It's been a while since I have posted--a combination of being busy and not being sure what to write has slowed me down. In the world of Computer Security, it can be hard to keep up with all of the vulnerabilities and threats as they evolve and change continuously. I think anyone who reads this blog or is otherwise technology savvy knows that you have to run Operating System updates from Microsoft and/or Apple as soon as you can after they are released. But more and more it seems that threats are coming from other software such as Flash, Adobe Reader, Firefox, Quicktime, instant messenger programs, Java, or anything other program. And Phishing continues top be a problem as it becomes harder and harder to identify fraudulent e-mails. So what should computer users and administrators do?
We continue to look for ways to protect Emerson's network and users through systems and software that we can centrally administer and monitor. But there a lot of limitations to that strategy, not to mention the possible expense and time necessary for implementation. The best actions you can take is to make sure that your computer is patched and up to date. I've written about this before in Is Your Software Up to Date? (Keep in mind the versions mentioned in that posting are now out of date.)
Here is starting place to make sure your software is patched. These programs are commonly found on computers at Emerson.
| Software | Automatic Updates? | Info/Download |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Reader | In most cases, this program will check for updates each time it is launched; but it won't let you know if you are a full version behind. | Download |
| Adobe Flash Player | No auto-updating, you have to visit the site. And you may need to visit with each web browser you use to update each one. | Check Version / Download |
| Apple QuickTime | Will check automatically on Macs, Windows users can install Apple Software Update. | Download |
| Apple iTunes | Will check automatically on Macs, Windows users can install Apple Software Update. | Download |
| Mozilla Firefox | Will prompt you to update as long as you are on version 2.0 or newer | Download |
| Sun Java | May prompt for updates, but not always. | Check Version / Download |
| Microsoft Office | Windows users should automatically get updates, Mac users can run Microsoft Update or visit the web site. | Mac Downloads |
Any other software on your computer that is not part of the standard Emerson configuration must also be updated. And, of course, please run any and all updates you are prompted to run for your operating system in a timely manner. If you have questions, or need assistance, please contact the Help Desk.