Security

Time To Run Windows Update? Not Anymore.
Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. I did not think I would ever say this. I am recommending that users NOT install Windows updates as they come out any more. As many of you have heard Windows 7 and 8.1 have gone to a “rollup model”. This means all the updates rolled into one. No more picking and choosing. Although there is some guidance for IT guys running WSUS it is not 100% clear how this is going to hit home users. I think the issue is going to take months to sort out and frankly Microsoft has completely lost my trust.
I’ve always run Windows Update manually. Up until today I ran it as patches came out. Now, I will be waiting a week or so and watching to see what the fallout is.
Windows 10 users. By installing Win10 you basically signed into the mess that has become Windows Update. You can of course disable Automatic Updates. You can do so by disabling the Windows Update service, or via Group Policy (this only works for “feature” updates), or by using software such as O&O ShutUp10. I haven’t tried this myself.

Adobe Flash & Reader Updated
APSB16-32 Security Updates Available for Adobe Flash Player
Download for Internet Explorer
Download for Firefox
I’ve been watching to see if/when Google Chrome will be updated for this. Nothing as of this writing. Watch here.

APSB16-33 Security Updates Available for Adobe Acrobat and Reader
Download Adobe Reader or update from within the program (Help > Check for updates).

“I think you have to be 8 different kinds of stupid to put your house or car on a network.” – TweakHound
Ransomware’s next target: Your car and your home
“The concept of today’s ransomware is to lock your data to ransom. But what we’re showing here is that the data is almost irrelevant — it’s the device we’re locking up: connected medical devices, home routers, cars; it’s the device,”
*edit 1728hrs – Rich G. provided a link to this article: Don’t Connect Your Phone To Rental Cars
“The researchers bought an infotainment system on eBay and hacked it to discover that MirrorLink’s two security methods could be overcome since (a) bypassing information was already published online and (b) passwords were stored in unencrypted plaintext. The result was that hackers could “eavesdrop on and inject” malware into the vehicle’s brain, the Controller Area Network, which could pose both a privacy risk as well as a personal safety risk.”

Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4.2.1 for Windows 10
“We’ve released version 4.2.1 to fix this bug related to privacy settings.”
Download
I use this for minor tweaks. Stay away from the Performance tab. Most of you TweakHound regulars already know this.
Speaking of which…

OMG
In the last week or so few Geek type sites have reviewed and approved of some tweaking software that claims to speed up or optimize your PC (different sites, different software).
No…
Just…
No.

Tor Browser Critical Update
A critical vulnerability was patched. This vulnerability still exists in Firefox proper and will be patched tomorrow.
Download Tor Browser
Firefox 49 is actually up on the mirrors but has not been officially released.
Download 32-bit(en-US)
Download 64-bit(en-US)
Download other systems and languages (copy/paste the appropriate link, substitute “49.0” for “48.0.2”)
Release Notes