Sun, Apple, Microsoft install chaff with patches

JMH

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When you apply a security update for one of the programs on your PC, beware of uninvited software that wants to come along for the ride.

Vendors are more and more often going over the line, piggy-backing unsolicited commercial products and services onto crucial security patches.

If you're like many people, you were tricked into installing Apple's Safari browser as part of an iTunes or QuickTime update — a marketing tactic the company has been employing for more than a year. (I reported in my March 27, 2008, Patch Watch column that Apple had quietly started installing its browser using a little-noticed check box.)

You may also have succumbed to Microsoft's incessant offer of Silverlight and Office Live as part of the Microsoft Update service. And you may have tired of saying "no!" to downloading Internet Explorer 8. (I don't feel IE 8 is a necessary upgrade, due to IE 7's relative security and IE 8's incompatibility with some sites, as I describe below.)

Now, the latest Sun Java update shows how cavalier some vendors have become in taking advantage of software updates, including vital security patches.

The latest Sun Java SE Update 16 (6u16), released on Aug. 11, includes seven security updates and fixes a few bugs. What the release notes don't document, however, is that this update comes with a surprise.

Full aticle here-
Sun, Apple, Microsoft install chaff with patches
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    LAPTOP. HP Pavilion dv7-1005TX .
    CPU
    IntelCore [email protected] x2
    Memory
    4.00 GB installed, max capacity 8 GB.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT & 512MB DDR2 dedicated graphics mem.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.0" diagonal WXGA + High definition brightview widescreen infinity display.
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 900
    Hard Drives
    SPECS.
    Drive 1. 298.09 GB Fujitzu MHZ2320BH G2 ATA Device
    Drive 2. [ All as above.]

    CONFIG. C:\287.65 GB, D:\298.09 GB, E:\10.44 GB.
    Case
    Laptop / notebook.
    Cooling
    Stock.
    Keyboard
    IBM enhanced
    Mouse
    Synaptics PS/2 Port touch pad.
    Internet Speed
    ADSL [ Too slow.]
    Other Info
    Webcam.
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