[Praisey]

Windows automatic update has this as one of the softwares (?) to be installed? Is it safe? Or is it one of those that will crash my computer again Can anybody tell me if this is ok to be installed?? It's part of the automatic update.

[Cam42]

If it's in Automatic Updates, it's probably good.
Do you have antivirus?

[Rainer.]

Yeah if it's on legit Windows Update, it should be fine.

[Praisey]

thanks guys!

[redbaron]

You should grab Microsoft security essentials if you don't have current a antivirus as well

[bobthecockroach]

Originally Posted by Rainer.

Yeah if it's on legit Windows Update, it should be fine.

Yes.

Also, download your Windows Updates! Always. Most major Windows exploits are already fixed in Windows Updates when they start spreading; people just don't download the updates.

[Praisey]

ok thanks i'm always wary of automatic updates because i heard from someone that a virus can get in that way, like spyware... is that true?? is that why mac guarantees no virus... as oppose to pc??

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by Praisey

ok thanks i'm always wary of automatic updates because i heard from someone that a virus can get in that way, like spyware... is that true?? is that why mac guarantees no virus... as oppose to pc??

I would say no and no.

[Cam42]

Apple does not guarantee no viruses. Nobody can. There are viruses for Mac, they just aren't as prevalent.

[bobthecockroach]

Originally Posted by Praisey

ok thanks i'm always wary of automatic updates because i heard from someone that a virus can get in that way, like spyware... is that true??

Yes and no. Yes because there is no possible way to predict where someone will discover a vulnerability. No because automatic updating is not where viruses come from.

Summary: UPDATE EVERYTHING AS SOON AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

[MountainDew]

Originally Posted by Cam42

Apple does not guarantee no viruses. Nobody can. There are viruses for Mac, they just aren't as prevalent.

X2

[redbaron]

I've never seen an issue where someone compromised windows update and pushed a virus that way since I started using it in the mid 1990's when I started having regular internet access. If there has been, it's news to me. DO YOUR UPDATES. As our resident roach pointed out, almost all exploits that are done in spyware, viruses, trojans, etc have been patched usually weeks or months before the exploit ever hits the streets. It's a good bet that people write exploits for things when microsoft releases a patch for it, because they know people don't do their updates properly, and microsoft does full disclosure in explaining why they fixed 'x' problem, and for what reason (which gives them the info they need to exploit it- kind of a catch22).

There are viruses, spyware and nasties for everything, Mac, Windows, Linux, Unix, etc. Anyone who claims otherwise is nothing more than a blinded fanboy and not to be trusted

OSX was just hit by an issue where users were tricked into clicking to install something (like those horrible fake antivirus popups from last year) and once it was clicked it exploited an issue in MacOS to elevate to root and do whatever. Very nasty stuff, but most Apple guys will point out that it took the user to install it

[Praisey]

thanks guys this is why i love cgr all in one stop website