Updates 2013-04-17

Hi, Folks!

This week we’ve got updates for Java (again!), Firefox, Apple, VLC, MBAM and a few others. Not a lot to do, but it still needs done.

Java 7u21 is a security update – this build corrects *42* security vulnerabilities. Are you really still using Java? If you do still have Java installed, update it here:
https://12pd.com/click?java
And please consider disabling it within your browser until you ‘need’ it:
https://12pd.com/click?disablejava

Microsoft broke it. Well, technically, ‘certain third party software’ (Kaspersky Anti-Virus) is incompatible with a recent security update for Windows. If you’re using KAV you’ll want to remove this update in order to ensure that your machine operates consistently. Open Uninstall a Program or Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel, find the ‘Installed Updates’ link and remove “Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB2823324)”. If your computer won’t boot at all or isn’t stable enough to get into the Windows Intaller, there are more extensive steps at the link below.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2839011

Apple released updates to iPhoto, Java, printer drivers, Safari, Aperture, and iCloud Control Panel. This includes security updates. A reboot is required. Use the Apple Software Updater to get the most current versions.

Looking for an upgrade?

Quite a few people are looking for a replacement computer right now.

The primary considerations you need to keep in mind are the usable life of the computer, software compatibility and post-purchase costs. Windows 8, while fully supported by Microsoft, is not the same Operating System as Windows 7. If you’re forced to use it, especially in a business environment, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll go insane. Windows 8 is designed as an entertainment platform – games, media and ‘effects’. If you’re doing these – go with it. If not, stick with Windows 7. Windows 7 will be supported until at least 2020.

The other initial considerations are really overall performance. The faster you have (with as many CPUs as possible) will ultimately be the cap on your total performance. Typically upgrading the CPU is either impossible or cost prohibitive for retail desktops, so the more powerful CPU you get from go is best.

RAM, on the other hand, can be upgraded pretty inexpensively for newer computers. A machine sold with 8GB can often be upgraded later to 32 or even 64GB. Finally, the last factor is video card. Most games and powerful applications today rely heavily on the video-card (NOT the CPU) to perform most operations.

Video cards can be upgraded later, but doing so usually requires a more powerful power supply so the price can fluctuate from ‘expensive’ to ‘very expensive’ depending on the computer’s initial capabilities.

As always, the more powerful and complete the system is during purchase, the more likely it’s going to either not require upgrades later on or only require inexpensive upgrades. Any computer from the list below should last 5+ years. Choose Windows 7 for business or ‘task’ use or if you are not a gamer. If you’re a gamer, you’ll want Windows 8 and a powerful video card.

Gateway DX4380-UR308 Desktop
https://12pd.com/amazon?B009B8EAWQ
$500 – Quad-Core 3.2ghz with 8GB RAM and Windows 8.

AAC-X4S Gaming Computer
https://12pd.com/amazon?B005J0SZOO
$600 – Quad-Core 3.6GHz with 8GB RAM and Windows 7.

Gateway DX4860-UR14P Desktop
https://12pd.com/amazon?B007W11590
$660 – Quad-Core 3.1GHz with 6GB RAM, Windows 7 and built-in wifi.

ASUS Essentio CM6870-US-2AA Desktop
https://12pd.com/amazon?B007XA7A3K
$800 – Quad-Core 3.1GHz with 12GB RAM, Windows 7 and built-in wifi.

CPU Solutions AM3+ FX-4100
https://12pd.com/amazon?B009H8RES2
$730 – Quad-Core 3.6GHz with 16GB RAM, Windows 8 and an nVidia GTX650 w/2GB. By far the best all-around computer for the price.

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.

Finally, if you’re sick of doing this all yourself, let me! Call or email me anytime, 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.

WD SmartWare Software 2.0.0 adds Scheduled Backups, simplified updates and a pro version with additional features, including Dropbox and third-party hardware support. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?wdsmartware

Browser Updates

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

Firefox 20.0.1 is a security update. Use Help, About to get the most current version.

SeaMonkey 2.17.1 is a security update. Use Help, About to get the most current version.

