PC utilities forum: Poll: What do you do when you get software update notifications?

Yes, Firefox has an automatic update function. It's in Tools>Options>Advanced tab>Update tab. , personally, do not use it. Because I've had Firefox hose itself in the past by automatically updating itself, I have mine set to never automatically update anything but the Search Engines I have installed. When I do update the program, I do a complete uninstall of the old version and then a clean install of the new one and then re-add my Extensions and Search Engines.

As for Adobe, Java, etc. I do NOT use Adobe Reader. I use Foxit Reader, instead. The only reason I allow Adobe Flash on my computer at all is that I've found no replacement for it and dumb web developers insist upon using it. Same goes for Java. I don't allow Google ANYTHING on my computer at all. That said, when these programs need updating I go the uninstall then re-install route.

determine if they are from a trusted source?

I find that microsoft updates slow my computer down and because I only use it for basic things like browsing the internet, email, word/excel etc, I have not lost any functionality. I also have an anti virus malware program so I don't worry about loss of security. My computer works so much quicker than when I did accept the updates.

The only program on my computer that I allow to update automatically is the Anti-virus and that is for Definitions only. I've had programs completely blow themselves up by automatically updating the software. So, when a vender has updated its program, I have found that if I really need that updated software it is best to just uninstall the old version and install the new one. I normally wait for quite a while to let any bugs get worked out of that new version first, though, and I keep an .exe of the old version around just in case. It's all just easier that way.

You really can't win.