MS Updates & Adobe Flash Player [CRITICAL]
Tuesday was Microsoft's monthly update that included 5 critical updates, & Adobe Flash Player released version 9.0.124.0 that fixes multiple vulnerabilities rated Highly Critical in Flash Player 9.0.115.0 and earlier.
At the risk of being a nag, you do have 'Automatic Updates' set up to automatically download Windows updates, right? Make sure your PC is set to download and notify you (that little yellow/gold shield that appears down by the clock on your Desktop when you have updates available or there's a security issue) as soon as updates are released. The important thing is that you make sure your PC is up-to-date and protected with the latest fixes every month.
The Adobe Flash Player update is also very important.
So many web pages use 'Flash' (for videos, advertisements, site graphics, games, etc.), and web criminals move so fast these days to take advantage of vulnerabilities like this. You could visit an affected (infected by the bad guys to take advantage of this Flash vulnerability) web page, or open an email message containing Flash tomorrow, and if you haven't updated (and remember to remove the old vulnerable version(s) by using your "Add or Remove Programs" utility!), your PC could get infected simply by visiting the affected site or viewing the email.
The procedure for updating your Adobe Flash Player is different depending on the browser(s) you have on your computer.
There are different versions of the Adobe Flash Player. One for Internet Explorer, and a different one for the Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, and Opera browsers.
On my main PC, I have Internet Explorer, Opera, and two versions (version 2.0.0.13, and the 'Beta' version 3.0 beta 4) of the Firefox browser.
I do the updating this way:
First I open up "Add or Remove Programs" (you can access it through your 'Control Panel'). I then uninstall all the Adobe Flash Player(s) listed there. I do this first mainly so I don't forget to do it later. Either way, be sure to uninstall the old vulnerable versions because they're not uninstalled automatically when you install the new version!
[Optional]: If you have a 'registry cleaner' and/or other type of 'cleaner' program (I use CCleaner), open it up and clean out the 'Temporary Files' and the 'Temporary Internet' files.
I then use [it] to check the Registry, cleaning out (and always set and use the backup option to save a copy, just in case) anything it finds.
Note: I always use tools [like] CCleaner keep my PC free of many of the unneeded files that tend to build up over time from things like installing/uninstalling programs and updates. The computer's 'Registry' can be negatively affected by old entries left over after programs are uninstalled. Many times the program's uninstaller doesn't remove all the things that were installed including the associated registry entries. Sometimes this is just sloppy design of the program, and many times things (like settings and reports) are left on purpose in case you reinstall the program. And sometimes the program's author or manufacturer purposely leaves entries behind if the program is a 'Trial' version, so you can't just reinstall it over and over.
Absolutely critical to remember when dealing with files, folders, and especially the registry, is to never delete or uninstall anything you're not absolutely positive about, and when you do, always back up your files first!
Setting a 'System Restore Point' before doing any update is usually a very good idea!
Next, using the browser you want to update, we'll start with Internet Explorer, go to the Adobe Flash Player web page, (the web page recognizes what browser you're using and adjusts accordingly) read the instructions, [then] click on the "Agree and Install Now" link.
Then (after clicking on the 'ActiveX' alert [bar] that appears, clicking on it, and choosing to allow it) you can just click on the 'Install" button in the box that pops up and it will install the new version right away. It should then give you a web page telling you that you've updated to the new version (version 9.0.124.0).
For Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, and Opera browsers, one update covers all of them. Using one of those browsers, visit this Adobe Flash Player page and read the instructions, then following those instructions ("Installation instructions" [link] -> "Installation instructions for Windows non-Internet Explorer" [link]), download the file to your PC's desktop and click on it.
Finally, as #6 in the instructions says: "You can verify the version you have installed by visiting the About Flash Player page.". Again, the page should then show you that you've updated to the new version (version 9.0.124.0).
If you want to check your computer for these and other security updates, go run the Secunia Software Inspector.
Do these things or die!:
- Keep your computer and it's programs updated with the latest security updates.
- Use highly rated (effective) anti-virus and other security software including a firewall.
- Be vigilant and skeptical when visiting all web sites and when dealing with E-mail.
- Use the Firefox browser and install the NoScript extension/add-on.
- Install and run 'proactive' browsing software like "LinkScanner Pro", or at least the free products "LinkScanner Lite" or "Finjan SecureBrowsing".
And always remember to THINK before you click!
