Security

Patch Tuesday

June 14, 2016, 16:30(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Time to run Windows update. All supported Windows versions and MS Office have updates.
Windows 7 users, just run Windows Update and walk away…
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for June 2016

Patch Tuesday

May 10, 2016, 15:45(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Time To Run Windows Update
Updates for all currently supported Microsoft OS’s.
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for May 2016
Includes Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1511 (KB3156421)
“This update includes quality improvements and security fixes. No new operating system features are being introduced in this update.”

Adobe Flash Updated
APSA16-02 Security Advisory for Adobe Flash Player
I expect Google Chrome and Win10 to get these updates soon.
Download:
Flash for IE
Flash for other browsers
Main download page

Adobe Reader Updated
APSB16-14 Security Updates Available for Adobe Acrobat and Reader
Download Adobe Reader or update from within the program (Help > Check for updates).

7-Zip 16
My favorite archiver/extractor. Download and Info
What’s new after 7-Zip 15.14:
– 7-Zip now can extract multivolume ZIP archives (z01, z02, … , zip).
– Some bugs were fixed.

You’re Preachin’ To The Choir ARS!
The connected car may be the dumbest idea ever, but it’s not going away (How long before every new car for sale is connected—and hackable?)

A View From The Other Side
Cult Of Mac has and interesting take on Win10: Microsoft can’t even give away Windows 10

Time To Run Windows Update

April 12, 2016, 17:04(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Got Windows? Got Updates!
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for April 2016
MS16-037 Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (3148531)
MS16-038 Cumulative Security Update for Microsoft Edge (3148532)
MS16-039 Security Update for Microsoft Graphics Component (3148522)
MS16-040 Security Update for Microsoft XML Core Services (3148541)
MS16-041 Security Update for .NET Framework (3148789)
MS16-042 Security Update for Microsoft Office (3148775)
MS16-044 Security Update for Windows OLE (3146706)
MS16-045 Security Update for Windows Hyper-V (3143118)
MS16-046 Security Update for Secondary Logon (3148538)
MS16-047 Security Update for SAM and LSAD Remote Protocols (3148527)
MS16-048 Security Update for CSRSS (3148528)
MS16-049 Security Update for HTTP.sys (3148795)
MS16-050 Security Update for Adobe Flash Player (3154132)

My System Repair Flash Drive

March 8, 2016, 13:46(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

A reader wanted to know if I had changed what was on my System Repair Flash Drive from previous articles here, and here.
Those were from 2011, 2012. So, yes it has changed.
[Read more…] about My System Repair Flash Drive

Tuesday News

March 1, 2016, 16:52(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Update For Win10
Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems (KB3140743)
Release Notes

There Is An Optional Update For Windows 7 and 8.1 Too
They are KB3138612 and KB3138615.
This is a update for the Windows Update Client. Although I am not seeing anything suspicious, some updates like this in the past have been GWX related. I’m gonna hold off on this one for a while.

Nvidia Drivers
Nvidia Geforce Game Ready 362.00 WHQL Drivers
Support for: Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Far Cry Primal, and the latest update for Dying Light
Release Notes

Patch Tuesday

February 9, 2016, 14:19(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Time To Run Windows Update
Updates available for all supported operating systems and MS Office versions.
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for February 2016

Flash Updated
APSB16-04 Security updates available for Adobe Flash Player
“These updates address critical vulnerabilities that could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.”
Main Download Page
Flash for IE
Flash for Firefox
Windows 8/8.1/10 users check Windows Update. Microsoft will get around to updating it…eventually.
~~Google Chrome users, ditto.~~

*update 14:58hrs

Google Chrome Updated
“The stable channel has been updated to 48.0.2564.109 for Windows, Mac, and Linux.”
Download or update from within the program.

Patch Tuesday

December 8, 2015, 16:13(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Just a quickie post. I’m spending what little free time I have on formatting the Win10 tweak guide.

Lots of Windows Updates: Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for December 2015
Fortunately, I am not seeing any GWX stuff this go-round.

Adobe Flash
APSB15-32 Security Updates Available for Adobe Flash Player
Flash for IE
Flash for other browsers
Main download page
Windows 8/8.1/10 users check Windows Update. Microsoft will get around to updating it…eventually.
Google Chrome users, Flash was updated with today’s’ Chrome release.

Google Chrome
“The stable channel has been updated to 47.0.2526.80 for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
This release contains an update to Adobe Flash Player (20.0.0.228) and security fixes.”
Download or update from within the program.

VMware Player Updated
“VMware Workstation 12 Player version 12.1 is a maintenance release that resolves some known issues.”
Download
Release Notes

Windows 10 Privacy Settings

November 19, 2015, 13:43(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

************ This version is now expired. Updated version here: https://www.tweakhound.com/2020/12/30/tweaking-windows-10-version-20h2/

Windows 10 Privacy Settings

A companion guide for:

TweakHound’s

Tweaking Windows 10

Version 4.0, last edited 17 May, 2018

Windows 10 Privacy Settings
Page 1 – Intro, Windows Insider Program, Use A Local Account
Page 2 – Windows 10 Built-In Privacy Settings
Page 3 – Telemetry, Cortana
Page 4 – Update & Security, Windows Defender
Page 5 – Services, Microsoft Browsers
Page 6 – Remove Ads And Annoyances
Page 7 – Apps To Tweak Privacy Settings

Windows 10 does a lot of communicating with Microsoft servers. Many people find this to be somewhere between an annoyance to an outright invasion of privacy. Some folks suspect it’s even worse than that. For its part, Microsoft steadfastly insists that they do not invade your privacy, that any information sent back to Microsoft is “anonymous”, and that it is for your own good. I will leave it up to you to decide.

This section will show you your privacy options, the settings I use, and 3^rd party apps that can help you configure your settings.

It should be noted that turning off some settings can hamper the ability of some built-in and Microsoft Store apps to function properly. Since I don’t use these things I haven’t run into a single issue.

Windows Insider Program

This is a neat program for those that want updates before everyone else or Geeks that live on the bleeding edge. It also sends the maximum amount of data back to Microsoft. If privacy is a concern, then don’t use this.

More info: https://insider.windows.com/

Use A Local Account

If you are using a Microsoft Account and privacy is a concern you should switch to a Local Account. Be warned you will lose syncing. If this is important to you then skip this.

More info: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/getstarted-microsoft-account

Let switch to a Local account: