Hi, Folks!
It’s April 10th and the next build of Windows 10, v1803 aka “Redstone 4,” is supposed to be released today. This is a 6gb download that introduces a few new features and controls, but is not yet widely tested. Don’t be the guinea pig. For at least the next month, when you’re prompted that “the new version of Windows is ready,” just say no! I’ll report here when I believe it is safe for most users.
It’s Patch Tuesday and it’s a big one.
The typical computer should see roughly 2gb in updates today. Let’s get started.
Microsoft released updates to Windows, MS Office, Edge, Internet Explorer, Flash, and MSRT (~1.2gb). This includes security updates. A reboot is required.
Apple released updates for macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, Security Update 2018-002 Sierra, Security Update 2018-002 El Capitan, iTunes 12.7.4 for Windows, iCloud for Windows 7.4, and Xcode 9.3. This includes security updates. Use Apple Software Update to install these updates. A reboot is required.
iOS 11.3 is a security update. Use Settings, General, Software Update to install the most current update.
watchOS 4.3 is a security update. Use the Watch app on your iPhone to install the most current version.
tvOS 11.3 is a security update. Use System, Software Update to install the most current version.
Google Chrome OS 65.0.3325.209 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version. A reboot is required.
Adobe Flash Player 29.0.0.140 is a security update.
Win: https://12pd.com/click?flash
Win: https://12pd.com/click?flashie
Mac: https://12pd.com/click?flashmac
Don’t forget to check your mobile devices, too! Many updates will also apply to your tablet, phone, kindle or television – so check your device-appropriate App Store and install updates.
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.
The release of the next build of Windows 10 (1803) will cause your computer to feel unusually slow until it is installed. This is a side-effect of the Windows 10 upgrade cycle, which pushes out 6gb through Windows update to get you to the latest Windows 10 release every 6 months. If you don’t let it finish and you’re on a slow connection, it will kill your Internet performance forever. If you don’t have the bandwidth to download the bits, I’m happy to provide loaner USB drives to our local clients at The Farmory, or, if you prefer to have me mail it to you please contact me for information.
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.
Finally, if you’re sick of doing this all yourself, let me! Call or email me any time, and we can set you up with subscription SaferPC updates which will be installed each month whenever necessary. Click, call or email for more details:
https://saferpc.info/updates/
209-565-12PD
shawn@12pointdesign.com
Driver Updates
If you’re using this hardware – these updates are for you.
Intel Driver Update 3.2 adds support for newer hardware and improves compatibility. This is not a security update.
https://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/detect
Display Driver Uninstaller 17.0.8.5 improves cleanup. This is not a security update.
https://www.wagnardsoft.com/display-driver-uninstaller-ddu
Browser Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Google Chrome 65.0.3325.181 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.
Firefox 59.0.2 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.
Firefox ESR 52.7.3 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.
Email Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Thunderbird 52.7.0 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.
Internet Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Trillian 6.1.0.14 resolves several bugs, and improves HiDPI support. This is not a security update.
https://www.trillian.im/
Adobe Shockwave 12.3.2.202 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?shockwave
WinSCP 5.13.1 is a security update.
https://winscp.net/eng/index.php
Evernote 6.11.2.7027 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.evernote.com/
MaxMind GeoIP Data 201804 is a data refresh.
https://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/
Nmap 7.70 resolves several bugs, adds fingerprints, scripts, and improved service diagnostics. This is a security update.
https://nmap.org/
Npcap 0.99-r3 resolves a couple bugs. This is not a security update.
https://nmap.org/npcap/
Media Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
iTunes 12.7.4 is a security update. Use Apple Software Update to install the most current version.
Game Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
EA Origin 10.5.16.49299 resolves download manager and chat bugs, improves stability and TTS behavior. This is not a security update.
https://www.origin.com/en-us/download
Technic Launcher 4/360 improves stability. This is not a security update.
https://www.technicpack.net/download
Office Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to most people.
LibreOffice Fresh 6.0.3 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.libreoffice.org/
LibreOffice 5.4.6 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.libreoffice.org/
Notepad++ 7.5.6 adds previous and next buttons to find, improves monitoring behavior, and resolves 2 crash bugs. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?npp
OpenOffice Dictionary 2018.03.01 is not a security update.
https://extensions.openoffice.org/en/project/english-dictionaries-apache-openoffice
Adobe PhoneGap Push Plugin 2.1.0 is a security update.
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/phonegap/apsb18-15.html
Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.8 is a security update.
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/Digital-Editions/apsb18-13.html
Adobe InDesign 13.1 is a security update.
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/indesign/apsb18-11.html
Adobe Experience Manager 6.x Cumulative Fixes are security updates.
https://helpx.adobe.com/experience-manager/aem-releases-updates.html
Security Software Updates
One or more of these is likely to be of interest to most people.
