Stay secure – Update! Here's Help

Published on March 20, 2011 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

Device Doctor is a great (free) way to keep your drivers (even for your ‘unknown devices’ in Device Manager) up to date so your computer will function well and will be secure. Your programs will run better and faster when your drivers are up to date.

Device Doctor Download Link: http://www.devicedoctor.com/

And speaking of programs…

Keep your programs up to date (and your computer more secure) by taking advantage of this little gem Update Notifier (or alternatvely, TechTracker):

Update Notifier is a small utility that scans your computer for installed software and displays a list of updates. Most of the time having the latest version of a software is a good thing. Usually software updates add new features, which makes the software more useful. Also with every update a software becomes more secure and more stable by fixing bugs and vulnerabilities from previous versions.

Of the two, I prefer TechTracker. For a good article about it (with screenies), go HERE.

Update Notifier download link: http://cleansofts.org/

Tech Tracker download link: http://www.cnet.com/techtracker-free/

Comments

Frankief

on Mar 20, 2011

Use caution if installing "Device Doctor" as it comes bundled with the "Ask Tool Bar". You will need to do a custom install to avoid it!

DrJBHL

on Mar 20, 2011

Avoid all "Tool Bars". Thanks Frankie. When I installed mine, the was no Tool Bar.

Not to worry, though. The software (Device Doctor) is virus/tracker free.

StevenAus22

on Mar 20, 2011

You get an option to skip the ask toolbar installation as part of the normal install (I think).

Best regards,
Steven.

starkers

on Mar 20, 2011

Use caution if installing "Device Doctor" as it comes bundled with the "Ask Tool Bar".

I hate that Ask toolbar with a passion. I installed something I figured would be useful from Softpedia one day [can't remember exactly what it was now] and the Ask toolbar was covertly installed with it... no opt out, not even a notification it was part of the package. I soon discovered it was there, though, because it hijacked my browser and no matter what I entered into FF' address or search bars, an Ask search page was displayed every time... and geez, did it take some getting rid of.

Put it this way, it's not just a matter of going to 'Add, Remove Programs', either. You've actually got to go into the registry; 'Program Data'; Program Files/Common Files; *username* Application Data 'Local' and 'Roaming' to remove ALL Ask entries, otherwise it somehow keeps coming back. As far as I'm concerned, the Ask toolbar should be placed on the known malware list and be disabled/blocked by all the anti-malware proggies

Frankief

on Mar 20, 2011

starkers

reply 4

Use caution if installing "Device Doctor" as it comes bundled with the "Ask Tool Bar".

I hate that Ask toolbar with a passion. I installed something I figured would be useful from Softpedia one day [can't remember exactly what it was now] and the Ask toolbar was covertly installed with it... no opt out, not even a notification it was part of the package. I soon discovered it was there, though, because it hijacked my browser and no matter what I entered into FF' address or search bars, an Ask search page was displayed every time... and geez, did it take some getting rid of.

Put it this way, it's not just a matter of going to 'Add, Remove Programs', either. You've actually got to go into the registry; 'Program Data'; Program Files/Common Files; *username* Application Data 'Local' and 'Roaming' to remove ALL Ask entries, otherwise it somehow keeps coming back. As far as I'm concerned, the Ask toolbar should be placed on the known malware list and be disabled/blocked by all the anti-malware proggies

Ditto, it is a real bugger to get shed of!

Scarborough

on Mar 21, 2011

I have found the following to be stable & free;

Slim Drivers:

http://download.cnet.com/SlimDrivers/3000-18513_4-75279940.html

Software Update Monitor:

http://www.kcsoftwares.com/?sumo

Revo Un-installer (Free):

http://download.cnet.com/Revo-Uninstaller/3000-2096_4-10687648.html

I purchased the Pro version of Revo because it works so well and to support the developers. Both versions hunt the registry & C:\Program Files for remnants. They do this extremely well. They give you the choice to delete or not. Creates a backup & restore point before it launches the applications un-installer.

Slim Drivers found some updates and installed them with no drama. Software Update Monitor allows you to filter out applications. You need to seek out the vendors web site.

As with a lot of free (and, annoyingly, some paid for software) you always have to watch the install process like a hawk. "Custom" install always rings alarm bells for me.

Happy updating.

Ian

Dr Guy

on Mar 21, 2011

I remember the ZDNet (now Cnet) utility from the 90s that did the same thing - until they pulled it. I am glad they updated it and came out with it again. Thanks for the article!

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