Spyware, viruses, & security forum: How can I be sure software updates are legit?

You failed to uncheck the Include AVG or sometimes other search and toolbars. That is a common error. Once you install AVG it is a nightmare to get rid of. Uninstall it from Windows it will still be in other browsers like firefox or google and has to be removed from there. CNet is notorious for including these little install when you install any program. I Use Advanced uninstaller Pro Free from CNet or the vendors website. Watch out for that little box on them that ask you to blindly install even legitimate programs and use the 2nd option and uncheck all options.

If your operating system is a malware operating system that used a spyware remote terminal eula upon installation, you will only update malware to your system. Try to use a non compromised system and save your updates to a non compromised usb or cdrw or dvdrw. Never use auto updates of any software if you are not sure if your system is infected with malware. Compromised usbs' has a hidden recycle bin that can access you desktop without your knowledge or consent. Check your usb by going to the control panel, folders, click do not hide and check the usb, if a recycle bin is there delete it then add what you want. Then follow those same steps to hide the contents of your system. In windows Vista and Windows 7 the public folder is present, this is a clue that you are using a malware operating system.

I agree with your posted comments. My comments would have been similar. Thanks for the post. I agree and would follow these procedures, as I do regularly.

I have the new win 8 on my computer. Even prior to that I had win 7, vista and xp. All the operating systems I used always have updates. I do not automatically install but just download them. Because Microsoft has all bulletin numbers, it is hard to distinguish them and especially when you have 30 downloads, it is a pain to check everything out. I just rely on them and not worry too much. However, adobe like you mentioned frequently has updates and a window tells me so. I am protected with the virus checker and firewall called defender which came with win 8. I am pretty certain it would tell me if there were viruses and malware that can be damaging. I would opt for Symantics but it costs too much. Previously I used the free one such as avg and avast which incidentally you would pay for to get the best protection. Costing just a fraction of Symantics, it is worth it. Never had any problems with them and always updates frequently. I was wondering what you think of the defender vs avast or avg. I never used defender before. I don't particularly like the design of it but oh well!

zzmel

First of all it is good practise to just use 1 antivirus program. If you use multiple programs they will conflict with each other and end up giving you less protection. On to the main body of the question...

I don't know what version of Windows you are using. If you are using Vista or 7 then when User Account Control pops up it will tell you the name of the file that wants to run, where it comes from and it's publisher. If it comes from a signed publisher such as 'Oracle America Inc' then it can most of the time be trusted, if it says unknown then trust it less. If it comes from 'Hard drive on this computer' and not 'Downloaded from the Internet' then that's another reason to trust it. If you are still suspicious then best thing is to google the name of the file that wants to run, for example 'jucheck.exe' is a legitimate file used by Oracle to update Java.

I don't know what the procedure is with XP, but as there is no User Account Control then best thing is probably to download manually from the develeper's website.

With CNET's Techtracker, just use it to see what needs updating then run the updater from the program and NOT TECHTRACKER!! Why? Because it installs other rubbish on the computer if you are not careful and read everything. Updating one program via TechTracker installed "Babylon Toolbar" which my anispy programs classed it as spyware and research on the net as well.

Secunia PSI , TechTracker and FileHippo are ALL 100% FREE!! I personally "used" to use all three but have since dropped
TechTracker. Why? Because just like Andrew said "it sometimes misidentified some programs as needing to be updated even though they were up to date also it seemed that TechTracker was usually a day or two behind the remaining two! Sorry CNet!

All three are good but two outshine the third! Like he stated make sure that in FileHippo you turn off the "Show Beta Updates" or you may install a Beta update by mistake!! I have the remaining two on ALL my computers. ( Wife's, daughter's and mine) I wouldn't be without Secunia and FileHippo on them!!

The absolute best part is they are FREE!!!! They will keep your computer up to date with minimal effort!! Also once you install Secunia you can set it, if desired, to do the updates for you! This feature is not 100% successful BUT it will advise you that you have several, usually one or two that requires a manual update!

There are several pay to use programs out there, one is by Raxco and I believe it's called "Perfect Updater", while I haven't tried it yet but why pay for it when the other two do a very good job??? If it's free, it's for me!!!!!!!!

Update Checker from FileHippo is the winner, fast and unobtrusive. I suggest staying away from both TechTracker and Secunia PSI.

That is why.

