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Updates for other software
What is an antivirus program?
As well as keeping Windows and other Microsoft software up to date, you also need to check that software from other manufacturers is updated. Any software that uses the Internet, particularly media playing software such as Adobe Flash, Real Player, or Apple Quick Time, is vulnerable to attack. The manufacturers of these programs frequently release new versions, which will fix any security flaws found in older versions. One way to check if a program is up to date is to use its own "Check for Updates" feature, usually found in the "Help" menu. However, it is inconvenient to have to check a number of programs one by one, and plug-ins such as Flash do not have a program interface (i.e. menus) which allows you to check for updates. Fortunately, there is an easy way to check whether any of your software, including non-Microsoft products, is up to date. A security company called Secunia provide a quick, easy and free check for outdated sofware. Go to this address:
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online
Click on "Start Scanner", then "Start", and your computer will be checked. The web page will show you any out-of-date programs it finds, and provide links to download the newest versions.
Please note: we have no affiliation with Secunia, but believe they provide an excellent service, which we use ourselves.