HTTrack 3.47.2 corrects several bugs, including stability and reliability. This should be treated as a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?httrack

Email Updates

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

OutlookAttachView 2.46 corrects a flickering while scrolling bug. 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.

DownTester 1.29 adds autosizing column support, and fixes the flickering bug. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/download_speed_tester.html

Codec Updates

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

Win7 Codec Package 4.1.0 updates included codecs. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html

Win8 Codec Package 1.5.4 updates included codecs. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/win8codecs.html

Win x64 Codec Support 4.0.9 updates included codecs. 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.

VLC Media Player 2.0.6 adds Matroska v4 support, fixes issues with more than a dozen formats, improves interface on various platforms, improved performance on newer hardware. This is not a security update.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Security Software Updates

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

MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware 1.75 adds compressed file support. This should be treated as a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?mbam

RouterPassView 1.47 adds support for DD-WRT. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/router_password_recovery.html

Stinger 11.0.0.244 improves detection for current exploit kits. This is a security update.
http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/stinger.aspx

Virtual Machine Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VirtualBox 4.2.12-84980 corrects a couple dozen bugs primarily with respect to Multi-screen support, Linux guests and pause reliability. This is not a security update.
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Web Package Updates

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

Dada Mail 6.3.1 corrects several reliability issues. This should be treated as a security update.
http://dadamailproject.com/download/

bbPress 2.3 adds search, improved Group Forums integration, theming, and adds more forum migration options. This is not a security update.

Email Log 1.0 adds support for Pro addons. This is not a security update.

YOURLS 1.6 is the first release after migrating to GitHub. This version adds a Translation API, custom API actions, support for URLs with common protocols, updated third-party libraries and improved sanitization and escaping. This should be treated as a security update.
http://yourls.org/

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

Regards,

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

Updates 2013-01-08

Hi, Folks!

Microsoft released 8 updates this month to address security issues in Windows, Office, Windows Server, Expression, SharePoint and .NET. Total size is between 40mb and 100mb, depending on your installed components. A reboot is required.
http://update.microsoft.com/

Microsoft also released a FixIt to address a security issue in Internet Explorer for Windows XP (it DOES NOT affect other versions). This update is not included in Windows Update, so if you’re using XP, you need to install it from the FixIt page here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2794220
Click the “FixIt” button under the (tiny) words “Enable MSHTML shim workaround” and follow the prompts.

Apple released updates to iOS, iCloud, iMac, iPhoto and Aperture. These are not security updates. Use the Apple Updater to get the most current versions.

Adobe Reader 11.0.1 and 10.1.5 are security updates. Now that the first patch for 11 has been released, it should be safe to upgrade to that. Don’t forget to fix the security settings after installation, as all major updates erase the preferences. Sigh. Use Help, Check for Updates to get the most current version or download the major update here:
http://get.adobe.com/reader

Java 7u10 is a security update. If you do not require Java, please uninstall it instead.
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

Adobe AIR 3.5.0.1060 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?air

Adobe Flash Player 11.5.502.146 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?flash
https://12pd.com/click?flashie

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.

Finally, if you’re sick of doing this all yourself, let me! Call or email me anytime, 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.

iOS 6.0.2 corrects a problem with Wi-Fi. This is not a security update. Use iTunes to install the update.

HP Universal Print Driver (PCL6) 5.6.0.14430 adds Windows 8 support and updates driver profiles. This is not a security update.
http://www.hp.com/go/upd

nVidia 310.90 adds significant performance improvements and several fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.geforce.com/

Browser Updates

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

Firefox 18.0 adds Retina support, improved performance, and other fixes. This is a security update. Use Help, About to get the most current version.

Opera 12.12 is a security update. Use Help, About to get the most current version.

