Updates 2011-02-08

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Shawn K. Hall

Hey folks!

Microsoft released a dozen updates today covering stability and security issues in Windows, Internet Explorer and MS Office. This includes security updates. A restart is required. Use Windows Update to obtain these updates.
http://update.microsoft.com/

Adobe released critical security updates today for Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Use the Help, Check for Updates function. A restart is required. If you don’t have the current major build of Adobe Reader, get it from:
http://get.adobe.com/reader

Apple released iMovie 9.0.2, iDVD 7.1.1, and MacBook Air, which consists of primarily stability and compatibility updates. These are not security updates. Use the Apple Updater to get the most current versions of all affected software.

Looking for an upgrade?

As many of you know, I do a lot of local PC and tech support. You wouldn’t believe how often people forget their passwords – or don’t remember how many accounts they have for a certain server. Over the last couple weeks I’ve seen people forgot they had both a personal and a business account at PayPal (and misplaced $2k in one of them), forgot their Gmail passwords (x3!), or suffered due to new and improved password requirements for one service or another that require more complex passwords than they’re used to using.

This is a trend that will only continue to get worse. Instead of relying on your mind to remember your many passwords (difficult!), using the same password everywhere (very insecure and doesn’t always work), and struggling to remember your account details…do yourself a favor and install RoboForm. It’s supported by most operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android and Linux – and in any scriptable browser (pretty much all current browsers). It encrypts and backs up your passwords, too, and helps you keep notes and other information about your accounts – like who your favorite musician was, your first pet and all that stuff so you don’t have to struggle to pay your phone bill just because you were having a “Cindi Lauper day” when you created the account. Hey, it happens to all of us.

Anyway…RoboForm is simply an amazing plugin that I don’t know how I would function without. We manage well over 200 websites with it, in addition to the many product and service websites we use as well. It’s secure, stable, and constantly improved. And you can share your accounts across as many devices as you want for only $10/year (called “RoboForm Everywhere”). Check it out:
https://12pd.com/click?re

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 266.58 adds software support for 3DVision to capable hardware, DirectX compatibility details, additional hardware and performance updates. This is not a security update.
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index5.aspx?lang=en-us

Email Updates

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

OutlookAttachView 1.56 adds visual improvement to the interface. Recent changes also include the ability to seed the folders you wish to scan through a CSV file to minimize the time required to perform the PST file attachment scan and export. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/outlook_attachment.html

Internet Updates

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

Skype 5.1.0.112 corrects camera issues and crashes at startup for some users. This is not a security fix, but if you have Skype installed, this could make it operate much better.
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/home

EA Download Manager 7.3.0.87 doesn’t provide a changelog, so it should be treated as a security update. If you have EADM installed, install this update.
http://eastore.ea.com/store/ea/html/pbPage.welcome

Codec Updates

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

Win7 Codec Package 2.7.4 updates included codecs and improves default options. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. Don’t forget to uninstall the Bing toolbar this software installs in the background after you install the update. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html

Win x64 Codec Support 2.7.8 updates included codecs and improves default options. This update applies only to 64-bit computers, and requires either the Win7 Codec Package or the Windows Vista Codec package. Don’t forget to uninstall the Bing toolbar this software installs in the background after you install the update. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/x64components.html

Media Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

ImgBurn 2.5.5.0 adds additional hardware support, new logging and performance options, and corrects a DLL load order vulnerability. This is a security update.
http://imgburn.com/

iTunes 10.1.2 adds important stability and performance improvements. This is not a security update. Use the Apple Updater to install the most current version (preferred), or use the link below:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/

MPC HC 1.5.0.2827 updates most integrated codecs, and corrects a couple dozen stability, interface and consistency bugs. This build also adds support for additional subtitle handling, QT and alternative processor encoding of media files. This is not a security update. Download the build appropriate to your CPU at the link below:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mpc-hc/

VLC Media Player 1.1.7 adds security, codec, demuxer, subtitle and visualization updates. This is a security update. Get the most current build here:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html

Office Updates

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

OpenOffice.org 3.3.0 adds extended password support, a number of interface changes, better PDF handling, and many bug fixes. This is a security update.
http://download.openoffice.org/

Notepad++ 5.8.7 corrects the zero-length langs.xml bug that many have experienced with an improper shutdown. If you’ve already experienced the error, you may have to delete the langs.xml file, then reinstall 5.8.7 to get around the bug. This is not a security update.
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Kindle for PC 1.4.1 Build 31629 adds touch support for capable Win7 devices, community commentary, built-in dictionary and improved library management. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?kindle4pc

Capture Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Fraps 3.2.8 significantly improves performance, 64-bit crash issues, and counter display problems. This is not a security update.
http://www.fraps.com/

