Third Party automatic updates...

[AstaLaVista]

I have gone to my MSConfig and I only let my AV, my KB & Mouse start. I have also gone to Services to check that only what I want starts. Finally, I have gone to Startup and that is empty.

Yes, from time to time, Adobe updates (Flash player and what have you), Jave, etc. will pop up alerting me of new versions and while that is fine and dandy I would like to do so at my own accord so... where are this files hidden? can I stop this from happening? if so... how?

Thanks

 

[Orbital Shark]

Are you browsing the net or using Adobe Viewer at the time that these update appear?

If so then the update signal is being sent bu the active application. In the case of Java it will be anytime you visit a site that has embedded java script.


OS

 

[Barman58]

Have a look at your start-up with Autoruns

and see if that shows anything, MSconfig can miss some items which will show up on the startup tab in autoruns

 

[Orbital Shark]

Have a look at your start-up with Autoruns

and see if that shows anything, MSconfig can miss some items which will show up on the startup tab in autoruns

Good call Nigel, I couldn't remeber the name of the app LOL

 

[Fayla]

If you right click any Flash video and go into global properties-- you can disable update checking for Flash there ("Check for updates every 7 days".) For Java, go to the control panel, open up the Java CP item and disable update checks.

I have gone to my MSConfig and I only let my AV, my KB & Mouse start. I have also gone to Services to check that only what I want starts. Finally, I have gone to Startup and that is empty.

Yes, from time to time, Adobe updates (Flash player and what have you), Jave, etc. will pop up alerting me of new versions and while that is fine and dandy I would like to do so at my own accord so... where are this files hidden? can I stop this from happening? if so... how?

Thanks

 

[Bill2]

1) You can disable adobe updates normally through the Update tools preferences screen, but that tool doesnt work without an internet connection. So just disable them via this registry edit.

Disable automatic updates | Acrobat, Reader

2) To disable java update notifications, follow the steps here.

How to Get Rid of Java Update Notifications | eHow.com

You can also do a registry edit. See here.

Mark Minasi's Reader Forum - Disable Adobe & Java Update pop-up

 

[stormy13]

For the Flash updates you have to go here,

Adobe - Flash Player : Settings Manager - Global Notifications Settings Panel

Would also be a good idea to go through all the rest of the settings while you're there.

 

[AstaLaVista]

WOW, lots of things to test... Thanks, I'll try them one by one and see if that help.

 

[OEM]

For the Flash updates you have to go here,

Adobe - Flash Player : Settings Manager - Global Notifications Settings Panel

Would also be a good idea to go through all the rest of the settings while you're there.

Once Again Great post Stormy,

Many people overlook this as there not aware that adobe flashplayer is logging and saving info just like a cookie. Only unless you visit the "settings manager" will you be able to clear out everything. I've tried at times setting the amount of space to "0" not store common local files and what not, but there are sites that need flashplayer user space. But I visit the settings manager at least twice a week and clear it out.

Here's an interesting experiment regarding local-shared-objects "LSO's". Go to the site linked below and Follow the instructions about moving the box and refreshing the page. Then go to flashplayer manager and clear all sites from the "Website Storage Settings panel" then return to the linked LSO webpage and the blue box will be restored to the upper left corner.

Flash Cookies: Local Shared Objects Tutorial

 

[MacGyvr]

I have to chime in that it's a bad idea to turn off these updates. These "tools" are frequently found to have security holes that can result in a compromised workstation. Many times, the purpose of these updates is to secure a hole that has been found. Why would you want to turn them off?

If your machine is so fragile that it can't handle the very small "update checkers" running...then you have much larger issues to contend with.

 

[OEM]

I have to chime in that it's a bad idea to turn off these updates. These "tools" are frequently found to have security holes that can result in a compromised workstation. Many times, the purpose of these updates is to secure a hole that has been found. Why would you want to turn them off?

If your machine is so fragile that it can't handle the very small "update checkers" running...then you have much larger issues to contend with.

+1,

These necessary auto checks for updates are for a reason, to close potential vulnerabilities. A vulnerability in any application should be dealt with as soon as a new release becomes available, thus protecting you from a "hole" in your current version and they use so little resources that as MacGyvr points out, don't out way the potential for possible malware / malicious code to find its way in via the vulnerability.

 

[Barman58]

I remove all the 3rd party updaters from my start-up.

I do however run secuniaPSI at startup, which keeps me informed of any security based updates I need.

I let the program run for about 20-30 minutes, or after acting on any alerts it finds, then close it, freeing the memory and cpu overload.

I do let programs check for new versions when starting up which catches most other upgrades,

I do not see the point of having the latest non security update on programs that I only use occasionally

Edit

The above is the system for Laptop/Netbook which is regularly re-booted. For my desktop which is on for much longer times I leave Secunia Running as the overhead is more acceptable

 

[OEM]

I remove all the 3rd party updaters from my start-up.

I do however run secuniaPSI at startup, which keeps me informed of any security based updates I need.

I let the program run for about 20-30 minutes, or after acting on any alerts it finds, then close it, freeing the memory and cpu overload.

I do let programs check for new versions when starting up which catches most other upgrades,

I do not see the point of having the latest non security update on programs that I only use occasionally

Edit

The above is the system for Laptop/Netbook which is regularly re-booted. For my desktop which is on for much longer times I leave Secunia Running as the overhead is more acceptable

Thats a great program!

Kaspersky also has a scanner of a different sort called what else "Vulnerability Scan". This will scan all programs for newer versions and let you know of a vulnerability even if the fix is not out yet. So with that, it scans all program files in the active directory looking for weakness in programs that hopefully have a later version out by then. I run that scanner once a week and it alerts me to new flashpayer, java, silverlight, adobe reader, and many more common internet programs.

Its a nice tool that lets the user know, hey problem found check for update and hopefully there is one by that time before you get nailed by mailware. B/C a vulnerability is just that, its not malware, its a known weakspot or hole that someone might be able to take advantage of.

 

[brianzion]

StartupRun v1.22

The StartupRun utility displays the list of all applications that are loaded automatically when Windows boots. For each application, additional information is displayed (Product Name, File Version, Description, and Company Name), in order to allow you to easily identify the applications that are loaded at Windows startup. if StartupRun identifies a spyware or adware program that runs at startup, it automatically paints it in pink color. In addition, you are allowed to Edit, disable, enable and delete the selected startup entries. You can also save the list of startup items into a text or html files, and even add a new startup entry to the Registry.

 

[angelino7]

sorry if uve answered this already: is there anything u can do to see what is being downloaded/updated as its being downloaded? I can see how much meg its using (heaps) but unless it sez WIN or Adobe donwloads ready to install afterwards I don't know wots just downloaded heaps of meg (eg 200MG at each go).