Internet Updates

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

Trillian 5.3.11 is a bugfix release. This is not a security update. Get the current version here:
https://www.trillian.im/download/

BrowsingHistoryView 1.20 adds support for IE10, Chrome Canary, and SeaMonkey, and improves display. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/browsing_history_view.html

Connectify Hotspot 3.7.1 corrects several bugs including a driver reset problem, service incompatibilities and improved stability. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.connectify.me/

Google Earth 7.0.2.8415 provides performance improvements, visual improvements, and several bug fixes. This is not a security update.
http://earth.google.com/index.html

WinSCP 5.1.3 provides several bugfixes, including stability fixes and a log security issue. This is a security update.
http://winscp.net/eng/index.php

Codec Updates

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

Win8 Codec Package 1.3.8 updates included codecs. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/win8codecs.html

Win7 Codec Package 3.9.5 updates included codecs. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html

Vista Codec Package 6.4.5 updates included codecs. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This version works for both Windows XP and Windows Vista. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/vistacodecpackage.html

Win x64 Codec Support 3.9.5 updates included codecs. 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.

iTunes 11.0.1 corrects several stability bugs. This is a security update. Use the Apple Updater to get the most current version.

CDBurnerXP 4.5.0.3717 corrects several bugs. This is not a security update. http://cdburnerxp.se/

MPC HC 1.6.5.6366 updates several included codecs and libraries, fixes over 20 bugs, and adds several new features. This should be treated as a security update. http://sourceforge.net/projects/mpc-hc/

VLC Media Player 2.0.5 is a security update. http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Game Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Minecraft and Minecraft Server 1.4.6 adds fireworks, enchantable books, option to enable touchscreen input for buttons and inventory, and a number of bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.minecraft.net/

Office Updates

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

Notepad++ 6.2.3 adds Recycle Bin compliance, Remove Empty Lines feature (Yay!), and several other fixes. This is not a security update.
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Adobe Acrobat 11.0.1, 10.1.5 and 9.5.3 are security updates. Use Help, Check for Updates to get the most current version.

Artweaver 3.1.3 improves tablet support, various brush and palette fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.artweaver.de/

Inkscape 0.48.4 is a security update.
http://inkscape.org/download/?lang=en

SketchUp 8.0.16846 corrects DWG exports, menu and permissions fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.sketchup.com/

Security Software Updates

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

MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware 1.70 is a significant update with improved Windows 8 support, better logging, improved performance and other changes. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

Password Security Scanner 1.10 extends scope of password scanning and improves display. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/password_security_scanner.html

Capture Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VideoCacheView 2.45 adds support for some split videos. 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 8.2.2.6 improves decryption and region detection. This is not a security update.
http://www.dvdfab.com/download.htm

DVDFab 9.0.1.6 is a major update with a completely new interface. This is not a security update.
http://www.dvdfab.com/download.htm

Freemake Video Converter 3.2.1 corrects an issue with YouTube download. This is not a security update.
http://www.freemake.com/

Send To Kindle is a nifty product from Amazon that allows you to quickly upload documents on your computer to your Kindle. It takes seconds to install, and is as simple as right clicking the document you want to copy. I was able to upload about 160 recipes to my Kindle and tablet in 3 minutes (previously I had to email documents one by one to my Kindle). If you have a Kindle, you need this.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle

Utility Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

LogMeIn 4.1.2600 adds Windows 8 and IE10 support, improves RSA to 7.1, improved multi-monitor handling, and printer mapping fix. This should be treated as a security update. Use Open, About, Check for Updates to get the most current version.

AS SSD Benchmark 1.7.4739 corrects bugs with NTFS compression and Min/Max recording inaccuracies. This is not a security update.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_asssdbenchmark/

CCleaner 3.26.1888 improves cleaning, adds support for Office 2013, Adobe Reader 11 and other fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Defraggler 2.12.628 adds support for Windows 2012 Server, skip-if-active scheduling, improved crash reporting, and bug fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/defraggler

CPU-Z Installer 1.62 adds support for newer hardware and improves performance. This is not a security update.
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Goodsync 9.4.1.5 improves on-timer event, performance, parallel locking, logging, and Google Drive. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync

WakeMeOnLan 1.47 improves the display, corrects a multi-monitor bug. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wake_on_lan.html

Developer Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

MySQL 5.5.29 provides performance improvements, reliability and stability fixes. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/

