[gambiting]

Tbf that's a mechanism integrated directly into Windows updates now and has nothing to do with HP. Any "critical" bios and CPU microcode updates can be done through Windows Update(and there isn't any good way to selectively block them).

[edgineer]

HP is involved in that. They wrote the software, provided it to Microsoft, and are aware of how Windows Update works. I'm reminded of the times Windows Update has "helpfully" installed drivers for HP printers for me that are essentially bloatware, phoning home, asking me to create an account, and advertising its ink.