Getting  Along With Your Computer Column Archive

Updated Software, Updated Life
By Cate Eales

Appeared February 15, 2007 on castanet.net

Microsoft released patches to fix at least 20 security flaws in Windows and in Office this week. That might be a record. And there's an easy way to keep find many of the other software updates you might need, too. Finally, do you have an updated list of all your passwords?

Patch Tuesday Again
Microsoft finally began addressing some serious problems, notably in Office products and in Internet Explorer 7. You can get the patches via Microsoft Update. That will check your Windows XP as well as Office, and identify the critical updates. You can browse here (must have Internet Explorer), or turn on your Automatic Updates. If you have any Office 2000 products on your machine, those won't be updated automagically. You will have to point your browser (must have Internet Explorer) here and run a check. Please make sure you're completely updated.

Secunia Software Inspector
If you want to know (and I highly recommend knowing!) if your software is up to date, check out the Secunia website, here. This free tool looks at your installed software from Adobe Reader to Zone Alarm (sorry --- couldn't resist), and compares what version you have against the latest versions. Then it produces a report showing what should be upgraded. This tool runs in your browser (Firefox or Internet Explorer), so you don't need to install a program to get the benefits. Browse on over there, start the tool, and come back after dinner for the results.


Update Your Passwords and Keep Them Safe
I came across an interesting article, here, about how important it is to keep an up-to-date list of all your passwords, and making sure it's someplace where those who survive you can access it readily.

This brings up an interesting point. You should keep a list of all your user names and passwords for email accounts, online financial management, bill-paying and other online banking, and even for photo sharing or file sharing sites. Make sure you update the list every time you change a password or a PIN.

Beyond that, I recommend keeping this list safe! Two programs (both free) that will do that and are easy to use are Oubliette and KeePass. I have been using Oubliette for years and recently started using KeePass. Both work well, but I am starting to like the KeePass interface better. I strongly suggest that you get one of these programs, set up the database, print it out from time to time and store it in a safe place. And make sure your kids or your partner knows it exists and where to find it.

STOH Updates
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts starts this weekend. It's not so hard to stay up to date with that!

As always, thank you for your questions, comments, and suggestions. Please keep them coming! And remember, you can browse the column archives at any time here.  And don't forget the recommendations for good, free software.  You can subscribe to the column by email, or add the RSS feed to your feedreader.


Links
Microsoft Update http://update.microsoft.com/
Office Update (for Office 2000 and better) http://office.microsoft.com/
Secunia Software Inspector: http://secunia.com/software_inspector/
Passing Along Passwords Can Be Helpful To Heirs http://keyetv.com/seenon/local_story_037174243.html
Oubliette http://www.tranglos.com/free/oubliette.html
KeePass http://keepass.info/index.html
TSN Curling http://www.tsn.ca/curling/
The Curling News Blog http://curlnews.blogspot.com/
CBC Curling http://www.cbc.ca/sports/curling/
CurlTV.com http://curltv.com/
Official CCA Site http://www.curling.ca/fan_central/toh/2007/index.asp
Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archives http://rlis.com/column.htm
Get Cate's column by email http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=20618
RSS Feed: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml
Cate's list of good, free software http://rlis.com/columns/column75list.htm


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Cate Eales has been helping people make online computing safe, accessible and fun for over 20 years. She lives in Kelowna with her husband, Eric, and her dog, Sandy. Cate is a partner in Real Life Internet Solutions, helping individuals and small businesses with virus, spyware and malware eradication; personal computer training and management; digital image management; music transfer; and website design, hosting and management. Email Cate at cate@rlis.com with your comments, suggestions, or questions. To browse the column archives, visit the Real Life Internet Solutions website at www.rlis.com.