VideoCacheView 1.85 adds support for Firefox 4 Beta. 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 8.0.7.3 improves Blu-ray and PS3 compatibility, and makes several other minor changes. This is not a security update.
http://www.dvdfab.com/en/download.htm

Any Video Converter 3.18 corrects the DVD menu “burn” bug, optimizes YouTube downloading and improves the Win7 interface. This is not a security update.
http://www.any-video-converter.com/

Utility Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Daemon Tools Lite 4.40.2 fixes BSOD bugs within Advanced Emulation and an error during driver initialization. This is not a security update.
http://www.daemon-tools.cc/eng/products/dtLite

RoboForm & RoboForm2Go 7.2.0 corrects an initialization bug and a version comparison issue in Chrome. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?roboform

Goodsync & Goodsync2Go 8.6.1.1 fixes an NTLM authentication bug, merges processing of Analyze + Sync, and correct an issue in the Browse dialog. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync

CCleaner 3.03.1366 adds multiple additional applications, improved browser, MS Office and Windows Search handling. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Speccy 1.08.218 adds additional hardware support, extended OS profiling, improved network details, PCI Data, minor bugfixes and GUI improvements. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/speccy

GPU-Z 0.5.1 adds a bunch of new hardware to detection and improves automatic update check. This is not a security update.
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/

LogMeIn Mac 4.00.1162 reduces Java dependencies and improves networking, performance and multiple security improvements, as well as a large number of other changes. This is a security update. Use the LogMeIn Updater to install this update.

Memtest86+ 4.20 adds a failsafe mode (F1 at startup), support for newer hardware and multiple bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.memtest.org/

NirCmd 2.47 fixes a bug with the sendkeypress command pushing Function keys.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html

Nmap 5.50 greatly extends scripting capabilities, adds echo mode, multiple broadcast scanning scripts, and dozens of other features. This is not a security update.
http://nmap.org/

Developer Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

MySQL x64 5.5.9 adds default authentication support, as well as several dozen bug fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/

Web Package Updates

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

WordPress 3.0.5 is a security update. This version corrects user-escalation vulnerabilities, permissions issues, upload and input sanitization. This is a critical security update.
http://wordpress.org/download/

BuddyStream 1.0.3.2 corrects import and post-from-forum and reply issues, and updates libraries. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/buddystream/

phpMyAdmin 3.3.9.1 corrects a path disclosure vulnerability. This is a security update.
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/downloads.php

DotNetNuke 05.06.01 corrects a dozen bugs, adds 301/canonical support, Razor scripting, and Child Portal aliases, as well as multiple security issues. This is a security update.
http://dotnetnuke.codeplex.com/

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

Regards,

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

Updates 2010-12-17

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Shawn K. Hall

Hey folks!

Microsoft released Silverlight 4.0.51204, which is a “functional, performance, reliability and security improvement” to the Silverlight browser plugin. You can obtain the latest version from Windows Update if you have it installed. A reboot is not required, but restarting all of your browsers is.
http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/

Apple released OSX updates for Lexmark and Canon printer drivers, RAW compatibility, AirPort Base Station, Time Capsule, and LED Cinema displays. This includes security updates. Use the Apple Updater to obtain most downloads, or get the files directly from:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/

Important Notes

Browser Updates

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

Opera 11.00 provides dozens of improvements in the user interface, stability, web features, and networking, as well as security fixes. This is a security update. Use Help, Check for Updates to get this update.

Codec Updates

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

Win7 Codec Package 2.7.0 updates included codecs. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html

Vista Codec Package 5.8.7 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 2.7.4 updates included codecs. 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 10.1.1 corrects multiple crash bugs, media compatibility issues and undisclosed security improvements. This is a security update. Use the Apple Updater to obtain this update.

IrfanView 4.28 adds dozens of features, improvements, and performance optimizations, including additional batch processing operations, window/view handling and security improvements. This is a security update.
http://www.irfanview.com/

Capture Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

SiteShoter 1.40 adds threading and the ability to take webshots of multiple URLs with a single command. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/web_site_screenshot.html

Converter Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

DVDFab 8.0.6.1 corrects a crash bug, improves copy protection handling, stability fixes and adds the new “Lightning Recoding” method for Blu-Ray processing, which offers 20-40% speed improvements. This is not a security update.
http://www.dvdfab.com/en/download.htm

Any Video Converter 4.16 corrects YouTube handling and adds file renaming functionality. This is not a security update.
http://www.any-video-converter.com/

Utility Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

RoboForm and RoboForm2Go 7.1.1 correct the Chrome installer bug, Firefox form issues, adds Opera support, and fixes several other minor issues. This is not a security update.
http://www.roboform.com/dist/affs/AiRoboForm-s12pd.exe

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

Regards,

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

Updates 2010-12-14

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Shawn K. Hall

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

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.

