A scanner to make sure your software is safe
There are so many possible vulnerabilities on a PC that it is hard to keep track. It isn’t just Windows that needs frequent security patches. And it isn’t just the Microsoft applications like Office. There is a whole panoply of common third-party accessories that have at various times been found to have security problems. Java, QuickTime, Adobe Flash, Adobe PDF reader, RealPlayer have all had to be patched or updated recently. Microsoft has started to add third-party updates to its monthly patch Tuesday but that is not complete or always timely. Most PC users will not find it easy to keep up with the constant parade of vulnerabilities. Fortunately, the security firm Secunia has provided a free service that will check your computer to see if you have all the latest patches and updates for Windows and many applications. Their Software Inspector is at this link. It works by making use of your browser so you will get a standard security warning. It seems to use JavaScript so that will need to be enabled. I tried it with both Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox on Windows XP. It is quite fast. The applications tested are:
The Secunia Software Inspector covers the most common/popular end user applications:
* Internet browsers
* Internet browser plugins
* Instant messaging clients
* Email clients
* Media players
* Operating systems
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