TortoiseSVN 1.7.11 corrects several bugs relating to date processing, SVN standards, logging and stability. This should be treated as a security update.
http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads

Virtual Machine Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VirtualBox 4.2.6-82870 provides dozens of stability and performance fixes, including image conversion improvements. This is not a security update.
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Web Package Updates

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

Adminer 3.6.2 provides a dozen bug fixes primarily for database and PHP compatibility. This is not a security update.
http://www.adminer.org/en/

Dada Mail 6.0.1 is a major update providing a number of improved features, new options and cleaner interface. This is not a security update.
http://dadamailproject.com/download/

Drupal 7.18 is a security update.
http://drupal.org/download

phpMyAdmin 3.5.5 provides several bugfixes and changes. This is not a security update.
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/news.php

SMF 2.0.3 is a security update.
http://download.simplemachines.org/

ColdFusion 10.0.1 and 9.0.3 are security updates. In addition, Adobe recommends making changes to the mapped paths for all sites using ColdFusion. Details here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa13-01.html

MailEnable 6.75 improves authentication auditing, extended character support and MIME header parsing. This is not a security update.
http://www.mailenable.com/

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

Regards,

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

 

Updates 2012-11-13

Hi, Folks!

Microsoft released 6 updates today to address security issues in Windows, Internet Explorer, IIS, .NET (an update for each build) and Excel for all supported versions of Windows. A reboot is required.
http://update.microsoft.com/
Internet Explorer 10 is now available for Windows 7, but due to it’s infancy I do NOT recommend installing it for at least a month.
http://microsoft.com/ie

Apple released updates for OS X, Aperture, QuickTime, iPhoto, Logic Express, Logic Pro and various drivers. This includes security updates. Use the Apple Updater to get the most current versions. A reboot is required.

Adobe AIR 3.5.0.600 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?air

Adobe Flash Player 11.5.502.110 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?flash
https://12pd.com/click?flashie

Java 7u9 is a security update.
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

QuickTime 7.7.3 is a security update. Use the Apple Updater to get the most current version.

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.

Finally, if you’re sick of doing this all yourself, let me! Call or email me anytime, 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.

AMD Catalyst 12.10 adds newer hardware support, improves performance, adds official Windows 8 support, TIR support, and several bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/Pages/downloads.aspx

nVidia 306.97 adds newer hardware support, Windows 8 support, improves performance, TXAA, and updated CUDA. This is not a security update.
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

WD SmartWare 1.6.4 corrects a stability bug. This is not a security update.
http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/wdsmartwareupdate/Step1.asp?id=wdfMB_Essential&os=win

BullZip PDF Printer 9.2.0.1499 improves macro support, embedded files support and increased custom page size dramatically. This is not a security update.
http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php#download

iOS 6.0.1 corrects wireless connectivity, cell data network connectivity and other bugs. This is a security update. Use iTunes or ‘Over The Air’ to install the update, or download the updated IPSW from:
http://iphoneroot.com/firmwares/

RedSn0w 0.9.15b3 adds iOS 6.0.1 support. This is not a security update.
http://iphoneroot.com/utilities/

Browser Updates

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

Firefox 16.0.2 is a security update. Use Help, About to get the most current version.

Google Chrome 23.0.1271.64 is a security update. Use Menu (3 bars), About to get the most current version.

Opera 12.10 is a security update. Use Help, Check for Updates to get the most current version.

SeaMonkey 2.13.2 is a security update. Use Help, About to get the most current version.

Safari 6.0.2 is a security update. Use the Apple Updater to get teh most current version.

Email Updates

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

OutlookAttachView 2.40 adds additional variables to the output filename format. 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.

