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

Gadwin Systems " Print Screen" works

I was following the direction for the post (thanks for the info) and found I cannot change ANY of the View settings. I clicked on all of them to see if would change and nothing.
Last week I did click to update Java popup, from my task bar, and a few days later another popup appeared and I stopped clicking to install update. Hmmm? So while reading this article I was following the directions and was going down the list starting with Adobe Flash, everything gave me info that showed it's up to date, then clicked the Java icon to check for updates and there is no update tan and nothing anywhere to suggest that?
I running W7 HP/64B on a Dell I 580

Any advise for the two things I'm unable to adjust/update?
Just a newB so I need detailed help

Yes, fake program updates can be, and have been, used to install malware on unsuspecting users' systems. I know that Adobe and Mozilla updates have been faked, and there probably are others. However, getting a lot of updates from Adobe is normal as they must continually patch the many security holes in their programs, so this in itself is not an indicator of a problem. But as they have been faked before, it might be prudent to be careful.

Protecting yourself from such scams is rather straightforward. First, do not allow automatic installation of updates - only get notifications of update availability. No knowledgeable user in any of my circles allows automatic updating. It is not just a matter of security, but we want to know what each update does so we can choose what to install and avoid unneeded or unwanted patches.

Second, you should not install an update directly from the notification unless you are absolutely certain the source is legit. Instead, go to the program's main site and check the currently available updates. If any you need are listed, download and install them from there. While this is a little more work than using automatic updating, it is the surest way to keep fake updates from installing trojans or other baddies.

Do your antivirus programs provide protection from fake updates? No antivirus or antispyware program is perfect - so no, they may not provide all the protection you are looking for.

You say you have several antivirus, antispyware, and firewall programs running on your computer. I hope that only one of each is actually running to provide real-time protection - running multiple antivirus programs concurrently can cause problems. Choose one to be running in real-time protection mode and set the others to run only when requested. Then, if you suspect that malware did get through your real-time program, scan manually with the others. For example, I currently have Avast running as my main antivirus and antispyware protection. I then periodically run MS Security Essentials, Malwarebytes, Superantispyware, and sometimes the online Housecall, to find things that Avast may have missed.

Hope this answers your questions.

If i'm unsure about a update I got to the site and check and see if a update is available and download from there. Also its a good idea I think to download from C/net, they do a good job with updates from what you download off this site.

My own method is if a update request comes through E-Mail DONT touch it DELETE it IMMMEDIATLY.

regards carl

I use either of these two methods...

1) Use the software auto-updater.

2) Goto the official website, to check that your going to a legit website use a live page scanner such as McAfee SiteAdvisor.

Why legit program will do a trick and provide not legit update? As long as you trust your program everything is legit.
Imagine you got the prompt from not legit program. Getting this prompt mean that such program already runs on your machine and has complete access to your system. Why this program will ask for update instead of doing t silently? Do you think hackers have sense of humor to check your stupidity?

I had a Java update showing in my W7 notification area, and when I clicked on it, my anti virus popped up and notified me that there was a viruse showing on that link. When I went to the java. I went to java control panel in the Windows Control Panel program, and it told me that my current version of java was OK, so the notification was a scam with a virus waiting to be installed on my computer. Fortunately I got rid of the java notification. The best thing to do with both java and Adobe Flash notifications is to go the control panel of each which is in windows control panel and install them from their programs. Good thing that I had a good Anti Virus (Avast Free) installed which caught the virus before it got installed. I am even suspicious about Windows updates anymore. Click on the Windows update icon in the notification area, and it should call up the Windows Update in the control panel. You just can't be too careful. Always, Always, Always have a good Anti Virus program installed and up to date. Avast automatically updates at least once or twice a day.

Wow, this is complicated. http://download.cnet.com/windows/
You already found CNET and you must have established an account here or you wouldn't be on the forum.
Now download a little thing called Tech Tracker. "Tech Tracker is a free application from CNET that keeps your computer up to date and secure, while automating the software management process." according to CNET. CNET will send you an email alert from "alerts@cnet.online.com" titled as a CNET Download Alert when a program on your computer has an update.

Allow your Windows program to make automatic updates and learn the website addresses of other important products and sites so that you know that you are on the correct site. The web is filled with criminals who change one little thing on an address and send spam to draw people in to what looks like your bank or other legitimate site. No antivirus program catches everything. If you aren't absolutely sure about something - then don't download it.

On CNET, NEVER allow a program to install as a "Standard Installation (Recommended)" because it will install toolbars and change your default search provider and God only knows what else. Instead, always check the block that says "Custom Installation" and then uncheck everything that is added on. READ every installation screen carefully and take the time to read the terms of service (watch the Southpark episode humancentipad - enjoy). Don't allow them to track your usage or anything else that they ask for. Good luck.

Always backup your good system regularly. To a portable device or the cloud, not your PC.
Run your browsers in a sandbox and check any changes are good while in the sandbox. A good download can then be added without the sandbox.
Use good quality AV and Malware testers.
Live well.

Don't accept any automatic updates. Instead, decline the update and go to the app to update manually. For instance, if Adobe says to click for an automatic update, refuse it. Then open Adobe and select "check for updates." If it's a valid update then the update will be offered through the software. If the autoupdate is a scam, then the software will inform you that the version you have is already up to date.

I don't understand your reference. Hardware drives are updated by yanking them out and installing a new one.

It would be nice to know the name of the program on FileHippo. I don't see it in any of these posts.

It's called Update Checker and can be found at FileHippo.com. So simple that even a cave man can do it, no offense was intended or meant, but it can't be any simpler than that!!! Not to mention it just works.

Be sure to turn off the"show beta versions or it can lead to confusion! The only one I have checked is "Show Updates Only"!!

Did you pay attention to mine and several other posts about piggyback program installs?
Adobe is maybe the worst for that.

There are other problems with updates lately. Issues with flash and Internet Explorer and other issues with Firefox.

Browse the post here and watch for comments about conflicts.