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/

Updates 2010-11-15

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Shawn K. Hall

Hey folks!

I’m getting a number of reports by people that are getting a “popup” about AVG being out-of-date, should they upgrade? Yes. DO NOT trust the installer, however, just to be safe. You can get the current version of AVG here:
https://12pd.com/click?avg
If you’re only installing it on one computer, use the Download manager (first download link), otherwise, select the correct download for your hardware type (32-bit or 64-bit) and download the full installer. If your computer is from the last 1-2 years, it’s likely a 64-bit, BUT if you don’t know for sure, it’s easy enough to find out by pressing and holding the Windows key and then pressing the “pause/break” key. “System type” or “processor type” will have the details for you. These are huge files, tho, so if you’re using a “limited” connection, consider downloading during your grace period (if you have one), in order to avoid impacting your ability to use the Internet over the next couple days.

Also, I’ve seen several computers in the last few days that haven’t updated Flash or AIR. Folks, these are both CRITICAL security updates and need to be installed ASAP. Download the following THREE files, close all browser windows, then install them. As soon as possible. Really. 🙂
https://12pd.com/click?flash
https://12pd.com/click?flashie
https://12pd.com/click?air

Looking for an upgrade?

Black Friday is coming. In less than two weeks, the largest sale for technology items each year will occur. If you’re looking for a replacement computer, and you can get to a tech store before 8am, you might get a great deal. Otherwise, consider shopping online instead – it’ll save you time, frustration, and the headaches that go with Black Friday.
https://12pd.com/click?amazonlaptops
https://12pd.com/click?amazoncomputers

If you’re going to go shopping for a replacement computer, the important things to remember:

At least 3gb RAM.
At least a dual-core processor, though the more you have the faster it’ll be (for most people).
If buying a laptop, be sure to look at the touchpad buttons (sometimes they are difficult to use), the numpad+arrow keys (a lot of people have specific layouts they prefer), and check the bottom for ventilation – it should have at least 2 fans and vents on at least 2 sides.
If buying a desktop, DO NOT buy a “low profile” or “mini” computer – as these tend to have much smaller power supplies and overheat far more frequently. Also, look for ventilation – there should be what look like two fans on the back of the machine – NOT one.

Important Notes

Internet Updates

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

FileZilla 3.3.5 improves several encryption options, SFTP transfer speed, several UI changes and other bugfixes. This should be treated as a security update.
http://filezilla-project.org/

Codec Updates

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

Win7 Codec Package 2.6.7 updates included codecs and other minor improvements. To install the update, you must uninstall the application through it’s configuration window and reinstall the application. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html

Win x64 Codec Support 2.7.1 updates included codecs and other minor improvements. 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 support, iOS 4.2 support, stability and security updates. This is a security update.
http://www.apple.com/itunes/

VLC Media Player 1.1.5 is a security update, but also adds various protocol and encoder support, as well as several bugfixes. This is a security update.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html

Office Updates

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

Notepad++ 5.8.4 corrects several minor bugs and adds new user interface options. This is not a security update.
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Kindle for PC 1.3.0.30884 adds intuitive dictionary support, and additional viewing options. This is not a security update.
http://www.amazon.com/kindleforpc

Converter Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Any Video Converter 3.11 adds DVD burning option, DVD menus support, output profile management, and several minor bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.any-video-converter.com/

Utility Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Speccy 1.06.191 makes major changes to drive, graphics and network detection, as well as several other bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/speccy

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

Regards,

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

Updates 2010-11-02

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Shawn K. Hall

Hey folks!

After you VOTE today, please take a look at the updates below.

Microsoft released MS Live 2011 through Windows Update this week, providing advanced functionality for blogging, chat and other service integration. This should be treated as a security update, but, during installation when it asks if you want to install “everything” or “only updates”, select “only updates” to avoid installation of software you will not use. Also released is an update to the Application Compatibility package, enabling better support for a number of legacy applications and games. Visit Windows Update now to get the updates:
http://update.microsoft.com/

Apple released updates to iPhoto, ProKit, Aperture, MacBook Air firmware, Mac Pro firmware and released iLife 2011. Some of these are security updates. Use the Apple Updater to get the most current updates for your Mac.

