Ten free security utilities you should already be using
by Ryan Naraine | August 10, 2007 7:48am PDT | Image 1 of 10
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#1: Secunia Personal Software Inspector
Number one is the Secunia Personal Software Inspector, quite possibly the most useful and important free application you can have running on your Windows machine.
It can be used to scan all the installed applications on the PC to determine which programs are missing security patches/updates.
The tool works by by examining files on your computer (primarily .exe, .dll, and .ocx files) for meta information on specific software builds installed. After examining all the files on the machine, the collected data is sent to Secunia’s servers and matched against the Secunia File Signatures engine determine the exact applications installed on your system.
It can be used to flag insecure/end-of-life software and find direct download links to missing security updates.
It monitors more than 4,200 desktop applications. More information here.
Talkback Most Recent of 105 Talkback(s)
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So why was NoScript the last one mentioned?
The first entry should have been Firefox to replace Internet Exploder and the second should have been NoScript. Anything that requires you to sign up and allows a third party server to monitor all of your DNS requests should have never, ever, made the list.
jacarter325th Jul 2007 -
Why was the Mas OS X version used too?
I guess the subliminal message is that most Firefox extensions run in all equivalent flavours of Firefox.
Fred Fredrickson25th Jul 2007 -
Anonym2nd Aug 2007 -
Why wasn't Linux mentioned at all...
Oh, wait, that's not part of a fresh, basic Windows XP install. Aren't able to be happy that NoScript was even mentioned at all, are you?
Boomslang12th Aug 2007 -
So why was NoScript ... mentioned at all?
Given that it's annoying as hell to use and conditions users to allow web sites automatically whenever they fail to work (which happens on probably 70% of web sites).
TimeBomb9th Dec 2007 -
NoScript irritating for some, but I still love it
conditions users to allow web sites automatically whenever they fail to work
You are aware of the Temporarily allow all this page option in the latest version I suppose? That makes sites work for the current session only, which is a good compromise between security and usability imho.
Some people will always find NoScript annoying - I accept that. But when I wander into the dimly-lit backstreets of the web, I really want NoScript's body armor strapped onto the Fox.
Don Collins21st Jul 2008 -
High Sierra12th Jan 2008 -
JCitizen5th Jan 2009 -
n00bware
If anyone needs those utilities -noscript they definitely have no business reading zdnet.
Suicida|25th Jul 2007 -
Censorship on ZDNet?
Sorry, unless I'm mistaken, I thought ZDNet was an open news platform. I didn't realise you had to be a 1337 programmer to take part! Some of us don't have hours and hours to learn about every single new/useful utility. ZDNet is a great focal point for this info.
bjbob26th Jul 2007 -
AU CANTRAIRE!
I'll take any safe, useful, easy-to-use applications that I can run in a business environment (or at home) that make my job easier.
After all, how else do you think I manage to keep my title of "Guru"? /chuckle
Dr_Zinj26th Jul 2007 -
AU CANTRAIRE
"AU CANTRAIRE"? A French language "Guru" YOU ARE NOT!
Don't use foreign words if you don't know their meaning and which you cannot spell.
elmarioc26th Jul 2007 -
LOL
Hey! That's what you get when you take 3 years of High School German, add 2 semesters of Korean, Sesame Street exposure to Spanish, a conversational Japanese evening class to an incompleted Defense Language Institute course in French.
My wife laughs so hard when I actually try speaking it that she gets the hiccups. Of course SHE has perfect pronunciation of the language, being a classical music major.Dr_Zinj27th Jul 2007 -
LOL also...Thanks:)
Don't let the zombies get you down. Some folks are so tightly wound that it would require a structural failure in their face for them to actually.
At least I enjoyed your comment. Most of this stuff can be made usefull so I expect to see it in the next version of system mechanic.
bobsherrill@...28th Jul 2007 -
I just figgered you were being funny!
I can't get rare either!
JCitizen7th Aug 2007
Talkback - Tell Us What You Think
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