Adobe Shockwave 11.6.8.638 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?shockwave

Skype 6.0.0.120 adds Microsoft accounts, Live Messenger and Facebook integration. This version also adds Retina support, multiple chat windows, and an improved display. This is not a security update.
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/home

Trillian Astra for Windows 5.3.7 improves group chat, SSL, in-game overlay, and various other bugfixes and improvements.
http://www.trillian.im/windows/

BrowsingHistoryView 1.06 adds webpage titles. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/browsing_history_view.html

Evernote 4.5.10.7472 improves flow, and corrects several bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.evernote.com/

FileZilla 3.6.0 corrects two crash bugs. This is not a security update.
http://filezilla-project.org/

uTorrent 3.2.2 Build 28500 fixes a disconnect bug. This is not a security update.
http://www.utorrent.com/downloads

WinSCP 5.1.1 corrects a couple dozen bugs. 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 3.8.6 improves Windows 8 support and updates included codecs. 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 3.8.6 improves Windows 8 support and updates included codecs. 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

Vista Codec Package 6.4.0 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

Media Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VLC Media Player 2.0.4 is a security update.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Game Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Minecraft and Minecraft Server 1.4.2 adds a beacon, flower pots, frames, anvils, cobblestone walls, pumpkin pies, carrots, potatoes, boss mob, new skeleton type, witches, bats, Zombies now infect villagers, but can also be cured and various other improvements. This is not a security update.
http://www.minecraft.net/

Office Updates

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

Notepad++ 6.2.1 fixes 2 crash issues, some UDL2 bugs and link style bugs. This is not a security update.
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/download/

Adobe Reader 11.0 is a major update, including a variety of changes. This version has a security issue, so it is best NOT to upgrade until 11.0.1 is released, probably within the next two weeks.
http://get.adobe.com/reader

IcoFX 2.3.1 adds XPM support and several fixes. This is not a security update.
http://icofx.ro/

IrfanView 4.35 is a security update.
http://www.irfanview.com/

Security Software Updates

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

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.65.1.1000 corrects several startup and scan completion bugs. This should be treated as a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?mbam

Avast! Home Edition 7.0.1474 corrects several stability bugs. This is a security update.
http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

SuperAntiSpyware 5.6.1014 provides several fixes and improvements. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

Capture Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VideoCacheView 2.38 corrects an mp4 bug. 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 8.2.1.8 adds burn-speed controls, corrects several crash bugs, and various other fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.dvdfab.com/download.htm

Miro Video Converter 3.0 is a major update. This version includes batch processing, many more presets, better control over aspect ratio and output size, progressive MP4, improved WebM output, thumbnails, and more. This is not a security update.
http://www.mirovideoconverter.com/

Utility Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

CCleaner 3.24.1850 adds support for Firefox plugins and extensions, optimizations for Windows 7 and Windows 8, AVG, DVDFab, Inkscape, improved update speed and various other bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Defraggler 2.11.560 adds support for Windows 8, exclusion improvements, proper handling of SSD’s,
http://www.piriform.com/defraggler

RoboForm 7.8.4 corrects several stability and performance bugs. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?rf

Goodsync 9.3.6.6 corrects several bugs. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync

CPU-Z Installer 1.62 adds newer hardware support. This is not a security update.
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

GPU-Z 0.6.6 adds newer hardware support and provides several bug fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/

Daemon Tools Lite 4.46.1 adds Windows 8 support and various fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.daemon-tools.cc/eng/products/dtLite

LogMeIn Win 4.1.2600 adds Windows 8 support, Anti-virus management, better multi-monitor support and various other fixes. This is not a security update.
http://help.logmein.com/SelfServiceDownloads

Hamachi 2.1.0.262 provides a variety of improvements and bug fixes. This version also updates the network address range used for your VPN. This is not a security update.
http://help.logmein.com/SelfServiceDownloads

Coreinfo 3.1 fixes a Numa calculation bug, and adds support for several more processor features. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

Desktops 2.0 is now compatible with Windows 8, properly supporting Winkey hotkey sequences on alternate desktops and switching back to the primary desktop’s start screen when you hit Winkey. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

Whois 1.11 includes bug fixes that could cause it to crash if provided with malformed domain name input strings. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

Livekd 5.3 now support Windows 8. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

PsPasswd 1.23 now includes support for changing domain account passwords. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

Testlimit 5.22 fixes an output formatting bug that could have it report KB instead of MB. This is not a security update.
http://sysinternals.com/

