Repeating Security Update -what is it for??

VeeEmmy

Security Update for Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package (KB2538242)

In elementary terms, to what does this "Important update" relate?

This particular update (KB2538242) has been installed "successfully" eight (8)times, the first time being 21/06/2011, and now this week it's here again: Same KB... number with a "Published" date of 14/06/2011 - a week prior to the first install. It's confounding to me.

(Looking in the Installed Updates list, the first update with the same name but diff KB no (KB973923) was installed 29/07/2009.)

My quasi-computer-geek ex had free access to my laptop and I let him put pretty much whatever he wanted on here. Most things appeared helpful or fun. Is Microsoft Visual C++ a normal resident on most machines?? Or what kinds of programs is it part of?

He has mentioned in the past that he was studying C++ programming. He is also intrigued with "harmless" hacking. He's told me about programs that can/do monitor keystrokes and do screen captures. Makes me wonder if he's installed something like that on my laptop.

It makes me uncomfortable for this update to keep re-appearing for installation after 8 successful installations for this same (KB...) number.

(I started composing this 14 ‎August ‎2011 and just didn't get around to posting it. Can't remember if I accepted the last offereing or not.)

I looked back at my Installed Updates list and not one of them appears in the list today. Yet there were 10 in the list a couple of weeks ago!

I didn't delete them. So where did they go?

I am concerned. Should I be concerned?

Thanks for any info.
Ban

Equipment:
Medion notebook
Vista Home Premium-Service Pack 2
Memory (RAM): 3.00GB
AVG Free Edition 2011(10.0.1392)
Upgraded to IE9 this week.

Overheal

The libraries often show up because a lot of programs reference them, so windows downloads the compilers and all that jazz for those programs to run successfully.

Not sure why it's doing it so many times though. And I'm not brushed up on how to roll back updates over an extended period - short of reinstalling windows - but that would be overkill more than likely.

VeeEmmy

Thanks for that information, Overheal.

If the "updates" had a different KB number, I wouldn't be suspicious.

Is Visual C++ commonly on most machines??

An answer about removing Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable on Yahoo questions says:

You just won't be able to compile c++ programs, unless you install another compiler like gcc.

Another answer to another question on Yahoo questions:

If you are not doing any programming you shouldn't need it at all. If you have any programs on your computer that were created with visual C++ 2005 you will need the library to run these programs. Delete away if you don't have any of these. You would know because you or your friends would have programmed them.

I don't know anything about compiling c++ programs. That's why I wonder if my Ex put something dodgy on my laptop. How would I find it?

And I'm very curious that the previous repeating updates were in my Installed Updates list 3 weeks ago and not one is there today.

I think I'm becoming a little paranoid...