Microsoft has finally started offering standalone Windows updates from its Update Catalog website over the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) protocol.
German media Deskmodder discovered this change when trying to download one of the latest update packages under KB5011563, and the update file is now available at the following address:
Whereas before, this address was:
This is certainly a welcome change, as modern web browsers often block downloading files from non-secure connections.
While it’s unclear what ultimately contributed to the change, Dr. Windows speculates that Microsoft may go with an IE-like approach to downloads due to concerns related to legacy support on older systems.
This is not the first time that the Microsoft Update Catalog website has undergone major changes. Back in October 2016, Microsoft lifted the ActiveX requirement to allow Update Catalog websites to run on web browsers other than Internet Explorer.