Hey folks!
Microsoft released 14 updates today through Windows Update (30-40mb), covering issues in Office, Windows and Internet Explorer. This includes multiple security fixes. Use Windows Update to obtain these updates as soon as possible. A reboot is required.
http://update.microsoft.com/
Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro EFI firmware updates correct reported display problems. This is not a security update. Use the Apple Updater to get these updates.
Apple Boot Camp 3.2 adds support for newer hardware and corrects multiple critical bugs. This is not a security update, but this should be treated as an urgent update. Use the Apple Updater to get these updates.
iOS 4.2.1 for the iPhone, iPad and iPod corrects more than a hundred security and stability issues with previous versions, including several that enable a remote attacker to exploit your device without action on your part (for example, by simply calling you). This is a security update. Use iTunes 10.1 to download and install this update (~400mb). Afraid you’ll lose something? Backup first:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414
QuickTime 7.6.9 is a security update. If you have iTunes or QuickTime installed, install this update with the Apple Updater, or by downloading the newest version from:
http://apple.com/quicktime/download/
Adobe Reader 10.0 (branded as “Reader X”) and 9.4.1 are security updates, correcting multiple public security issues. This is a security update. Since 10.0 was just released, I recommend against being the Adobe Guinea Pig. Give it a couple weeks or a month for the first security and stability update to 10.0 to be released, then install it. Meanwhile, please install the 9.4.1 update immediately by using Help, Check for Updates in Adobe Reader. If upgrading to 10.0, get it from the link below:
http://get.adobe.com/reader
Java 6u23 improves timezone support, stability and performance. This is not a security update, but if you have Java installed, you should always treat Java updates as critical.
http://www.java.com/
Looking for an upgrade?
This is not your typical Christmas season. 99% of the sales I’ve seen have been little more than something to lure you in the door for hardware that isn’t actually available, or isn’t something you should purchase. That said, there’s still time to replace your aging hardware online if you’re looking for:
Laptops?
https://12pd.com/click?amazonlaptops
Desktops?
https://12pd.com/click?amazoncomputers
Monitors?
https://12pd.com/click?amazonmonitors
My advice: Avoid Toshiba and Dell, make sure it’s at least a dual-core machine, and unless you’re a hardcore gamer or developer, you shouldn’t need to spend more than $600 for a machine that will last you 5+ years. Since Windows 7 has now been available for about a year, and has proven itself stable and reliable, if you were one of many putting off your upgrade due to fears of Vista, it’s all clear now. 🙂
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 crap-ware that might come with a fresh installer. Use this option if it’s available to you.
Driver Updates
If you’re using this hardware – these updates are for you.
Logitech SetPoint 6.20.64 improves stability and numerous bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/support-downloads
GMail Drive FS 1.0.17 is a GMail version compatibility update. This update is required if you use GMail Drive. This is not a security update.
http://www.viksoe.dk/code/gmail.htm
Browser Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Firefox 3.6.13 corrects nearly a dozen security issues, as well as multiple stability issues. This is a security update.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
SeaMonkey 2.0.11 corrects nearly a dozen security issues, as well as multiple stability issues. This is a security update.
http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/
Safari 5.0.3 includes more than 3 dozen security updates. This is a security update. If you use Safari, update immediately. Use the Apple Updater, or download the installer directly from the URL below.
http://www.apple.com/safari/
Internet Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
FileZilla 3.3.5.1 corrects a certificate handling bug and issues with symbolic links. This is not a security update.
http://filezilla-project.org/
Trillian 1.0.162 for Mac incorporates contact list and Twitter improvements, as well as integration of autologin and better control over the UI. This is not a security update.
http://www.trillian.im/download/
Thunderbird 3.1.7 fixes several security issues, improves handling of large folder files stored locally, and corrects corruption issues in IMAP mailboxes. This is a security update.
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
Codec Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Win7 Codec Package 2.6.9 updates included codecs and corrects a bug with ac3 audio. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html
Vista Codec Package 5.8.6 updates included codecs. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This version works for both Windows XP and Windows Vista.
http://shark007.net/vistacodecpackage.html
Win x64 Codec Support 2.7.3 updates included codecs and corrects a bug with ac3 audio. This update applies only to 64-bit computers, and requires either the Win7 Codec Package or the Windows Vista Codec package.
http://shark007.net/x64components.html
Media Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
iTunes 10.1 adds AirPlay and iOS 4.2 support, as well as multiple security and stability updates. This is a security update. Use Apple Updater to update to the most recent version, a reboot is required.
Paint.net 3.5.6 improves performance and quality of some tools, corrects a data loss bug and issues with copy and paste. This is not a security update.
http://www.getpaint.net/
Picasa 3.8 Build 117.24 corrects caption issues when playing Face Movies and translation issues. This is not a security update.
http://google.com/picasa/
CDBurnerXP 4.3.8.2474 improves media type detection and support, multiple bug fixes and stability improvements. This is a security update.
http://cdburnerxp.se/
Unreal Live Server 7.5 and Unreal Media Server 7.5 add AAC encoding and MMS protocol, additional resolution options, and better live source and broadcast stream source handling. This is not a security update.
http://www.umediaserver.net/umediaserver/download.html
Winamp 5.601 corrects a number of security, stability and reliability bugs, including freezes in certain situations. This is a security update.
http://www.winamp.com/media-player/en
ImgBurn 2.5.4.0 optimizes performance, multiple stability bugs, among many UI changes. This is not a security update.
http://imgburn.com/
Office Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to most people.
Notepad++ 5.8.5 corrects several bugs, including tab settings and session handling issues. This is not a security update.