Adobe AIR 2.5 is a feature and bugfix update. This version adds hardware performance improvements, and better device support. This is not a security update.
http://get.adobe.com/air
Adobe Shockwave 11.5.9.615 is another security update. Exploits are active and in the wild. Shockwave has become less and less necessary, UNLESS you play games online — and often, even then, you probably don’t need it. Please consider removing it (doing so WILL NOT affect any business software you require), and if you find you do require it, reinstall from the link below:
http://get.adobe.com/shockwave

Important Notes

Driver Updates

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

nVidia 260.99 adds newer hardware support, updates PhysX and nVidia HD Audio, as well as correction of bugs relating to SLI, Dualview, DVI-HDMI and resizing desktop. If you’ve experienced problems with your nVidia hardware, you should update.
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index5.aspx?lang=en-us

Browser Updates

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

Google Chrome 7.0.517.41 is a security update. Chrome updates itself, but you should check to be sure the most recent update is applied by clicking the Tools menu (wrench) and selecting About Google Chrome. The bottom of the new window will indicate the current version and enable you to update, if necessary.

Firefox 3.6.12 is another security update, following less than a week after the security update 3.6.11 was released. Use Help, Check for Updates to get the latest version.

SeaMonkey 2.0.10 is a security update. If you have this software installed, use Help, Check for Updates to get the most recent version.

Email Updates

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

Thunderbird 3.1.6 is a security update, following another recent security update. If you have Thunderbird installed, use Help, Check for Updates immediately to get the latest version.

Internet Updates

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

EA Download Manager 7.0.0.74 is a minor application compatibility update. This is not a security update.
http://eastore.ea.com/store/ea/html/pbPage.welcome

Evernote 4.0.1.2927 adds OneNote and MHT support, as well as several other bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.evernote.com/

Skype 5 is finally “gold”. This major upgrade adds texting, group video, dropped call recovery and a simpler design. This is not a security update.
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/home

Codec Updates

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

Vista Codec Package 5.8.4 updates included codecs, filters and subtitle processors. 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 2.7.0 updates included codecs and subtitle processors. 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

Win7 Codec Package 2.6.6 updates included codecs, filters and subtitle processors. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html

Office Updates

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

Notepad++ 5.8.3 improves 64-bit support and context menu handling. This is not a security update.
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Security Software Updates

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

SuperAntiSpyware 4.45.1000 provides various scanning improvements. This should be considered a security update.
http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

Capture Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VideoCacheView 1.81 improves reliability on some servers temporary file caching. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/video_cache_view.html

WebVideoCap 1.40 fixes an issue with FLV capture on YouTube and other video sites. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/web_video_capture.html

Converter Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

DVDFab 8.0.3.2 updates codecs, processing speed, hardware support and several crash situations. This is not a security update.
http://www.dvdfab.com/en/download.htm

Any Video Converter 3.10 adds DVD burning, refines output profiles, and improves UI. This is not a security update.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_any_video_converter/

Utility Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

CCleaner 3.00.1303 adds native 64-bit support, drive wipe tool, and various additional application handlers. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Speccy 1.6.191 significantly improves drive detection, as well as various other diagnostic tools. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/speccy

Microsoft’s SysInternals has released several updates. Disk2vhd 1.63 fixes a bug that includes removable flash drives in the disk list. Sigcheck 1.73 reports a revoked certificate as “revoked” rather than “invalid certificate”. VMMap 3.01 is a major update, adding the ability to profile specific applications from launch, track sub-allocations, stack traces and better map execution paths.
http://sysinternals.com/

GPU-Z 0.4.7 adds various hardware-specific features and fixes minor bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/

Ketarin 1.5.0.400 adds a bunch of new features, including “install” support, direct SourceForge handling, various UI updates, several non-security bug-fixes and various other new features. This is not a security update.
http://ketarin.canneverbe.com/

RegFileExport 1.06 corrects a significant freeze issue. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/registry_file_offline_export.html

RoboForm & RoboForm2Go 6.10.1 adds Firefox 4 support — but I’ve had issues with Chrome support, so upgrade at your own risk if you use Chrome. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?roboform

Goodsync & Goodsync2Go 8.4.0.4 corrects several stability and reliability issues, and improves error handling. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync

Developer Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Inno Setup & QuickStart 5.4.0 replaces the editor which greatly improves interactive syntax editing, UI, and scripting support, adds latest bzip2 library, and other minor tweaks. This is not a security update.
http://www.jrsoftware.org/isdl.php

MySQL 5.1.52 corrects several dozen bugs, primarily in duplication, but also corrects some bugs with datetime comparisons, ‘ignore’, subqueries and various other functionality. This is not a security update, but previous versions could be DoSed by malformed packets.
http://www.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/

Web Package Updates

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

phpMyAdmin 3.3.8 adds a number of improvements, most notably a session handling flaw that could be responsible for lockouts and session drops. This is not a security update.
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/news.php

BuddyPress 1.2.6 fixes more than 20 bugs, including various stability and reliability issues. This is not a security update.
http://buddypress.org/

BuddyStream 1.0.2.1 fixes several bugs in Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and session handling. This is not 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/