Updates 2020-05-12

Welcome back, Folks!

Today is Patch Tuesday for May 2020.

The next build of Windows 10 will be released in only two weeks. If you don’t want to be the guinea pig I strongly suggest you update to v1909 as soon as possible if you’re running an older build. This will grant you a reprieve from the new version for a couple months. Let everyone else beta test and you can upgrade when they’ve worked out the bugs.

Furthermore, yesterday was the last day of support for commercial versions of Windows 10 prior to v1809 (build 17763). If you’re running an older version upgrade to v1909 ASAP to maintain security updates for your device.

This Month in Technology

Send a text, get root.

Even more bad news for Apple devices, as Google’s Project Zero has discovered “numerous new vulnerabilities” on all Apple hardware, and all Apple devices with Thunderbolt ports are vulnerable to an unpatchable security exploit.

But it’s not just Apple. Samsung is patching recent devices from their Galaxy line, though every Galaxy device they produced over the last 7 years is vulnerable to a similar “perfect 10” vulnerability in image parsing.

Ghost and LineageOS were hacked using known vulnerabilities in SaltStack that were left unaddressed. Fortunately it doesn’t look like any serious damage was done.

Pitney Bowes has been hacked again.

Watering holes (places that aggregate data from many accounts and services) will always be prime targets. If you’re not increasing your defense-in-depth posture at your watering hole, expect to be repeatedly violated. Ask LabCorp.

Government-approved monopolies are far too frequently granted exceptions others are not. PG&E, despite causing the fires that killed over a hundred people and destroyed over 25,000 homes and triggering the current insurance crisis in California, has had their $200 million fine waived.

Racists take aim at technology, banning the use of names of colors in the UK.

If you support the lockdown, is it because you hate science or just math? Face masks increase your risk, not the other way around. There’s no such thing as perfect safety.

I won’t try to make a distinction between the junk science you worship and actual science. You’re too far gone for that.

The lockdown is proving more lethal than the coronavirus as suicides exceed COVID-19 deaths in Australia.

Now for the good news:

A massive 10,000+ device botnet is dying out. Sadly, this isn’t one of the truly evil ones that was used for severe malicious actions, but rather just for downloading Anime.

Let’s Get Busy

Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Thanks to the unstopping barrage of updates pushed during “weekly update quarantine”, Patch Tuesday this month is not that bad. The typical computer should see roughly 1.2 GB in updates today. Let’s get started.

Microsoft released updates for Windows, .NET, Internet Explorer, Servicing Stack, and MSRT (~800 MB). This includes security updates. A reboot is required.

Adobe Flash Player 32.0.0.371 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 macOS Catalina (10.15) means that macOS Sierra (10.12) and older are no longer supported. If you can not install at least macOS High Sierra (10.13) on your Mac then you should immediately remove it from the Internet and use it offline only. It will no longer receive patches or updates and can now no longer be secured.

The now-current release of the Windows 10 (1909) is a pretty small update so will install quickly. Windows 10 pushes you to get the latest Windows 10 release every 6 months. If you don’t let it finish and you’re on a slow connection, this process 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, 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 or use, reducing the attack surface.

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

Browser Updates

One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.

Brave 1.8.95 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.
https://brave.com/

Google Chrome 81.0.4044.138 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.

Microsoft Edge 81.0.416.72 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/business/download

Firefox 76.0.1 follows shortly after 76.0 which is a security update. 76.0.1 resolves several compatibility issues. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.

Firefox ESR 68.8.0 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.

SeaMonkey 2.53.2 is a security update.
https://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/

Vivaldi 3.0.1874.38 is a security update. Use Menu, Help, About to install the most current version.
https://vivaldi.com/

Email Updates

One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.

Thunderbird 68.8.0 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 6.3.0.4 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.trillian.im/

Npcap 0.9991 resolves several bugs and improves compatibility. This is not a security update.
https://nmap.org/npcap/

Zoom 5.0.24046.0510 improves local privacy. This is not a security update.
https://zoom.us/

Media Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Picard 2.3.2 resolves several bugs and improves compatibility. This is not a security update.
https://picard.musicbrainz.org/

Game Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Nintendo Switch 10.0.2 resolves a pairing bug and improves stability. This is not a security update.

Tekkit Server 1.2.9i disables mod update checks resolving a crash bug. This is not a security update.
http://www.technicpack.net/modpack/tekkitmain

Office Updates

One or more of these are likely to be of interest to most people.

Adobe Reader DC 20.009.20063 is a security update. Use Help, Check for updates to install the most current version.