QubesOS 4.0 improves security, improves reliability and privacy, with new behaviors targeting imposed security by design. This is a security update.
https://www.qubes-os.org/downloads/
Avast! Home Edition 18.3.2333 improves performance, redesigns the password manager, resolves a fatal data loss bug in the virus chest and allows email on IPv6. This should be treated as a security update.
https://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download
Wireshark 2.4.6 is a security update.
https://www.wireshark.org/
RouterPassView 1.72 improves file type detection. This is not a security update.
https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/router_password_recovery.html
OpenSSL 1.0.2o is a security update.
https://openssl.org/
OSFClone 1.3.1000 updates libraries, resolves checksum computation bug, and improves compatibility. This should be treated as a security update.
https://www.osforensics.com/tools/create-disk-images.html
RogueKiller 12.12.12 adds detections. This should be treated as a security update.
https://www.adlice.com/softwares/roguekiller/
SuperAntiSpyware 6.0.1258 resolves several bugs and improves engine. This should be treated as a security update.
https://www.superantispyware.com/download.html
Capture Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
XSplit Broadcaster 3.3.1803.0505 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.xsplit.com/get/
XSplit Gamecaster 3.3.1802.1515 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.xsplit.com/get/
Converter Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
CDex 2.00 improves stability and compatibility with newer operating systems. This is not a security update.
https://cdex.mu/?q=download
DVDFab 10.0.8.8 resolves several bugs, adds support for newer encodings, and improves compatibility. This is not a security update.
https://www.dvdfab.cn/download.htm
Utility Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
Synergy 2.0.9 adds Raspberry Pi support, improves reliability, and resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://symless.com/synergy/downloads
RoboForm 8.4.8 improves extension compatibility and installation, and resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?rf
1Password for Mac 6.8.8 resolves a couple bugs. This is not a security update.
https://1password.com/downloads/
1Password for Windows 6.8.534 improves two-factor authentication integration. This should be treated as a security update.
https://1password.com/downloads/
GoodSync 10.8.4 improves service compatibility, improves performance and reliability, and resolves several bugs. This is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync
CPU-Z 1.84 adds support for Spectre detection, newer hardware support, timers and bench testing. This is not a security update.
https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html
NTLite 1.6.0.6122 resolves a couple bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.ntlite.com/download/
DesktopOK 5.12 resolves several bugs and improves reliability. This is not a security update.
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/DesktopOK
HWMonitor 1.35 adds support for newer hardware, and improves monitoring. This is not a security update.
https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html
ImageUSB 1.3.1006 does not provide a changelog, so should be treated as a security update.
https://www.osforensics.com/tools/write-usb-images.html
SearchMyFiles 2.83 resolves a search trimming bug. This is not a security update.
https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/search_my_files.html
OSFMount 2.0.1001 resolves several bugs and improves compatibility. This is not a security update.
https://www.osforensics.com/tools/mount-disk-images.html
OSForensics 5.2.1007 resolves a couple bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.osforensics.com/download.html
PointerStick 3.03 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/PointerStick
SystemRescueCD 5.2.2 is a security update.
https://www.sysresccd.org/
TeamViewer 13.1.1548 resolves several bugs, improves UI, adds integration with Active Directory, and reports in servicecamp. This is not a security update.
https://www.teamviewer.com/en/download/windows/
Ultimate Boot CD 5.3.8 updates libraries and included applications. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html
WinScan2PDF 4.16 resolves several bugs, improves reliability, and optimizes output. This is not a security update.
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Microsoft/WinScan2PDF
WSUS Offline 11.2.1 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://download.wsusoffline.net/
Developer Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
Android Studio 3.1.1.0 is a major update with many new features and improvements. This should be treated as a security update.
https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html
SQLite 3.23.0 resolves several bugs, improves consistency, language constructs, and overloading SQL statements. This is a security update.
https://www.sqlite.org/download.html
Web Package Updates
These are likely to be of interest only to web developers.
DigiCertUtil 20180330 doesn’t provide a changelog so should be treated as a security update.
https://www.digicert.com/util/
TinyMCE 4.7.10 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.tinymce.com/download/
Drupal 8.5.1 is a security update.
https://drupal.org/download
phpMyAdmin 4.8.0 resolves dozens of bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/news.php
MailEnable 10.15 resolves several bugs, improves chat integration, and updates antivirus engine. This should be treated as a security update.
https://www.mailenable.com/
ScreenConnect (aka ConnectWise Control) 6.6.17081.6648 adds support for Chrome OS and Android, improves keyboard controls, and resolves many bugs…but not the one that forbids you from creating custom extensions without sharing the source code with ConnectWise. This is not a security update.
https://www.screenconnect.com/Download
WordPress 4.9.5 is a security update.
https://wordpress.org/
Autoptimize 2.3.4 resolves a couple bugs. This is not a security update.
BuddyPress 2.9.4 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
Custom Facebook Feed 2.5.2 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
myStickymenu 2.0.4 adds option to hide for large screens. This is not a security update.
NextScripts Social Networks Auto-Poster 4.2.1 resolves compatibility issue. This is not a security update.
Postie 1.9.19 improves paragraph detection. This is not a security update.
Sucuri Security 1.8.14 resolves several bugs, improves setup and authentication. This is not a security update.
WooCommerce 3.3.4 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
WP Edit 4.0.3 improves sanity checks and reduces warnings. This is not a security update.
That’s all for now folks. Keep it clean out there. 😉
Regards,
Shawn K. Hall
https://SaferPC.info/
https://12PointDesign.com/