FolderChangesView 1.20 adds a column to display the file owner. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/folder_changes_view.html

NirCmd 2.71 adds runassystem command. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html

USBDeview 2.17 corrects a stability bug when plugging in two devices with the same pid/vid. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

WakeMeOnLan 1.41 adds the ability to wake up all computers in a netrange. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wake_on_lan.html

WifiInfoView 1.10 adds a new signal quality summary mode. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wifi_information_view.html

Hiren’s BootCD 15.2 updates a number of utilities. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

Developer Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

TortoiseSVN 1.7.10 corrects several bugs. This is not a security update.
http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads

Virtual Machine Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VirtualBox 4.2.4-81684 corrects several stability and compatibility bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

VMware Player 5.0.1 corrects several bugs and improves performance. This is not a security update.
http://www.vmware.com/products/player/

Web Package Updates

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

Drupal 7.17 is a bugfix release. This is not a security update.
http://drupal.org/download

Contact Form 7 3.3.1 provides several performance improvements and automation hooks. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/contact-form-7/

InstantWP 4.3 updates WordPress, Apache, PHP and MySQL. This is a security update.
http://www.instantwp.com/download/

ModSecurity 2.7.0 adds internationalization support, caching Lua VMs, exceptions, per-rule performance auditing and more. This is a security update.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mod-security/

MailEnable 6.65 provides several bug fixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.mailenable.com/

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

Regards,

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

 

Updates 2012-10-09

Hi, Folks!

Microsoft released 7 updates today to address security issues in Windows, SQL Server, Office, SharePoint, Lync, Microsoft Works and InfoPath, for all supported versions of Windows. A reboot is required.
http://update.microsoft.com/

Apple released updates for AppleTV, OS X Server, iPhoto, Aperture and a variety of printers this week. This includes security updates. Use the Apple Updater to get the most current versions.

Adobe Flash Player 11.4.402.287 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?flashie
https://12pd.com/click?flash

Adobe AIR 3.4.0.2710 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?air

Also note – Adobe recently had one of their build servers hacked and as a safety precaution, they revoked an SSL certificate used to sign their programs. While this is, you know, scary, there is not yet any reason to believe there is an actual exploit in any “real” Adobe software. However, some antivirus programs treat signed programs with revoked certificates as “malware” (technically, as a PUP – Potentially Unwanted Program) so you can expect to see overzealous antivirus programs removing valid Adobe applications. I expect Adobe to release updates for the affected software soon. You may need to reinstall any affected Adobe software completely if your antivirus program removes it.

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.

Finally, if you’re sick of doing this all yourself, let me! Call or email me anytime, 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.

BullZip PDF Printer 9.1.0.1454 adds the ability to install silently. 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 16.0 is a security update. This major version update corrects just shy of 2,000 issues, from 3D to scripting to performance fixes and more. Use Help, About to get the most current version.

Google Chrome 22.0.1229.79 is a security update. Use Tool (or Menu), About to get the most current version.

Internet Updates

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

WinSCP 5.1 is the first of the 5.x release, which adds a number of new features, including tabs, vastly improved scripting support, a number of bugfixes, and more. This is 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 3.8.0 updates included codecs. 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 3.8.0 updates included codecs. This update applies only to 64-bit computers, and requires either the Win7 Codec Package or the Windows Vista Codec package. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/x64components.html

Media Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

CDBurnerXP 4.4.2.3442 adds Opus support and corrects several bugs. This is not a security update.
http://cdburnerxp.se/

MPC HC 1.6.4.6052 corrects sveral bugs, improves chapter support, subtitle behavior, updates hardware support, codecs and positioning. This is not a security update.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mpc-hc/

Game Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

EA Origin 9.0.13.2141 corrects several stability and reliability bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_origin/

GameMaker Studio 1.0 is a complete rewrite of the GameMaker franchise. GameMaker now supports building to devices running iOS, Android, Windows, OS X and even HTML5. And the basic program is still free.
http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/studio/

Office Updates

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

Adobe FrameMaker 11.0.1 corrects a reliability bug. This is not a security update.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/new.jsp

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.2 improves camera and export support, as well as several bugfixes. This is not a security update.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/new.jsp

Adobe Photoshop 13.0.1.1 is a security update. Use Help, Updates to get the most current version.

Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 6.0.3 is a security update.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/new.jsp

Adobe Bridge CS6 5.0.1.1 is a security update.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/new.jsp

Adobe InCopy CS6 8.0.1 is a bugfix release, correcting a couple dozen issues. This is not a security update.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/new.jsp

Adobe InDesign CS6 8.0.1 is a bugfix release, correcting a couple dozen issues. This is not a security update.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/new.jsp

Adobe Audition CS6 5.0.2 is a stability and feature update. This version improves Windows 8 support, removes limitations to CD burning and corrects issues with touch and metronome. This is not a security update. Use Help, About to get the most current version.

Adobe Encore CS6 6.0.2 does not provide a changelog, so it should be treated as a security update.
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/new.jsp

Artweaver 3.1.2 corrects a number of minor bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.artweaver.de/

SketchUp 8.0.15158 removes most Google branding (SketchUp is now owned by Trimble Navigation Limited), improves recording and text display. This is not a security update.
http://www.sketchup.com/

Kindle for PC 1.10.4 Build 40317 doesn’t provide a changelog, so should be treated as 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.

SuperAntiSpyware 5.6.1010 is a major update, providing vastly improved memory handling and performance, and corrects several bugs. This is a security update.
http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

Wireshark 1.8.3 corrects a number of bugs and adds additional protocal support. This is not a security update.
http://www.wireshark.org/

Capture Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VideoCacheView 2.37 improves display, and corrects Firefox cache-reading bug. 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.

RoboForm 7.8.3 corrects several bugs including crash and reliability issues. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?rf

Goodsync 9.3.4.5 improves user handling, GUI and drag-and-drop support. This is not a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?goodsync

CCleaner 3.23.1823 adds newer application support, improves file deletion security and several other fixes. This is a security update.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

FolderChangesView 1.16 improves multi-monitor support. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/folder_changes_view.html

USBDeview 2.16 adds the ability to scan for specific USB version devices from the command prompt. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

WifiInfoView 1.05 adds Router Name and Router Model reports. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wifi_information_view.html

Process Explorer 15.23 adds process token of protected processes, fixes crash bugs. This is a security update.
http://live.sysinternals.com/

DebugView 4.8 fixes a BSOD bug. This is a security update.
http://live.sysinternals.com/

Sigcheck 1.81 fixes a crash bug. This is a security update.
http://live.sysinternals.com/

Developer Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Inno Setup 5.5.2 and Inno Setup QuickStart 5.5.2 adds Windows 8 compatibility, adds userpf and usercf constants, and various other improvements. This is not a security update.
http://www.jrsoftware.org/isdl.php

MySQL 5.5.28 corrects several bugs with partitioning, InnoDB, replication, and others. This should be treated as a security update.
http://www.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/

Web Package Updates

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

phpMyAdmin 3.5.3 is a security update.
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/news.php

ModSecurity 2.6.8 corrects two non-security bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.modsecurity.org/

Movable Type 5.2 adds several new features and corrects dozens of bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.movabletype.org/download.html

Contact Form 7 3.3 vastly improves message formatting options and tags, eliminates timeout for nonce (not a good thing, IMHO), and other changes. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/contact-form-7/

Multisite Plugin Manager 3.1.2 is a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/multisite-plugin-manager/

Smart YouTube 4.1.7 adds support for a new playlist format. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/smart-youtube/

Theme My Login 6.2.3 corrects a static front-page bug and removes tab indexes. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/theme-my-login/

WP Geocode Filter 1.0.4 updates MaxMind data. 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 2012-09-19

Hi, Folks!