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/
Scribus 1.3.9 corrects more than 70 bugs, including import/export, color handling and stability updates, This is not a security update.
http://www.scribus.net/downloads
Security Software Updates
One or more of these is likely to be of interest to most people.
MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware 1.50 increases performance, stability and detection algorithms. Extends ignore list functionality, scheduling, and update options. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
SuperAntiSpyware 4.46.1000 improves direct disk access and preparation for the next major release. This is not a security update.
http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html
Capture Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
Fraps 3.2.5 corrects a number of bugs, including stability, mouse, sticky keys, OpenGL and D3D issues. This is not a security update.
http://www.fraps.com/
VideoCacheView 1.82 adds video handling option. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/video_cache_view.html
Converter Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
DVDFab 8.0.5.6 adds Blu-Ray 3D support, improved copy protection handling, stability fixes and many Blu-Ray specific updates. This is not a security update.
http://www.dvdfab.com/en/download.htm
Any Video Converter 3.12 fixes a PSP encoding bug and a bug that causes a freeze when closing the burning dialog. This is not a security update.
http://www.any-video-converter.com/
Education updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to most people.
TuxMath 1.9.0 adds a competitive play (head-to-head) mode, as well as improved display. This is not a security update.
http://tux4kids.alioth.debian.org/tuxmath/download.php
Utility Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
7-Zip 9.20! I’ll start this one with “Yay!” 7-Zip 9.20 is finally available, incorporating several bugfixes as well as more than a dozen new formats including direct filesystem streams, RPM, VHD, SWF, FLV, APM, huge TAR (8gb+), new SFX tool and the addition of diff tool integration. This is a major update, following nearly two years of testing, and you should not only upgrade to this version if you’re using a previous version of 7-Zip, but you should switch to 7-Zip if you’re not. Seriously. It’s that good.
http://www.7-zip.org/download.html
LogMeIn 4.1.1578 is a stability update, but all remote access software should be treated as a security update. If you have LogMeIn installed, right-click on the LogMeIn icon in your tray and select “Open LogMeIn”, click “About”, then “Check for Updates”. After a few minutes of downloading, the updater will start. You’ll be prompted to click “Update”, approve installation and finally “close” the installer when done. Alternatively, you can download the full installer from:
https://secure.logmein.com/logmein.msi
RoboForm and RoboForm2Go 7.1.0 is the first official release of RoboForm 7. I’ve been using it for months, and can say the improvements (particularly in the Sync, management, login icon, and capture) are well worth the efforts to upgrade. Get it here:
http://www.roboform.com/dist/affs/AiRoboForm-s12pd.exe
Goodsync and Goodsync2Go 8.5.2.2 fixes filesystem icons, symlinks and auto-list servers under SAMBA. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync
Autoruns 10.06 adds ActiveSync parsing and fixes several minor bugs, and also corrects a bug affecting modifications to certain registry keys. This should be treated as a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/
Process Explorer 14.01 is a major update, adding a range of additional features including network and disk monitoring, multi-tab display, aggregate resource usage display, improved accuracy and performance. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/
CCleaner 3.01.1327 adds more than a dozen performance and usability improvements, including better application support, troubleshooting options, processor detection, and various bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
Defraggler 2.00.230 is a major update, adding offline defragmentation, improved performance and compatibility and many minor bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/defraggler
Speccy 1.07.205 improves hardware detection and speed, particularly with removable drives and the dreaded SATA interference issues (typical of many laptops), as well as stability and bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/speccy
NirCmd 2.46 introduces native 64-bit support, max and min options and location by executeable command. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html
Cygwin 1.7.7 improves 64-bit support, and updates a number of included libraries. This should be treated as a security update. If you don’t know what Cygwin is, you don’t have it.
http://cygwin.com/
GPU-Z 0.4.9 adds support for newer hardware, corrects BIOS handling of large blocks, and improves error handling. This is not a security update.
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/
Hamachi 2.0.3.89 is a stability update. Since this software controls VPN access, it should be treated as a security update.
https://secure.logmein.com/US/products/hamachi2/
Developer Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
MySQL 5.1.53 corrects several stability and reliability issues, especially with replication, slave implementations, temp tables and authentication replication. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/
TortoiseSVN 1.6.12 corrects an issue with hook scripts failing. This is not a security update.
http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads
ActivePerl 5.12.2.1203 adds several package bundles to the default installation, updates several libraries, and corrects multiple non-security bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.activestate.com/activeperl/downloads
Virtual Machine Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
VMware Player 3.1.3 corrects several stability and compatibility changes. This is not a security update.
http://www.vmware.com/products/player/
VirtualBox 3.2.12.68302 fixes numerous crashes, stability and reliability issues, some which should be considered security fixes. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
Web Package Updates
These are likely to be of interest only to web developers.
phpMyAdmin 3.3.8.1 is a security update. If your server has any version of phpMyAdmin installed prior to this, upgrade immediately. This is a security update.
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/news.php
WordPress 3.0.2 and 3.0.3 are security updates. This update resolves a privilege escalation exploit in ALL previous versions, as well as other security issues and bugs. Install this update on your WP-powered site immediately. This is a security update. Use the WP updater to install the update. Be aware that additional updates and changes may be necessary if your site, theme or plugins are not prepared for WP3.
http://wordpress.org/download/
BuddyStream 1.0.3.1 adds multiple stability and reliability improvements, including at least one security update. This is a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/buddystream/
That’s all for now folks. Keep it clean out there. 😉
Regards,
Shawn K. Hall
https://SaferPC.info/
https://12PointDesign.com/