Question about software updates. How do you handle this?

[vbMark]

Hello,

I think most of us here have quite a lot of freeware on our computers.
Keeping track of which ones have new versions available seems to be a hit
or miss thing for me.

How does everyone else keep track of or find out about updates for all
the different pieces of software?

Do you:

A) not really care about updates.
B) check sporadically for updates at different time for different
software.
C) check for updates for all you software on a set time frame like once a
month.
D) use some website or software to let you know about updates.
E) do some other thing.

I do (B).

Thanks!

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[Harvey Van Sickle]

On 28 Oct 2005, vbMark wrote

Hello,

I think most of us here have quite a lot of freeware on our
computers. Keeping track of which ones have new versions
available seems to be a hit or miss thing for me.

How does everyone else keep track of or find out about updates for
all the different pieces of software?

Do you:

A) not really care about updates.
B) check sporadically for updates at different time for different
software.
C) check for updates for all you software on a set time frame like
once a month.
D) use some website or software to let you know about updates.
E) do some other thing.

I do (B).

Same here. I keep an eye on the update threads here in acf, though,
and update the ones I use regularly when I see them mentioned.

 

[Adam Piggott]

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Hash: SHA1

Hello,

I think most of us here have quite a lot of freeware on our computers.
Keeping track of which ones have new versions available seems to be a hit
or miss thing for me.

How does everyone else keep track of or find out about updates for all
the different pieces of software?

Do you:

D) use some website or software to let you know about updates.

A mix of mailing lists (which I'm phasing out), RSS with Thunderbird
(ClamWin, Spybot S&D, Sysinternals so far) and WebMon[1], a freeware, very
small, efficient and generally cool web site checking program

You can specify which text in a given URL to check, how often and also to
run a script when a site change is detected. The only wee oddity I've
noticed is when you have Firefox as the default browser, don't have it
open, and have more than one updated page to look at, it sometimes doesn't
display them all. One gets used to this though, it could well be a
DDE/Firefox problem.

I keep a few free virus checkers like sysclean and use a custom-written
JavaScript script and cURL[2] to automatically parse their web page for the
virus definition updates and then download them.

Interesting question you've posed, I'll be watching out for other replies
to see how other people cope!

[1] http://www.btinternet.com/~markwell/webmon/
[2] http://curl.haxx.se/
- --
Adam Piggott, Proprietor, Proactive Services (Computing).
http://www.proactiveservices.co.uk/

Please replace dot invalid with dot uk to email me.
Apply personally for PGP public key.
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[dadiOH]

Hello,

I think most of us here have quite a lot of freeware on our computers.
Keeping track of which ones have new versions available seems to be a
hit or miss thing for me.

How does everyone else keep track of or find out about updates for all
the different pieces of software?

Do you:

A) not really care about updates.

If it isn't broken, don't fix it.

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Steve H]

Hello,

I think most of us here have quite a lot of freeware on our computers.
Keeping track of which ones have new versions available seems to be a hit
or miss thing for me.

How does everyone else keep track of or find out about updates for all
the different pieces of software?

Do you:

A) not really care about updates.
B) check sporadically for updates at different time for different
software.
C) check for updates for all you software on a set time frame like once a
month.
D) use some website or software to let you know about updates.
E) do some other thing.

I do (B).

It varies for me, depending on the app.
Some apps I've updated by keeping an eye on the author's site, or by
subscribing to email notifications about updates, and these would tend
to be security or media based apps, where reliability and/or
functionality might be improved.
AV is checked manually via its own updater during idle time online.

Other 'non critical' apps are updated as and when I see those helpful
notices posted here, or whenever I find time to casually browse
through the 'apps in use' favourites folder.

It has to be said that in some cases I've updated and then reverted to
the earlier version when I've found the changes to be
counter-productive for me.

In all cases ( save for AV ) I rarely update until I've seen posts
from others who're running the latest version - just in case!

I guess, from your list, B would fit the bill.

Regards,

 

[jacaranda]

E) do some other thing.

I check out any acf update threads that deal with the apps I use. If the
update sounds useful, I'll try it out.

 

[Eric Huebner]

Am Fri, 28 Oct 2005 16:45:01 GMT schrieb vbMark:

Hello,

I think most of us here have quite a lot of freeware on our computers.
Keeping track of which ones have new versions available seems to be a hit
or miss thing for me.

How does everyone else keep track of or find out about updates for all
the different pieces of software?

Do you:

A) not really care about updates.
B) check sporadically for updates at different time for different
software.
C) check for updates for all you software on a set time frame like once a
month.
D) use some website or software to let you know about updates.
E) do some other thing.

I do (B).

Thanks!

I do (E): http://users.pandora.be/mylinks/MyWebsite/MySoft/MySoft.html

 

[Eric Huebner]

Am Fri, 28 Oct 2005 16:45:01 GMT schrieb vbMark:

Hello,

I think most of us here have quite a lot of freeware on our computers.
Keeping track of which ones have new versions available seems to be a hit
or miss thing for me.

