your entire system.

That's exactly what it's for. As this is a potentially automated and unsupervised process with remote control, the general recommendation is that it not run as a system user. By limiting the process to a special restricted account, the security risk is mitigated. This is the same reason why MS has IIS and other server software run as special users.

Edit: What I really DONT like, is the fact that they HIDE THIS FROM YOU. If there was a legit reason for creating a user account on your computer (such as in Linux), then why did they feel that they need to hide it? That's really what bothers me the most.

[/quote]

Because 99.99% of people installing the nvidia drivers wouldn't understand it, and would switch it off, then call tech support about things not working.

Same reason why a lot of backup software doesn't permit you to exclude drive "C" from automatic backup. 99% of tech support calls/complaints over failed backups were from people who didn't know what they were doing, and excluded "C".

 

[Genx87]

This user account has been used for months if not years. I noticed it last Spring when upgrading my computer and installing the newest drivers.

/shrug

 

[Madcatatlas]

If it dosent gather my personal info for nvidia or for use by a third party, or slow my system down, i dont see the problem with this. I

 

[ArchAngel777]

I am so anal about security that I didn't even know something created a new user on my system. Hilarious.

I see this as a non-issue. Of all the things to complain about...

 

[crisium]

Uninstalled the Nvidia Update and it is gone. Thanks for the info.

 

[Lonbjerg]

Uninstalled the Nvidia Update and it is gone. Thanks for the info.

Now what the reasoning behind this?
You don't like to get automatic driver updates?
You want to waste your time doing it manually?

Because if you say "sercurity reasons" I am going to slam my face against my desk...really hard!

 

[pcslookout]

Now what the reasoning behind this?
You don't like to get automatic driver updates?
You want to waste your time doing it manually?

Because if you say "sercurity reasons" I am going to slam my face against my desk...really hard!

For me it would be the whole principal of it. I should have a option first by them asking me and explaining in detail what it will do to my system.

Yes they offer the first part but not the second.

 

[Red Storm]

Considering how often we see people report issues with newer drivers, I would definitely want my video driver to only update manually when I want it to.

 

[Lonbjerg]

For me it would be the whole principal of it. I should have a option first by them asking me and explaining in detail what it will do to my system.

Yes they offer the first part but not the second.

Really?
Why don't you unstall their driver then?
Because I am 100% sure you did not approve every single filecopy, registy entry or active .dll?

If I ever go into buisness I sweer I will have a EULA that prohibit people from the US using my products, due to paranioa/tinfoil hat conserns....and stances like yours.

 

[pcslookout]

Considering how often we see people report issues with newer drivers, I would definitely want to only have my video driver update manually when I want it to.

Another good point.

 

[Lonbjerg]

Considering how often we see people report issues with newer drivers, I would definitely want my video driver to only update manually when I want it to.

You sound like you don't know how the updater works?