Hey folks!
Microsoft released four updates today for Patch Tuesday. Use Windows Update to obtain updates to Windows and MS Office. This includes security updates. Total size of these updates is under 10mb. A reboot is required.
http://update.microsoft.com/
Adobe released security updates (again) for Flash Player last week. Use both links below to download the current versions, close all browsers after download and then install them one at a time.
https://12pd.com/click?flash
https://12pd.com/click?flashie
Looking for an upgrade?
Annette put together a great article about our various iPhone accessories over the weekend, when we weren’t travelling to Auburn or Galt to visit family. The beauty of something as beloved as the iPhone is that it generates a lot of accessories – devices and features specifically designed to work with it and extend the existing capabilities. One of her favorites? In Your Face! Read more:
http://retailbandit.com/2011/03/useful_iphone_accessories/
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.
MS IntelliPoint 8.01.249.0 adds mouse detection, multiple mouse button assignments, smooth scrolling improvements and elimination of PS/2 support (yes, that means your older mice will no longer work!). FIRST, ensure that you’re using a USB mouse (where it plugs into your computer should NOT be round), then get the update from the address below or from Windows Update:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/download/download.aspx?category=MK
BullZip PDF 7.2.0.1288 adds append, multipage, background processing improvements, and 64-bit Ghostscript support. This is not a security update.
http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php#download
Browser Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Firefox 3.6.15 (and 3.6.14) were released this week to address security and stability issues. This is a security update. Use Help, Check for Updates to obtain the current version.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
SeaMonkey 2.0.12 corrects security and stability issues. This is a security update. Use Help, Check for Updates to obtain the current version.
http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/
HTTrack 3.44.1 fixes an important reliability bug, correcting problems with corrupted downloads when performing an update. This is not a security update.
http://www.httrack.com/page/2/en/index.html
Email Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Thunderbird 3.1.9 (and 3.1.8) were released this week to address security and stability issues. This is a security udpate. Use Help, Check for Updates to obtain the current version.
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
OutlookAttachView 1.60 adds command-line support and reduces memory footprint. 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.
WinSCP 4.3.2 corrects a number of bugs, upgrades SSL libraries and improves session security. This should be treated as a security update.
http://winscp.net/eng/index.php
Codec Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to everyone.
Win7 Codec Package 2.7.6 updates included codecs. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html
Win x64 Codec Support 2.8.0 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 10.2 corrects a number of image, media and input parsing vulnerabilities. This is a security update. Use the Apple Updater to install the most current version.
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
CDBurnerXP 4.3.8.2523 provides better support for video DVDs, power saving controls and compatibility defaults. This is not a security update.
http://cdburnerxp.se/
MPC HC x64 1.5.1.2903 updates included libraries and corrects a hardware incompatibility with the Sandy Bridge processor. This is not a security update.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mpc-hc/
Office Updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to most people.
Inkscape 0.48.1 corrects several regressions, improvements in performance, stability and various tool functions. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.inkscape.org/
Paint.net 3.5.8 fixes stability issues and multiple crash bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.getpaint.net/
Security Software Updates
One or more of these is likely to be of interest to most people.
Avast! Home Edition 6.0.1000 is a new major release, incorporating “auto sandbox” to minimize threats from unknown programs, web reputation ratings, safezones, script shield, site blocking, factory settings reset, behavior shield improvements and fixes to USB safe removal and Outlook integration. This version also incorporates the voice of a local Murphys resident (and employee at mlode). This is a security update. If you’re using a previous version of Avast!, download the current build below and install.
http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download
Capture Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
Fraps 3.3.1 adds full Win7 SP1 support, an option to capture only external audio, and several minor bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.fraps.com/
SiteShoter 1.41 adds a new command line option for improved automation. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/web_site_screenshot.html
Education updates
One or more of these are likely to be of interest to most people.
Kodu 1.0.111.0 integrates now world-sharing options for interacting with the Kodu development community. Also corrects several bugs related to network storage, and tutorial improvements. This is not a security update.
http://community.research.microsoft.com/blogs/kodu/default.aspx
Utility Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
CCleaner 3.04.1389 adds support for Win7 SP1, improved Safari, Chrome, and Opera support, as well as a number of additional detections and cleaning controls. This also corrects several minor bugs and improves file detection security. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
DriveLetterView 1.01 adds “Open Device in RegEdit” option. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/drive_letter_view.html
Goodsync & Goodsync2Go 8.6.5.5 corrects issues with Folder Connect, scripting, and HTTP storage. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync
NirCmd 2.50 adds additional volume controls (including app-dependent volume control!) as well as audio device details. Fixes a bug in tray timeout. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html
Speccy 1.09.231 adds Win7 SP1 support, fan speed support, voltages, shaders, hotfix detection, battery stability detection, support for multiple NICs, improved RAM, socket, peripheral and video detection. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/speccy
USBDeview 1.87 adds Device ID Instance column. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html
Developer Updates
These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.
TortoiseSVN 1.6.13 updates dependencies and increases load retries for TBlame. This is not a security update.
http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads
SQLiteSpy 1.9.0 updates SQLite engine. Adds support for loadable extensions. This is not a security update.
http://www.yunqa.de/delphi/doku.php/products/sqlitespy/index
CogTool 1.1.5 simplifies installation and use on Windows machine, especially for 64-bit support. This should be treated as a security update.
http://cogtool.hcii.cs.cmu.edu/
Web Package Updates
These are likely to be of interest only to web developers.
WordPress 3.1 makes over 800 changes to the WordPress engine, including hundreds of bug fixes, ranging from stability and scalability fixes to security. This is a security update. 3.1 is a major update, so while it is essential you update for the added security, there may be changes that effect compatibility with various plugins and themes. After updating, please check functionality exposed by plugins and themes to ensure there are no conflicts (unfortunately, there are likely to be many).
http://wordpress.org/download/
BuddyPress 1.2.8 adds compatibility to WordPress 3.1 and a new option to use either the WP admin bar or the BP BuddyBar. This is not a security update, but upgrading is required if using WordPress 3.1.
http://buddypress.org/
That’s all for now folks. Keep it clean out there. 😉
Regards,
Shawn K. Hall
https://SaferPC.info/
https://12PointDesign.com/