I have used Secunia for several years and have not had any real problems. It does seem to actually update the Adobe programs but I have to close the program to get it to show complete. The only problem with using Secunia is it only show security update. This even applies to Secunia own updates.
I have started using Filehippo update checker and like it. Filehippo has a great reputation for safety.

First of all, don't run multiple anti-virus and anti-spyware programs on your computer. Choose one and stick with it. Personally I'm partial to Norton Internet Security, because it puts only a very light load on the system and, despite occasional unsafe computing practices I engage in, nothing has ever gotten by it yet. You can occasionally scan with something like Spybot Search and Destroy to clean out the cruft that isn't really considered "malware" by the AV folks but that you probably do.

Secondly, you can never really be sure. Hackers are cleverer than you, cleverer than me, cleverer than any of us. With the exception of Microsoft and Windows Update, which you pretty much have GOT to trust, it's safer to pull updates from the vendors' sites than to have them pushed onto your computer via an automatic update feature.

Others have a good track record, including Adobe that frequently updates its Flash and Acrobat Reader, which itself presents a whole bunch of weird security problems but that you really can't do without. Sun/Oracle -- the OpenOffice and Java folks -- have problems with their apps but I have not heard any security shortcomings related to their updating of those apps. But Java isn't something most people need, and it is inherently insecure.

When the feature is available, I usually have my applications notify me when there is an update and then I go out and pull it from their websites rather than having it pushed to me from a source that I cannot fully know. If the "notify" feature isn't available, I turn automatic updating off and keep track of updates via various sources, one of which is cNet (another good one for freeware is Majorgeeks.com).

most program if you pay for them have automatic updating,most free programs offer this also nowadays.if your unsure of an email you get go to the site of the program or open your program and update it automatically through the program itself.there is a link that you can click on,this is what i do when i get an email stating that i need to update a program.its simple after what everyone has said.

...Is to add programs such as "Adobe Reader" to your CNET "Watch List". Then whenever a program is updated, CNET sends an email directly to your inbox.
If you download the program from CNET, it is automatically added to your "Watch List", as long as you have created a profile

You a correct in that the bad guys often pose as legitimate things to fool you into clicking on them. From emails that look like they are coming from a friend to fake warnings from Banks and other financial institutions, it is getting that you cannot trust anything or anyone. Unfortunately, you cannot count on security software to catch these especially if you initiate the install by agreeing to it or by allowing it when the User Account Control pops up. Unfortunately, the bad guys always seem to be a step ahead of the security software.

To date, I have not run into a fake update for Flash, Acrobat, Java or Windows but I suppose it could happen any day now.

In the end, your best line of defense is to install all updates manually instead of simply clicking on OK when some popup shows up on your screen. Here is one approach:

When you receive a popup that says there is an update from Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Java, Windows or any others software simply close the notice and check for updates manually. Here are the methods for the most common updates:

ADOBE FLASH PLAYER
1. Open your Start menu and click on Control Panel
2. Change from Category View to Small Icons or Classic View
3. Click on the Flash Player icon
4. Select the Advanced Tab
5. Click on Check Now
Note: You may also want to change the Updates settings at this time

ADOBE ACROBAT READER
1. Open Acrobat by clicking on the Icon on your desktop or by opening a PDF document
2. Click on the Help menu at the top
3. Select Check for Updates and follow the instructions

JAVA
1. Open your Start menu and click on Control Panel
2. Change from Category View to Small Icons or Classic View
3. Click on the Java icon
4. Select the Update Tab
5. Click on Update Now
Note: Again, you can change the update settings in this section too

WINDOWS UPDATES
1. Right Click on Computer or My Computer and select Properties then Select Windows Update from the menu or Click on the START Menu and type Windows Update in the search bar, then Select Windows update.
2. Select Check for Updates on the left hand menu

OTHER SOFTWARE
Most all programs have a "check for updates" section somewhere under the Help Menu or the file menu. Once you find, it simply follow the instructions to locate and install the latest updates for that specific software.

WARNING: Many updates such as those from Java and Adobe often come packaged with other junk that you may not want. Watch carefully for check boxes that are already check that agree to installing a new toolbar or some other piece of free or trial software.

Some might recommend not installing updates at all, but this is not a good idea either. Many updates are provided to patch security flaws, which if not performed, can leave you even more at risk.

Dana
Wayland Computer

If you get these popups resident from your computer instead of email you are already infected, some one has put that program to pop up and take you to a false site for further intrusion, the poster I beleive is talking about getting these in his email, thats dangerous.