Adobe Acrobat 2020.009.20063, 2017.011.30171, and 2015.006.30523 are security updates. Use Help, Check for updates to install the most current version.

Atom 1.46.0 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://atom.io/

Adobe DNG Software Development Kit (SDK) 1.5.1 is a security update.
Win: https://supportdownloads.adobe.com/product.jsp?product=120&platform=Windows
Mac: https://supportdownloads.adobe.com/product.jsp?product=120&platform=Macintosh

Security Software Updates

One or more of these is likely to be of interest to most people.

RogueKiller 14.4.2 resolves a crash bug and updates service. This is not a security update.
https://www.adlice.com/download/roguekiller/

TinyWall 3.0.4 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://tinywall.pados.hu/

Capture Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

ScreenToGif 2.24 resolves several bugs and adds two-pass FFmpeg option. This is not a security update.
https://github.com/NickeManarin/ScreenToGif/releases/latest

SnagIt 2020.1.2 resolves several crash bugs and improves compatibility. This is a security update.
https://download.techsmith.com/snagit/enu/snagit.exe

Converter Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

MKVToolnix 46.0.0 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.fosshub.com/MKVToolNix.html

HandBrake 1.3.2 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://handbrake.fr/

Utility Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

1Password for Mac 7.5 adds password sharing by link, and resolves several bugs. This is a security update.
https://1password.com/downloads/mac/

DesktopOK 7.17 adds silent install support, resolves several bugs, and updates language files. This is not a security update.
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/DesktopOK

Etcher 1.5.87 resolves several bugs and improves compatibility. This is not a security update.
https://www.balena.io/etcher/

GoodSync 11.1.8 improves compatibility. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync

IsMyHdOK 2.15 improves drive type detection. This is not a security update.
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Microsoft/IsMyHdOK

MS ISO Downloader 8.36 updates libraries and adds new disk images. This should be treated as a security update.
https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool

OSFMount 3.0.1006 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.osforensics.com/tools/mount-disk-images.html

PointerStick 4.01 updates language files. This is not a security update.
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/PointerStick

PowerToys 0.17.0 adds native automatic update and updates FancyZones behavior. This is not a security update.
https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/latest

PSAppDeploy 3.8.2 resolves several bugs. This is a security update.
https://psappdeploytoolkit.com/

WifiChannelMonitor 1.60 updates the internal MAC addresses file. This is not a security update.
https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wifi_channel_monitor.html

WinScan2PDF 5.33 improves WIA compatibility and resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Microsoft/WinScan2PDF

Developer Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Android Studio 3.6.3.0 resolves a caching bug. This is not a security update.
https://developer.android.com/studio

Node.js 14.2.0 improves error handling and monitoring with assertions, and resolves several bugs. This is a security update.
https://nodejs.org/en/

Visual Studio Code 1.45 improves accessibility, color, syntax, and semantic highlighting, performance, and GitHub integration. This is not a security update.
https://code.visualstudio.com/

Web Package Updates

These are likely to be of interest only to web developers.

OpenCart 3.0.3.3 replaces all PayPal extensions with PayPal Commerce platform. This is not a security update.
https://www.opencart.com/

Adminer 4.7.7 is a security update.
https://www.adminer.org/en/

OpenPetra 2020.04 resolves several bugs, adds Sponsorship module, improves initial setup and updates libraries. This is a security update.
https://www.openpetra.org/

Autoptimize 2.7.1 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.

Social Post Feed 2.14.1 resolves a bug in notices. This is not a security update.

Postie 1.9.51 removes functions from logon screen. This is not a security update.

Redirection 4.7.2 resolves several bugs. This is not a security update.

NextScripts Social Networks Auto-Poster 4.3.15 improves compatibility. This is not a security update.

Top Commentators Widget 1.6 removes deprecated functions. This is not a security update.

WooCommerce 4.1.0 updates dependencies, resolves several bugs. This is a security update.

WP Mail SMTP 2.0.1 improves compatibility. This is not a security update.

Show IDs 1.1.4 improves compatibility with WordPress 5.4.1.

That’s all for now folks. Keep it clean out there. 😉

Regards,

Shawn K. Hall
https://SaferPC.info/
https://12PointDesign.com/

Updates 2011-09-13

Welcome back, everyone. It’s Patch Tuesday!

