Microsoft Update Assistant repeatedly crashing and causing error reporting

Microsoft software, in general, does more to get in the way of getting work done than it helps to complete work. This is a perfect example. The "Microsoft Update Assistant" keeps crashing, even though I've turned off all auto-update options. This brings up the Error Reporting. It interrupts the work I'm doing in Remote Desktop, bringing me back to my normal desktop in order to click the button to say it's OK (it's not OK). Regardless of whether "Restart Microsoft Update Assistant" is checked, it comes back in a few seconds. What a bunch of horrible, useless, crap software!!! And then, trying to submit this information, it doesn't allow it to be submitted... "Maximum flood limit reached." Again... useless Microsoft "help."

Microsoft Error Reporting log version: 2.0

Error Signature:
Exception: EXC_BAD_INSTRUCTION
ExceptionEnumString: 2
Exception Code: 0x00000001 (0x0000000000000000)
Date/Time: 2024-08-05 18:09:20 +0000
Application Name: Microsoft Update Assistant
Application Bundle ID: com.microsoft.autoupdate.fba
Application Signature: SAUd
Application Bitness: x64
Application Version: 4.19.0.20011301
Crashed Module Name: CoreFoundation
Crashed Module Version: 6.9.0
Crashed Module Offset: 0x00000000000ee89e
Blame Module Name: Microsoft Update Assistant
Blame Module Version: 4.19.0.200113
UnsymbolicatedChecksum: 3F2772F1E20492611265EAD2A050E1FF
Blame Module Offset: 0x000000000007cc8f
StackHash: f89c12b4f8f7541a-dm
Application LCID: 1033
Extra app info: Reg=English Loc=0x0409
Build Type: Release
Crashed thread Stack Pointer: 0x_000000030c79f640
Crashed thread: FAILED TO FIND A CRASHING THREAD (Unknown)
uncaught ObjC exception, reason: -[__NSCFString URLByAppendingPathComponent:isDirectory:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x60000316d0e0