Not to be outdone by Adobe, Apple is hot on their tails with a series of security and stability updates this week, Microsoft is telling people not to use their browser, and Adobe releases out of cycle security updates for several of their plugins. More below…

Microsoft announced on Monday that there is a security vulnerability in Internet Explorer 6 through 9 that would allow an attacker to compromise your computer. They anticipate releasing an update “soon” (probably next Tuesday), but in the meantime you should use an alternative browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Opera or Safari.

Adobe Flash Player 11.4.402.278 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?flashie
https://12pd.com/click?flash

Apple released a number of updates this week:

iTunes 10.7 adds support for iOS 6 running on compatible iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models. This update also adds support for the latest iPod nano and iPod shuffle models. This is a security update.

OS X 10.8.2 and 10.7.5 and SU 2012-004 are security updates. A reboot is required.

Safari 6.0.1 is a security update.

Apple Remote Desktop 3.5.3 is a security update.

iPhoto 9.4, Aperture 3.4, iCloud Control Panel 2, MacBook, MacBook Pro and Retina updates, improve hardware compatibility, stability and performance. This includes security updates.

Use the Apple Updater to get the most current versions of each of these.

iOS 6 (for iPhone, iPad, and iPod) is a security update, and offers a number of other improvements as well. It will gradually be released for each user, but may take hours or even days before you can download it through iTunes successfully. If you know your hardware, you can download the update for your device here shortly:
http://iphoneroot.com/firmwares/

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.

Finally, if you’re sick of doing this all yourself, let me! Call or email me anytime, 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.

nVidia 306.23 adds support for newer hardware, improves performance in some applications – notably Borderlands 2. This is not a security update.
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

Internet Updates

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

Adobe Shockwave 11.6.7.637 is a security update.
https://12pd.com/click?shockwave

Trillian Astra for Windows 5.2.13  is a bugfix release. This is not a security update.
http://www.trillian.im/

BrowsingHistoryView 1.05 adds ‘Copy URLs’ and ‘Open URL in web browser’ context options. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/browsing_history_view.html

Codec Updates

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

Win7 Codec Package 3.7.8 updates included codecs and adds LiveTV playback in non-Microsoft players. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/win7codecs.html

Vista Codec Package 6.3.6 updates included codecs and adds LiveTV playback in non-Microsoft players. To install the update, you must uninstall and reinstall the application. This version works for both Windows XP and Windows Vista. This is not a security update.
http://shark007.net/vistacodecpackage.html

Win x64 Codec Support 3.7.8 updates included codecs and adds LiveTV playback in non-Microsoft players. 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

Game Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Lego Digital Designer 4.3.5 removes support for the defunct ‘Design By Me’ service. This is not a security update.
http://ldd.lego.com/

Office Updates

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

Notepad++ 6.1.8 corrects a minor reliability bug. This is not a security update.
http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Converter Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

DVDFab 8.2.1.0 corrects several stability bugs, adds support for new copy protection and fixes other minor bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.dvdfab.com/download.htm

Utility Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

Atomic 3.5 adds Windows 8 support. This is not a security update.
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/

CPU-Z Installer 1.61 adds new hardware support and corrects several detection issues. This is not a security update.
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

NirCmd 2.70 adds a variety of new features and corrects a couple bugs. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html

WifiInfoView 1.00 is a new application that enables you to troubleshoot common wireless issues. This is not a security update.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wifi_information_view.html

Virtual Machine Updates

These are unlikely to be of interest to most people.

VirtualBox 4.2.0-80737 adds Windows 8 support, improves hardware compatibility, adds Drag & Drop to and from VM under Linux and other features, and corrects a number of bugs. This is a security update.
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Web Package Updates

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

Adminer 3.6.1 adds geometry support, adds VALUES() in export, improves multiline support, fixes MBCS issues, and other improvements. This is not a security update.

http://www.adminer.org/en/

Atahualpa 3.7.9 corrects bugs with excerpts, styles, added function to redirect to theme options after activation and removed log.txt file. This is a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/atahualpa/

BuddyStream 2.6.2 improved push publishing check, several CSS fixes, and removes highcharts graphing. This is not a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/buddystream/

WPtouch 1.9.5.3 improves security under multisite. This is a security update.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wptouch/

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

Regards,

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