Today, Microsoft released 11 updates affecting Windows, Word, Excel, MS Office, Groove, SharePoint, OWA and MSRT. A reboot is required. This includes security updates. They released a couple updates that should have been applied to your Windows-based computers last week, too, including a certificate update to address the DigiNotar hack, adding that entire company to their certificate revocation list.
http://update.microsoft.com/

Adobe Reader 10.1.1 is a security update. Use Help, Check for Updates to get the most current version.

Adobe Flash Player 10.3.183.7 fixes a several compatibility issues. While this specific build is not a security update, if it’s even remotely possible you don’t have the current version, treat this as a security update as the last build corrected dozens of security issues.
https://12pd.com/click?flash
https://12pd.com/click?flashie

Adobe Shockwave 11.6.1.629 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?shockwave

Java 6u27 improves performance and stability, updates the timezone tables, and adds certification for Firefox 5. This is not a security update.
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

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.

Driver Updates

If you’re using this hardware – these updates are for you.

ATI Catalyst 11.8 fixes compatibility and stability issues with many of the new line of devices going back several months. If you have an ATI card, consider this an important update. This is not a security update.
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

nVidia 280.26 is a minor stability and performance update. This is not a security update.
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index5.aspx?lang=en-us

BullZip PDF Printer 7.2.0.1313 adds PStill support, debugging, and priority controls. This is not a security update.
http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php

MS IntelliType 8.20.469.0 is a stability update. This is not a security update. Look at the bottom of your keyboard for the model and version number. This is not a security update. You CAN NOT use this version with a PS/2 connection – it MUST be using USB in order for this driver to continue to allow your keyboard to work!
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/downloads

Browser Updates

One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.

There have been a lot of Firefox updates recently. Only the most recent revisions (6.0.1 and 6.0.2) are security updates, however, and the stability issues that the new major versions have introduced have been “all abuzz” in the online world. At this point, if you’re still using Firefox, it’s probably best to switch to a more stable system such as Chrome, Internet Explorer or Safari. Mozilla has announced that their new release track intentions for Firefox are to release a new MAJOR version (7, 8, 9…) every six weeks regardless of added feature set. This means that even if no significant changes have occurred in the features or capabilities in Firefox by next Christmas, we should see Firefox 14.0 released by then. This is already becoming a nightmare for web developers, system administrators and even end users, as monitoring changes for this single application becomes a full time job. Unless – and until – Mozilla reconsiders this decision, I strongly suggest that you avoid use of Firefox as your primary browser. Maintenance should never become this time consuming. Anyway…back to the business of updates.

Firefox 6.0 thru 6.0.2 are feature, performance and security updates. This is a security update. Use Help, About to obtain the most current version.

Google Chrome 13.0.782.220 is the second Chrome security update inside of a week. Both to address Flash and SSL certificate issues. Chrome should download the update automatically, but requires you to close and reopen it to install the update.

Opera 11.51 corrects several bugs including security updates and performance issues. This is a security update. Use the Opera button, Help, Check for Updates to get the most current version.

SeaMonkey 2.3 thru 2.3.3 correct a number of security and stability issues, and add various new features. This is a security update. Use Help, About to get the most current version.

Email Updates

One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.

OutlookAttachView 1.81 fixes a crash bug, while adding better sorting and searching functionality. This is not a securityu update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/outlook_attachment.html

Thunderbird 6.0 thru 6.0.2 are feature, performance and security updates. This is a security update. Use Help, About to obtain the most current version.
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/

Internet Updates

One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.

FileZilla 3.5.1 improves security in kiosk mode, installer issues, updates PuTTY compatibility and adds MVS listing compatibility. This is a security update.
http://filezilla-project.org/

Skype 5.5.0.115 adds Windows 8 support, as well as fixing an authentication issue. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/home

Trillian Astra 5.0.35 corrects issues with Google Talk. This is not a security update.
http://www.trillian.im/windows/

Trillian Astra 5.1.8 adds native Skype integration, improves AIM, ICQ, chat history and corrects a number of minor bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.trillian.im/windows/

Trillian for Mac 1.2.1 adds new chat window tabs, history searching, and Lion-related bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.trillian.im/mac/

Connectify 3.0.0.20932 is a major update that improves performance, device ID, cleaner interface, service startup, and other bugs. This also introduces the “Pro” version ($30) which adds even more features. This is not a security update.
http://www.connectify.me/

DynDNS Updater 4.1.8 incorporates a number of stability fixes and brand changes, as well as adding internal hostname resolution. This is not a security update.
http://dyn.com/support/clients/

Evernote 4.5.0.5229 adds print preview, audio recording and playback, toolbar modification and various bug fixes. This is not a security udpdate.
http://www.evernote.com/

Codec Updates

One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.

