MyFox
 

ibejim's Blog

by ibejim from wilmington, delaware

Last Post 6 hours Ago


Sneaky Microsoft...
Aug 18, 2008 | 12:48 PM
Category: News
Report This Post

The techies in Redmond are about to download and execute a new version of windows update onto you PC,  Regardless of  weather you want them to, or not.

Microsoft has been downloading windows update executable components onto peoples PC's for years without their knowledge. They finally admitted to this underhanded practice about a year ago. Executable files (those whose file names end with the ".exe" extension)  are files that run when you click on the file name, or, can be programed to run without your knowledge, which is exactly what Microsoft is doing, even if you have windows update setup for 'requiring permission' to download and install updates.

For more info on Windows update and some tips,  Go here...

http://windowssecrets.com/2008/08/14/03-Youll-get-a-ne
w-Windows-Update-like-it-or-not

Keeping you operating system security patches up to date is extremely important! Why spent all that time (and sometimes, money) installing, updating, configuring and running anti-virus and spyware apps if you are going to leave hackers an open door with  a system that isn't kept current with security updates? Even if you are a set it and forget it  type of person, you should go to the windows update site periodically and check you update history to see if the updates have all been installed, and, not corrupted somehow during the process

Heres how...

"First, identify any updates that didn't get installed properly by going to the Windows Update or Microsoft Update site. Choose Start, Windows Update (or Microsoft Update) or Start, All Programs, Windows Update (or Microsoft Update).

In XP, click Review your update history on the left; in Vista, choose View update history. XP shows failed updates with a red X; in Vista, the word "failed" appears in the Status column. (Note that some updates may have failed to install on their first attempt but succeeded subsequently.)"

Personally, I prefer to go the 'manual' route. I have had more than failure with the 'automatically download and install updates' setting. Microsoft releases security patches on the second tuesday of every month.
22 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 22
Page 1 of 2
1
2
 Last
gunpowderNlead read my blog view my photos
Aug 18, 2008 | 3:46 PM

Jimbo you are so sthmartttt!!!!! :) I wish I knew all the things you know about a computer.
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Aug 18, 2008 | 5:46 PM

LOL. Actually Guns, I'm no computer wiz, just have an interest in how they work and like to learn about that. You really should make sure that you system is fully patched with the latest updates.

There is just something about people downloading and running programs on my pc without my knowledge that pisses me off!

BTW...When did you acquire a cyber lisp? :)
electrons read my blog
Aug 19, 2008 | 6:09 AM

Almost all programs you buy now (or download) have web components to them, meaning they talk TCP/IP to the outside world through what is called a "port" to either check for updates, or things you really do not know. For instance, the software for your mp3 player, digital camera, Adobe reader, Java, etc..

These programs are all back doors for intruders. I think these programs with web components will be the battleground for the next big Melissa virus.

Jim,

Have you ever used a program called "TCP View"? It builds a list of all programs that are "listening" and "talking" to the outside. It is great for monitoring TCP and UDP connections to determine if something is acting suspicious.
gunpowderNlead read my blog view my photos
Aug 19, 2008 | 6:21 AM

Hi Jimbo. You are right, I should make sure of this but I haven't a clue. I have a new Dell at work and an IMAC at home (the result of a bad relationship with a brand new PC with Vista), do you think I may be Cyber Confused, perhaps that is why I have the cyber lisp?

I have a couple of IT guys from my office that I trust, they kind of keep things going at work and at home for me. Lucky for me, one of them lives within a couple of miles from me, he is a single man and will do just about anything for a home cooked meal so I barter with him when I feel that my IMAC needs some attention (which is rare).

So Jimbo, I had to leave work early yesterday. My sweet little doggy Sandy is sick. We took her with us to Louisiana a couple of weeks ago and she went to a dog spa, she has come home with some sort of infection- she stays up to date on her shots but the vet said sometimes these things happens, so she is on meds now and I feel so sorry for her. Hopefully she will be back up and running in a few days and my son will be riding her through the house like a horse.

The weather this week has been very rainy, I'm not complaining though, we were dry as a bone and need every drop.
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Aug 19, 2008 | 6:38 AM

Tom,

You're right. Almost all of those types of programs have the 'automatically check for updates' option set to yes by default. The first thing I do after installing such a program is go into the programs "preferences" and un-check that option. Some make un-checking that option hard to do. God only knows what else they are doing behind your back. I prefer to manually update everything.

I'll give 'TCP View' a shot. I have been using a program called 'Whats Running' that monitors IP connections (amongst other things) and has an option to do a 'who is' check on what is on what port. Sometimes there are as many as 50 ports open on my machine at a time!
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Aug 19, 2008 | 6:53 AM

Guns, Since Mac's aren't as widely used as Windows based PC's, there aren't may viruses and such out there geared toward Mac's. The more popular they become, the better chance someone will hack at em.

