tee hee nice OxyMoron there MS - Security??!!
More like a way for MS to ensure constant and regular access to your system and to monitor unlicensed software installations.

Oh - I forgot - they do this all "without sending any information to Microsoft"!

ummmmm - yeaaahhh, right - how do they know what patches you have or do not have without collecting information - your IP, your MAC Addy, MS Installed Base of SW, Versions, updates etc etc?