Is it necessary to update Realplayer, and attain all security updates for all software installed?

Hi, all. Is it necessary to attain all security updates for all software
installed on the system? Do I need to update Realplayer frequently?

--
Thank you for your help!

Kerry
Sun Nov 05 14:08:39 CST 2006

It used to be that updates were bug fixes. If your system was working OK you
didn't need to do the updates. Now that almost all programs use some kind of
Internet communications updates are often security fixes to stop possible
malware attacks. You should always keep all your programs up to date. Some
people consider Real Player itself to be spyware and recommend alternatives.

--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/



smith wrote:
> Hi, all. Is it necessary to attain all security updates for all
> software installed on the system? Do I need to update Realplayer
> frequently?

David
Sun Nov 05 20:43:27 CST 2006

From: "smith" <@discussion.com>

| Hi, all. Is it necessary to attain all security updates for all software
| installed on the system? Do I need to update Realplayer frequently?
|

Well if you want to be infected with malware, don't install security updates. You are not
forced to install them. You are not forced to to practice Safe Hex either.

The choice is yours. Just don't ask for help AFTER you are infected. :-)

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

smith
Mon Nov 06 04:41:05 CST 2006

Do you mean that Real would collect personal information?

What are the alternatives?

Thanks.

"Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m> дÈëÏûÏ¢ÐÂÎÅ:uoQCzYRAHHA.4844@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> It used to be that updates were bug fixes. If your system was working OK
> you didn't need to do the updates. Now that almost all programs use some
> kind of Internet communications updates are often security fixes to stop
> possible malware attacks. You should always keep all your programs up to
> date. Some people consider Real Player itself to be spyware and recommend
> alternatives.
>
> --
> Kerry
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/
>
>
>
> smith wrote:
>> Hi, all. Is it necessary to attain all security updates for all
>> software installed on the system? Do I need to update Realplayer
>> frequently?
>
>

Kerry
Mon Nov 06 08:27:55 CST 2006

It does track you and send reports back. Some people consider it spyware.
Here is one alternative.

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm

Be very careful when surfing to sites that have free codecs. The above site
is OK. Many sites that offer free codecs install spyware.

--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/



smith wrote:
> Do you mean that Real would collect personal information?
>
> What are the alternatives?
>
> Thanks.
>
> "Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m>
> дÈëÏûÏ¢ÐÂÎÅ:uoQCzYRAHHA.4844@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> It used to be that updates were bug fixes. If your system was
>> working OK you didn't need to do the updates. Now that almost all
>> programs use some kind of Internet communications updates are often
>> security fixes to stop possible malware attacks. You should always
>> keep all your programs up to date. Some people consider Real Player
>> itself to be spyware and recommend alternatives.
>>
>> --
>> Kerry
>> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>> http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/
>>
>>
>>
>> smith wrote:
>>> Hi, all. Is it necessary to attain all security updates for all
>>> software installed on the system? Do I need to update Realplayer
>>> frequently?

karl
Mon Nov 06 15:16:04 CST 2006


"smith" <@discussion.com> wrote in message
news:eOho28QAHHA.4740@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Hi, all. Is it necessary to attain all security updates for all software
> installed on the system? Do I need to update Realplayer frequently?

It depends. It is probably a good idea on a home or personal computer to
allow third party software like Real player to install security updates.
However, it is entirely your call, and is not an absolute requirement.
Being hacked via real player or most other third party software is not a
very common occurrence for home and personal computers, so the risk is
relatively low. Installing updates to software like Real player somewhat
reduces, but does not entirely eliminate, your risk of being compromised.
And updates can cause some risk of things breaking or other unwanted
behavior. There is never zero risk.

--
kind regards,
Karl Levinson, CISSP, CCSA, MCSE [MS MVP]
--------------------------------
Microsoft Security FAQ:
http://securityadmin.info