Keeping your Operating System and your Software Updated

Everything from web browsers, file viewers/players and office productivity applications installed on your computer can be susceptible to vulnerabilities, especially if you are not using the most up-to-date versions. Vulnerable software leads to compromised computers and often the inadvertent disclosure of your private data such as your login credentials for your email account or your bank, favorite shopping site, or social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc).

Here are some recommended methods for ensuring your operating system and the software you have installed are fully patched and updated.

Keeping Your Installed Software Updated

More and more applications have "automatic update" features built into them. If possible, you should verify that you are at a version of the software that is capable of scheduling updates to occur automatically. Major operating system providers, like Microsoft and Apple, have a single facility that updates software developed by them.

Secunia PSI for Windows

Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI) is a program that scans your computer for outdated software and provides you with links and other information to help keep your programs up-to-date. It is distributed free of charge for personal use only.

Important Notes:
1. Secunia PSI licensed for personal use only. It should not be installed on any computer purchased with university or research funding.
2. Secunia PSI sends information about your computer including, hostname, workgroup name, and data about software installed on your computer to Secunia. You can read more about this in Secuinia's Privacy Statement.

Download:
   http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal

Keeping Your Operating System Updated

Updating Windows

Microsoft has an expanded operating system update feature called Microsoft Update which can be used to not only keep all your Windows OS compontents patched but can also be used to update Microsoft software such as Internet Explorer, Office and other Microsoft products. To ensure you're using Microsoft Update and that you have the latest Microsoft OS and software patches applied, open Internet Explorer and go to update.microsoft.com.

Enabling Automatic Updates in Windows

The best way to keep your operating system up-to-date is to let Windows do it automatically through Automatic Updates.

For Windows Vista and Windows 7

• Open 'Windows Update' by clicking the 'Start' button, 'All Programs', and then 'Windows Update'.
• In the left pane, click 'Change settings'
• Choose 'Install updates automatically' then select the time you prefer the updates to be downloaded and installed.

For Windows XP

• Open 'Windows Update' by clicking the 'Start' button, 'Settings' then 'Control Panel'.
• In the Control Panel, click 'Automatic Updates'
• Select 'Automatic' and select the time you prefer the updates to be downloaded and installed.

Enabling Automatic Updates in Mac OS X

Apple's Software Update updates Apple products which run on OS X. It updates all Apple OS components, Safari browser, QuickTime, the i applications (iphoto, iTunes, etc.), Apple's JRE, as well as other Apple software products.

Macintosh OS X (10.3 and above)

• Open System Preferences and click Software Update.
• Select "Check for updates."
• Choose Daily, Weekly, or Monthly from the pop-up menu.
• If you want your computer to download important updates without asking, select "Download important updates in the background." When the update finishes downloading, you will be notified that it is ready to be installed.

Macintosh OS X (pre 10.3)

• On the Dock, click System Preferences.
• In the System window, click Software Update.
• Select the Automatically checkbox.
• On the Check for Updates pull-down menu, click Daily.
• Click Check Now to immediately search for any updates Apple has available