How does everyone else keep track of or find out about updates for all
the different pieces of software?

Do you:

A) not really care about updates.
B) check sporadically for updates at different time for different
software.
C) check for updates for all you software on a set time frame like once a
month.
D) use some website or software to let you know about updates.
E) do some other thing.

I do (B).

Thanks!

I do (E): http://users.pandora.be/mylinks/MyWebsite/MySoft/MySoft.html

(if this posting appears twice: a newsreader problem, sorry)

 

[Vegard Krog Petersen]

Am Fri, 28 Oct 2005 16:45:01 GMT schrieb vbMark:

I do (E): http://users.pandora.be/mylinks/MyWebsite/MySoft/MySoft.html

Looked like a interesting / good program. Sure will check it out!
And I liked the image in the background of the page ;-)

regards from vegard

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Freeware Logo & symbol, Halma & Chinese Checkers,
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[TedK]

Am Fri, 28 Oct 2005 16:45:01 GMT schrieb vbMark:




I do (E): http://users.pandora.be/mylinks/MyWebsite/MySoft/MySoft.html

Looks like a keeper. Thanx.

 

[miskairal]

If it isn't broken, don't fix it.

Same here except Avast! updates itself.

miskairal

 

[s|b]

Same here except Avast! updates itself.

Is that the reason why you both are working with software that is
missing some important security updates?

 

[dadiOH]

Is that the reason why you both are working with software that is
missing some important security updates?

Partially and it is also one of the reasons I have no computer problems,

As for security, I am emailed or otherwise encounter 100s of viruses per
year, have never been infected.

Back in the early days when I downloaded stuff willy nilly (and took no
precautions when doing so) I'd get an occasional bit of spyware but that
was long, long ago.

When did you dump Windows in favor of Linux?


--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[s|b]

On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:46:31 GMT, dadiOH wrote:

When did you dump Windows in favor of Linux?

I didn't; I like those monthly Windows Updates too much.

 

[miskairal]

Is that the reason why you both are working with software that is
missing some important security updates?

Like what?

I ran XP with SP1 and no updates up until earlier this month and have
never had a problem. I could not achieve a functioning computer with SP2
at first, finally got some updated drivers but just never got round to
installing it all. I now get the XP updates but expect some problem from
it eventually.

I have never had a virus, trojan, hijack etc in 5 years of internet
access. With SP1 I was using an old version of ZA but only have the
windows firewall at present mostly due to indecision on whether to us ZA
or Sygate.

I don't use IE at all, never! I have no need for it.

Why would programmes like html editors, calendars, graphics editors etc
require security updates?

 

[s|b]

On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:31:42 +1000, miskairal wrote:

Why would programmes like html editors, calendars, graphics editors etc
require security updates?

I was talking about your newsreader, but it looks like the security
fix in 1.0.7 is only important for those who use Linux (how
ironic...).

 

[miskairal]

On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:31:42 +1000, miskairal wrote:




I was talking about your newsreader, but it looks like the security
fix in 1.0.7 is only important for those who use Linux (how
ironic...).

I've never understood why most security fixes are needed because I never
have problems and I can't understand their explanations, normally,
despite trying. Can you explain in human terms what the Thunderbird
security fix stops and why I would need it if I had Linux? Do I need to
upgrade from 1.0.6 when using XP?

When you're on a slow dialup like I am you don't just download
everything without needing it and if I can't understand why I need it
then I don't get it. One exception is allowing the XP updates over the
last month but I don't understand them either. If I have a firewall then
why doesn't that block the microsoft vulnerabilities? Hey, you don't
happen to know of a site that does explain it all in human terms and not
technical terms do you?

 

[s|b]

Can you explain in human terms what the Thunderbird
security fix stops and why I would need it if I had Linux?

I can quote what the website states:

<http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/mfsa2005-59.html>

|Title: Command-line handling on Linux allows shell execution
|Severity: Severe
|
|Description
|
|URLs passed to Linux versions of Firefox and Thunderbird on the
|command-line were not correctly protected against interpretation by
|the shell. As a result a malicious URL can result in the execution of
|shell commands with the privileges of the user. If Firefox is set as
|the default handler for web URLs then opening a URL in another program
|(for example, links in a mail or chat client) can result in shell
|command execution.

However, the workaround seems to be simple:

|Workaround
|
|Do not click on links in spam or other mail from people you don't
|know. Do not use the affected programs as the default handler for
|URLs. Upgrade to the fixed versions.

Do I need to
upgrade from 1.0.6 when using XP?

Since the fix is meant for Linux, I would guess not.

If I have a firewall then
why doesn't that block the microsoft vulnerabilities? Hey, you don't
happen to know of a site that does explain it all in human terms and not
technical terms do you?

Try <or maybe you should ask dadiOH. I'm
guessing he's not much of a fan of Windows Updates.