Win7 Codec Package 3.0.7 fixes LAV audio. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html

Win x64 Codec Support 3.0.7 fixes LAV audio. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This update applies only to 64-bit computers, and requires either the Win7 Codec Package or the Windows Vista Codec package. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/x64components.html

Media Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

CDBurnerXP 4.3.8.2631 adds various control and usability options, and fixes several bugs. This is not a security update.
http://cdburnerxp.se/

iTunes 10.4.1 fixes keyboard inconsistencies, and various other bugs. This is not a security update. Use the Apple Updater to get the most current version.

Office Updates

One or more of these are likely to be of interest to most people.

Inkscape 0.48.2 is a stability and bugfix release. This version corrects issues with OSX Lion, tablets, various crashes and the Save As functionality. This is not a security update.
http://www.inkscape.org/

Kindle for PC 1.7.1.33056 adds collections, “Print Replica” to emulate the printed version and PDF reading support. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?kindle4pc

Security Software Updates

One or more of these is likely to be of interest to most people.

Avast! Home Edition 6.0.1289 adds Script Shield to help protect browser interactions, Web Shield, WebRep and other improvements, including security and stability. This is a security update. Use the built-in Update method to install the most recent version.
http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

AVG Anti-Virus Free “2011” version 2012.1796 improves stability, security, performance, and adds various features and troubleshooting information. This is a security update.
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-file-dm-afh

MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware 1.51.2 fixes several bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

Capture Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VideoCacheView 1.98 corrects invalid characters in file rename. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/video_cache_view.html

Utility Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

CCleaner 3.10.1525 adds newer browser support, improvements in previous filters and minor optimizations. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Defraggler 2.07 adds drive health information, improved SSD detection, and several minor bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/defraggler

Speccy 1.12.265 adds multiple new features, improvements in quality, search and reporting, and fixes a few minor bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/speccy

GPU-Z 0.5.5 adds support for newer hardware and improved BIOS version detection. This is not a security update.
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/

DebugView 4.77 adds a command-line switch to enable or disable kernel-mode capture, a switch to enable millisecond clock display, and a number of bug fixes. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

ProcDump 4.0 enables you to control the contents of the dump with your own minidump callback DLL and adds a new switch that has ProcDump wait for a specified process to start. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

Process Explorer 15.04 fixes several minor bugs, and quickly follows updates 15.02 and 15.03, which do correct some security issues. This should be treated as a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

Process Monitor 2.96 changes several UI elements and updates the graphs to match the style introduced in Process Explorer 15.
http://sysinternals.com/

SDelete 1.6 fixes a bug that prevented it from accessing some files on 64-bit Windows and swaps the zero-free-space and clean-free-space arguments to make them more intuitive. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

RoboForm 7.4.2 fixes bugs with Opera, Firefox, iTunes, and corrects crashes, search and certain submission behaviors. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?rf

Goodsync 8.7.8.8 fixes a number of bugs and improves visual interface. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync

Virtual Machine Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VirtualBox 4.1.2-73507 provides a number of bugfixes as well as VBoxAdditions issues. This is not a security update.
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

VirtualBox Extension Pack 4.1.2-73507 updated for VBox 4.1.2. This is not a security update.
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/virtualbox/downloads/index.html#extpack

Web Package Updates

These are likely to be of interest only to web developers.

phpMyAdmin 3.4.4 is a bugfix and security release. This is a security update.
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/news.php

BuddyPress 1.2.10 is a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/buddypress/

bbPress 2.0-rc-5 fixes several pre-release bugs and improves internal API’s. This is not a security update. Full release is just around the corner!
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/bbpress/

BuddyStream 2.1.4 adds BP 1.5 compatibility, fixes several bugs (including frequent database errors and a global Facebook filter) and improves stability. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/buddystream/

Multisite Plugin Manager 3.1 fixes auto-activation for new blogs. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/multisite-plugin-manager/

Redirection 2.2.9 fixes an XSS in the menu system. This is a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/redirection/

Simple Facebook Connect 1.0 is a total rewrite. There are quite a few changes, but the highlights are mostly redesign-related and improved structures. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/simple-facebook-connect/

WP Geocode Filter 1.0.2 adds GeoIP functionality. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wpgeocode/

That’s all for now folks. Keep it clean out there. 😉

Regards,

Shawn K. Hall
https://SaferPC.info/
https://12PointDesign.com/

 

Updates 2010-05-11

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.

___

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.

___

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.

___

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

___

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

___

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/