Hidden Microsoft Silverlight keeps reappearing in MS Update

Talk about customer pressurization. I have recently discovered a cunning little method that Microsoft uses to make you download Microsoft Silverlight through Windows Update, even if you have explicitly hidden it or have another Flash player (like Adobe) already installed.

First you get presented with the update screen, provided that you have Windows Update set to manual. Otherwise, MS Silverlight may have been already installed without your knowledge.

You naively think that after you have hidden the updates you don't want to install, it won't bother you again. Not so fast cowboy.



Deceptively enough, if you click hide, close Windows Update and reopen it immediately, MS Silverlight will not show up, which makes you think that your action has indeed worked.



However after five minutes...



There it is again!! Wait so haven't I hidden update for this software already? Let's check.



Yep, MS keeps re-offering the same software again and again with different update IDs. What makes them think that if I did not want an optional update the first time, I will want it the 7th time? They will not rest until you install every piece of their bloatware on your computer. Little tricks like this is what I don't like about Microsoft's way of dealing with their customers.