Hey folks! Patch Tuesday is here again.
Windows Update this month includes three updates – one for Windows, one for Microsoft Office and one for Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and Windows Live. These are each security updates. Late last month, Microsoft re-released two updates for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008. One of the updates addresses random lockups during shutdown. If you’ve experienced this issue, it will automatically be added to your update list the next time you run Windows Update, and is likely already installed. An update to support SD cards larger than 32gb was also released as an optional update. Also updated is the Windows 2000 security update for Windows Media Services.
http://update.microsoft.com
Apple released security updates for all current versions of OSX as well as updates to Digital Camera Raw Compatibility, Aperture, Final Cut Server, Mac Pro Audio and various driver updates. This includes security updates. Use the “Apple Updater” to get the most recent versions of all the affected software.
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Looking for an upgrade?
I regularly receive requests for recommendations on upgrades and new computers. This is definitely the season of discontent: It seems everyone has been disappointed with their computer performance recently. Operating systems and applications each consume so many more resources than they did just a couple short years ago. If application developers had anything to say, we’d probably be forced to upgrade our computers every month! While the computer linked below is NOT for everyone, it’s something that has so many features and so much power out of the box, that it would likely last anyone purchasing it at least 5+ years, and for many people, over 10 years.
HP Pavilion Elite HPE-120F Desktop PC
https://12pd.com/amazon?B00318CG5K
Quad-core 64-bit processor, 1 terabyte drive, 8 gb of RAM, and a video card that supports three simultaneous displays, including DVI + VGA + HDMI. It’s over 20% off right now, weighing in at around $850.
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Important Notes
Everything above this section should be checked by everyone on every computer. Chances are good that close to every single computer you touch will be affected by those updates. This is not the case with the items below, though you should still check each line item below to see if it applies to software you have installed.
Please remember that while I list many different applications within these updates, most people should ONLY install updates for a program if they already have a previous version of that program installed.
It is essential to maintain all the applications you have installed on your computer, but often you can minimize the time investment and the potential for exploitation simply by uninstalling software you do not need.
Also note that using the applications own “check for updates” function, when available, will best preserve your current settings, and often avoid any crapware that might come with a fresh installer. Use this option if it’s available to you.
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Driver Updates
If you’re using this hardware – these updates are for you.
nVidia GeForce 197.75 drivers provides support for newer hardware and games, as well as bridging of up to 4 SLI devices and support for 720p output. This is not a security update.
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index5.aspx?lang=en-us
ATI Catalyst Drivers 10.4 improve performance on some hardware, correct over a dozen bugs, and adds support for higher resolutions up to 4kx2k on some hardware. This is not a security update.
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx
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Security Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
AVG Free Edition 9.0.819 provides several changes to the AVG browser toolbar, including the ability to disable it in IE without removing and reinstalling AVG. This is not a security update.
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free
Avast! Free Antivirus 5.0.545 provides a number of minor bug fixes, including features related to VPN compatibility, Outlook integration and rootkit detection. This is a security update.
http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download
MalwareBytes’ AntiMalware 1.46 improves speed and performance, and corrects several bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam-download.php
SuperAntiSpyware 4.37.1000 adds blended 32/64 installer, portable scanner, updated scanning engine, and improved rootkit detection. This is not a security update
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html
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Codec Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Win7 Codec Package 2.4.9 updates several codecs. This is a security update.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html
Vista Codec Package 5.6.9 updates several codecs. Note that this package DOES work for Windows XP. This is a security update.
http://shark007.net/vistacodecpackage.html
Win x64 Codec Components Package 2.5.5 updates several codecs. This is a security update.
http://shark007.net/x64components.html
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Internet Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Yahoo! Messenger 10.0.0.1264 is the fourth minor update the the 10.x series. This should be considered a security update.
http://messenger.yahoo.com/
SmartFTP 4.0.1108.0 adds several new features, more than a dozen bugfixes (including proxy support), and improved security options and settings. This is a security update.
http://www.smartftp.com/download/
Opera 10.53 corrects several dozen bugs across all aspects of the software, including several issues with broken interfaces after scrolling. This is a security update.
http://www.opera.com/
Trillian for BlackBerry is in Beta right now, so if you’re an avid Trillian user, as I am, and you’re a BlackBerry user, check it out!
http://blog.ceruleanstudios.com/?p=1278
Skype 4.2.0.166 corrects over a dozen bugs, primarily stability and reiability issues, as well as at least one crash bug. It also adds HD video, call transfer to another Skype contact, mobile or landline, and call quality tools. This is a security update.
