Microsoft puts the smack down on AutoPatcher

AutoPatcher.com has been a safe haven for Sysadmins who don’t know how or want to deploy a WSUS “Windows Server Update Services” server (and all the headache that comes along with it). For those who don’t know, AutoPatcher was a portable “Windows Update”+. You could literally take it around on a thumb drive, (or the Switchblade) and get your machines up and patched. So, this way, if you have more than one computer at home, you no ling have to wait for each to download all the updates from Microsoft. Another instance where AutoPatcher came to the rescue? What if you have a network that isn’t connected to the internet, like a lab or private network? Neither Windows Update nor WSUS have a modular version that is as streamlined as AutoPatcher was. Something tells me that the recent release of “The Microsoft Catalog” has something to do with it. Antonis Kaladis posted the take down notice on their site. You can sign the petition that the Neowin community started (petition)

Microsoft strikes again.

Update:
Neowin posted two great articles, one says how you can help fight back.
Microsoft Remains Silent on AutoPatcher
Community fights back for AutoPatcher

Frank's the editor in chief of tech.nocr.at. He can be found surfing the internet and playing with gadgets. Follow him on twitter @franklinhares