You had problems with Vista? lol. Consider yourself in the vast majority. I still haven't upgraded(?)to Vista, and don't intend to, because Windows will be rolling out a new OS in about 2 years....Windows 7....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7

Good luck with the dog. The same thing happened to my dog couple of years ago when I left him in a kennel while on vacation. The kennel/vet office I left him with is a reputable one, so, I guess it can happen any time. Kinda like Kids and school, eh?

I'll take a few rainy days over 108 degree temps any day!
gunpowderNlead read my blog view my photos
Aug 19, 2008 | 8:50 AM

Jimbo I got so mad at that Vista business I was having visions of Bill Gates hanging in the Courthouse Square. I just moved it into a guest bedroom and left it there, my IT guy keeps telling me he will come over and install XP on it but I haven't bothered with it yet.

I hated to leave Sandy today but I had to come back to work. Hopefully the meds will clear everything up in a few days. My vet said the same thing you did, it just happens sometimes like kids in daycare. This place she stayed at, she has stayed many many times before and we have never had a problem, I called the lady who owns the place as a courtesy yesterday in case other dogs had become sick, I told her I was in no way placing blame on them I just wanted them to know the germ was present. I would want someone to tell me if I were the one who had the Dog Spa.

You got that right about the 108F days, I am hoping we have seen the last of those temps. We are expecting rain for most of this week which has cooled things off to where I have to keep a sweater here at work, my hands feel like blocks of ice as I sit here pecking this message to you.
-JT- read my blog view my photos
Aug 19, 2008 | 9:36 AM

Where do you get "TCP view" from ?
gunpowderNlead read my blog view my photos
Aug 19, 2008 | 9:50 AM

Hi JT you handsome devil!
electrons read my blog
Aug 19, 2008 | 5:49 PM

JT,

TCP view can be found at:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb89743
7.aspx
-JT- read my blog view my photos
Aug 20, 2008 | 2:20 AM

Thank you, Electrons.
-JT- read my blog view my photos
Aug 20, 2008 | 2:21 AM

Hiya Guns !
jsv15 read my blog view my photos
Aug 20, 2008 | 11:04 PM

hey Jim, remember me from this site I was in the weather chat when rob was here we are all on www.myweatherlive.com now in a new chat room and ghave more chatters then ever chatting about the weather in a whole new perspective come check in out robby g is there too!! see ya later jim!!
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Aug 22, 2008 | 5:44 AM

How are ya, Joe?

How's the internet radio site going? Sorry, lost the link. Re-post it here if you wish and I'll check it out again.

Joe, I'm not much of a chat room person. I do however, check out Rob's site on occasion.
gunpowderNlead read my blog view my photos
Aug 22, 2008 | 6:32 AM

And Jimbo you aren't much of an emailer either ;) but thats ok, you're still my favorite blogger.
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Aug 22, 2008 | 11:19 AM

You're mine also, Guns. ;)
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Aug 22, 2008 | 11:21 AM

Had to share this Dell tech support call with Y'all....Warning..strong language!!! Funny though.

gunpowderNlead read my blog view my photos
Aug 22, 2008 | 11:30 AM

Man O Man, I am glad I listened up here in my office vs. at home, that man was wild. He reminds me of my friend from NJ, sort of sounds like him, probably is him :)

Hey Jimbo, did I detect a little southern drawl in that "ya'll" ;)
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Aug 22, 2008 | 1:00 PM

LOL, Guns. I have friends from 'down e yonder', only one in Texas though (not including you).

Fox should do a special on tech support calls. Some of the things these people have to put up with is hilarious...Remember the one about 'open windows'?

Can you imagine if that guy had gotten someone with and Asian/Indian accent?
gunpowderNlead read my blog view my photos
Aug 22, 2008 | 3:21 PM

Back when I was battling Vista, I had the unfortunate opportunity to get ahold of several techs that had the whole Asian/Indian thing going, I couldn't understand their native tongue and they couldn't understand Texan either. I finally got frustrated and asked to speak to someone who could speak English, which I was told, they WERE speaking English, so I said "I cannot understand you" and of course they said they couldn't understand me either.
That was the night I was tempted to put a bullet hole right in the center of the S in VISTA and wishing all sorts of bad luck on Gates.

You know how I say your name.... Gee um. You have one more friend in Texas? I am jealous!
Unless of course it's Dubya and he will be back in Dallas soon enough.
Page 1 of 2
1
2
 Last


Write your comment below:




ibejim

I didn't do it!!

Member Since: 8/18/2007


 

View All Photos