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/
Miranda 0.8.22 improves default settings with Yahoo and GaduGadu, and bugs within Yahoo, ICQ and zlib. This is a security update.
http://www.miranda-im.org/download/
AIM 7.2.7.2 adds Facebook support. This is not a security update.
http://products.aim.com/
Google Earth 5.1.3534 doesn’t provide a changelog, so please assume that it’s a security update. If you have Google Earth installed, update it now.
http://earth.google.com/
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Media updates:
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
iTunes 9.1.1 corrects a crash bug when used with some 3rd-party hardware, AAC conversion bugs, as well as several other security and stability issues. This is a security update. Use Apple Updater or download the newest package below:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
QuickTime 7.6.6 is a stability and security update. This is a security update. Use Apple Updater, or download the newest package below:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
Silverlight 4.0.50401.0 is a major version upate, adding offline DRM, advanced databinding, and comprehensive printing support, among other features. This is not a security update.
http://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/
CDBurnerXP 4.3.2.2140 adds multiple media formats, nrg-to-iso conversion, cue player, UDF, language features, and other minor bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/
Picasa 3.6 Build 105.65 adds drag and drop in Collage Maker for Mosaic, Frame Mosaic, and Grid. This is not a security update. Use Help, Check for Updates, or download the newest package below:
http://picasa.google.com/
Paint.NET 3.5.5 corrects a bug when saving 8-bit images, improves performance and adds support for .NET Framework 4.0. This is not a security update.
http://www.getpaint.net/
IrfanView 4.27 improves performance for many features, including window sizing, keyboard controls, and plugin updates. This is a security update.
http://www.irfanview.com/
SUPER v2010 build 38 adds IFO/BUP rendering, TAK, JTV and SHN support, and corrects several bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html#Dnload
Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0.3 is a security update. This is a security update.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4610
Adobe InCopy CS4 6.0.5 provides fixes for INCX, Scripting, Tables, Text import, multiple-story placement, the UI, page items, PDF and graphic import, layout and hyperlinks. This is a security update. Use Help, Check for Updates, or download the update package below:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4670
Adobe InDesign CS4 6.0.5 is a compatibility update. This is not a security update. If you do not share files with other users, you may wish to avoid this update, as it can cause some of your placed items to appear to be repositioned. If you publish through a third party, or share files for editing, however, you will want to install this update right away. Use Help, Check for Updates, or download the update package below:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4668
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Utility Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
Goodsync & Goodsync2Go 8.2.5.7 fixes issues with relative path mapping and multi-variant filter. This is not a security update.
http://www.goodsync.com/download/affs/goodsync-x12pd.exe
UpdateChecker 1.037 from FileHippo was released yesterday, adding multi-language support. This is not a security update.
http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/
HijackThis 2.0.4 fixes a couple parsing bugs which might result in incomplete scans. This is not a security update.
http://free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/
CCleaner 2.31.1153 improves performance and support for several applications, fixes several bugs, and improves cookie handling interface. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download
Microsoft has released updates to several SysInternals utilities, including AccessChk, LiveKd, and LogonSessions. This is not a security update.
http://www.sysinternals.com/
Wireshark 1.2.8 adds several additional protocols, corrects various parsing issues, and fixes a number of bugs, including crash and overrun bugs. This is a security update.
http://www.wireshark.org/
Slingshot 1.1 adds the ability to disable the URL shortening service. This is not a security update.
http://slingshot.commanigy.com/
Memtest86+ 4.10 adds support for the i7, i5, i3 and AMD 6-core processors, as well as various other hardware updates. Corrects a crash bug, and several other bugs, and now provides a USB-key installer.
http://www.memtest.org/#downiso
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Developer updates:
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
TortoiseSVN 1.6.8 corrects about a dozen bugs, including several crash bugs and reliability for cloning and copying trees. This is not a security update.
http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads
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Web Package Updates:
These are likely to be of interest only to web developers.
phpMyAdmin 3.3.3 corrects a dozen bugs, mostly cosmetic in nature. This is not a security update.
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/downloads.php
That’s all for now folks. Keep it clean out there. 😉
Regards,
Shawn K. Hall
https://SaferPC.info/
https://12PointDesign.com/