Chrome, Google, Patches and updates, Security

Chrome 73.0.3683.75

March 17, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

The release announcement for Chrome 73.0.3683.75 links to a list of sixty security issues which are fixed in the new version.

Many of the vulnerabilities addressed in Chrome 73.0.3683.75 were discovered by external security researchers, once again demonstrating the value of Google’s open attitude towards bug submissions.

Although Chrome usually updates itself within a few days of a new release, you can expedite this process by checking for available updates. Do that by navigating Chrome’s three-dot menu (by default at the top right), to Help > About Google Chrome. This will trigger an update, if one is available.

Opera, Patches and updates, Security

Opera 58.0.3135.90

March 17, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

A security update in the Chrome engine prompted last week’s release of Opera 58.0.3135.90. Opera is built on Google’s Chrome engine (also known as Blink), so when there’s a security update in Chrome, it usually finds its way into Opera within days.

Aside: The Blink engine forms the core of many popular browsers. I use Chrome, Vivaldi, Opera, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Edge for different tasks, based on my experience with those browsers. Opera, Vivaldi, and of course Chrome are built on the Blink engine. Internet Explorer is being phased out. Edge will soon be built using Blink instead of Microsoft’s own engine. The Blink engine seems poised to take over completely, which has some people concerned.

To check Opera’s version, click its ‘O’ menu (usually at the top left), then select Update & Recovery, then click Check for Update.

Edge, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, Patches and updates, Security, Windows

Patch Tuesday for March, 2019

March 12, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

According to Microsoft’s Security Update Guide, March’s updates, twenty-eight in all, include fixes for at least sixty-five security vulnerabilities in .NET, Flash Player (in IE and Edge), Internet Explorer, Edge, Office, Visual Studio, and Windows.

Even if you have automatic updates enabled on Windows 7 and 8 computers, it’s a good idea to check for and install the new updates. If you’re running Windows 10, auto-updates can’t be disabled, but you can still check for updates, and get them sooner that way.

There are no updates for Flash or Reader from Adobe so far in March.

Chrome, Google, Patches and updates, Security

Chrome 72.0.3626.121

March 8, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

The latest Chrome browser release is version 72.0.3626.121, and it fixes a security vulnerability for which exploits have been observed ‘in the wild’. So this is an important update.

When I try to look at the full change log using the link provided by Google, I get a blank page. Not sure what’s going on there.

If you use Chrome, it’s almost certainly updating itself on Google’s somewhat mysterious schedule. But you can check your version and initiate an update by navigating its ‘three dot’ menu to Help > About Google Chrome.

Adobe, Patches and updates, Security

Acrobat Reader DC 2019.010.20098

February 26, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

Adobe’s Acrobat/Reader line of PDF viewers was recently updated to address a single security issue.

Although there are several variations of Acrobat and Reader, the one of interest to most people is the freeware Acrobat Reader DC (Continuous). That’s the one you probably have installed on your computer. The new version for that variant is 2019.010.20098.

Recent versions of Reader seem to update themselves in the background, courtesy of an update service called ARM that gets installed along with Adobe products. You can check which version you’re running by navigating Reader’s menu to Help > About Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

Mozilla, Patches and updates, Security, Thunderbird

Thunderbird 60.5.1

February 25, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

Another set of security vulnerabilities was recently addressed by Mozilla with the release of Thunderbird 60.5.1. All four security issues are rated as having High impact, and are likely to affect Thunderbird’s confidentiality (leak private data), integrity (cause crashes), and/or availability (prevent normal operation).

To update Thunderbird, click its hamburger menu icon at the top right, then select Help > About Thunderbird to show your installed version. If a newer version is available, you should see a button offering to install it.

Firefox, Mozilla, Patches and updates, Security

Firefox 65.0.1: three security fixes

February 18, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

The latest Firefox is version 65.0.1, released last week by Mozilla. The new version addresses three High-impact security issues and fixes a few glitches, including one causing problems for some Netflix users.

Check your version and trigger an update by navigating Firefox’s ‘hamburger’ menu to Help > About Mozilla Firefox.

Adobe, Edge, Flash, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, Patches and updates, Security, Windows

Patch Tuesday for February 2019

February 12, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

Analysis of Microsoft’s Security Update Guide for February 2019 reveals that there are sixty-one distinct updates and corresponding articles in Microsoft’s support knowledge base.

At least seventy-seven vulnerabilities in Windows, Office, .NET, Internet Explorer, Edge, and Visual Studio are addressed by the updates. Twenty of the updates are flagged as Critical. Included in the updates is a new version of Flash for Internet Explorer and Edge.

As always, the easiest way to update Microsoft software is to use Windows Update, found in the Control Panel or System settings of your version of Windows.

Adobe once again adds to the patching load with new versions of Flash and Reader. Flash 32.0.0.142 addresses a single security vulnerability in earlier versions. The easiest way to check your Flash version and grab an update is to visit the Flash Help page.

Adobe Reader DC 2019.010.20091 includes fixes for at least seventy security bugs in earlier versions. Newer versions of Reader support auto-updates, but you can check for new versions by running Reader, and selecting Help > Check for Updates from its menu. If there’s a new version available, you’ll be prompted to install it.

Chrome, Google, Patches and updates, Security

Chrome 72.0.3626.96

February 12, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

A single security fix prompted the release of Chrome 72.0.3626.96 last week. The full change log for this release lists forty-one changes in all, but most of them are not significant.

Chrome usually updates itself, but on its own mysterious schedule. So if you want to make sure you’re up to date, navigate its menu to Help > About Google Chrome to see the version you’re running and install any available updates.

Mozilla, Patches and updates, Security, Thunderbird

Thunderbird 60.5: four security fixes

February 11, 2019 jrivett Leave a comment

Mozilla remains committed to Thunderbird, the company’s full-featured yet free email client for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Which is good news, because it’s getting increasingly difficult to find good email client software.

I’ve never been a fan of web-based email. It’s handy in certain situations, but leaves much to be desired for long-term use. I’ve been using Outlook for years, but it’s more than most people need; for them, there’s Thunderbird.

Thunderbird 60.5 plugs at least four security holes in previous versions.

To update Thunderbird, click its ‘hamburger’ menu icon at the top right, hover your mouse over Help, and click About Mozilla Thunderbird. If an update is available, you’ll be prompted to install it.

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Chrome 73.0.3683.75

Opera 58.0.3135.90

Patch Tuesday for March, 2019

Chrome 72.0.3626.121

Acrobat Reader DC 2019.010.20098

Thunderbird 60.5.1

Firefox 65.0.1: three security fixes

Patch Tuesday for February 2019

Chrome 72.0.3626.96

Thunderbird 60.5: four security fixes

Rants and musings on topics of interest. Sometimes about Windows, Linux, security and cool software.