MacOS very persuasively asks you to perform OS updates for security purposes, but you can ignore it. It will eventually drop from support and then you're taking a risk by not updating it away from vulnerability.

I was thinking of trying it with JRiver MC Jules, as many in the JRiver community seem to rate it for stability and the Apple architecture for audio. It wouldn't do anything other than sit on the network with just the O/S and JRiver running as a Media Server . . . . . and as much turned off or disabled as possible, including updates. I would be interested in your 'spare' too 

Thanks MartinT that info helps. I know it is possible to edit the registry regarding Windows Update - but my impression of Microsoft has changed since they started giving away their O/S. I'd rather pay for an O/S than have a free auto updating data miner on my PC.

I can see those eyes rolling all the way from Wales too!

Thanks for the help guys, it seems it is an easy user selectable task to prevent updates if you wish. Pretty much as it was in Windows 7, although the Mac way is a lot more transparent and intuitive - just a few clicks away, instead of being behind a number of layers. So good for them

I'm being serious. We have a relatively large fleet of Macs at work, as well as a few hundred Windows PCs. Unpatched Macs are just as vulnerable as unpatched Windows, the number of vulnerabilities on all platforms is eye-watering and we rigidly keep to patching them as soon as they become available.

MacOS Catalina (10.15) and older are obsolete, unsupported and becoming ever more vulnerable. Worse still, many users think Macs don't need anti-virus (they do) where Windows comes with it built-in.

Old unpatched machines should not be connected to the internet. If they are, they're a ticking time bomb. I speak from experience.

My 2011 machine is fine and yes, I use AV.

Not going to do the Mac v PC thing ...

Wasn't doing that at all, was concerned for your safety.

Just to be clear, in case anyone reading this thread gets the wrong impression of what my preference is regarding updates - it's only to do with one specific machine. I run a headless network attached Media Server which sits on it's own with no user interaction from myself, other than remotely controlling it to share music on that network. It does nothing else and has no other programs running, but always has A/V. At the moment it's running Linux, so it's not an issue, but it's normally a Windows machine.

It DOES get periodic updates, but this is when I choose to do it, or it's immediate if I know there is a specific threat that needs attention, but it's my decision, not Microsoft's. So don't get the impression it is never updated. What I desire from a Windows music server is to prevent it doing an update overnight automatically, followed by a reboot, as historically this has created me more work than doing it when it's convenient for me and it annoys me when I press play on my controller app and no music follows, due to an overnight automatic update. My daily driver desktop Windows machine gets updated or patched every time a new update is made available.

So I am in total agreement with Martin and I'm not advocating for anyone, be that a Mac or Windows user, to not keep their machines updated.

I just want to say that you only have to read IT industry news to understand that every bit of equipment from network switches to firewalls to appliances and routers, let alone every client device be it Windows, MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android or Linux, are all under attack by ever more sophisticated gangs developing very advanced attack methods. If it's connected to the internet, it's potentially hackable. Every OS vendor is working hard to patch CVEs (vulnerabilities) as fast as they come in.

Ransomware is the least of it, the preferred method now is to steal personal data, wipe it from your machine then sell it on the dark web.

I am certainly not targeting MacOS. However, when I read that a non-updated 2011 machine is still in service I shudder. PLEASE protect yourself and update it.

Ok, I'll duck out of this thread now.

I have just updated by late 2017 iMac to a M2 MacMini Pro. I stream using apple music to a Topping DAC and Rega amp in my study and via a WiimPro streamer in my main room (RME DAC (excellent!) and valve amp to Living Voice speakers. (I also have a Wiim Mini).

I love the sound. At first I had problems with the two Wiim units losing connection after a short break in the music. All this seems to have cleared now.

Apple music now encompasses Classical Music and I can download and stream at higher bit rates than 'red book'.

My music collection is stored on an external SSD (Samsung T5). All recommended.

I have a friend staying with me who is a music buff (he has a Naim system) and is near to tears over the (my) sound!

What more can I say?