14 DAY TRIAL // Google released a new version of Google Update, which makes significant changes to the way it works. The new system will run Update through Windows Task Schedule at periodic intervals of one hour, dropping the “googleupdate.exe” program running in the background.
“Until now, Google Update would always run in the background, functioning primarily as a reliable scheduler performing update checks at periodic time intervals. With today's release, Google Update now uses the Windows Task Scheduler to only run at periodic intervals. We have worked hard to ensure that automatic updates work just as reliably, and that our users are just as safe and secure as before,” S. Ganesh, Google Update Team, wrote.
Google Update is the system the company employs to make sure users always have the latest version of Google software, be it the Chrome browser, Google Earth or Picasa. Having the software automatically updated brings a number of advantages. First there is the security concern and having the latest patches and fixes greatly reduces the possibility of an attack. But there is also a usability advantage as users won't have to constantly check for new versions or updated features in their favorite programs since they will always have the latest version installed.
Google also released the source code for the project two months ago in an effort to provide transparency and put at ease some of the more concerned users who may not like having unknown processes running in the background. But now the company has given up on the need for a separate process altogether and is using Windows' own Task Scheduler.
However, there are some exceptions as those who have the Task Scheduler disabled will still get the old googleupdate.exe to make sure they are still getting the updates. The other exception is for those who opted to share anonymous usage statistics or crash reports, who will get GoogleCrashHandler.exe running in the background.