Head's up -- News Updates

In view to upcoming Mozilla Firefox v44 release ( which will be offered within this week ), GHacks tech blog has provided a view of the new browser and it's services

Reference source -- Firefox 44: Find out what is new - gHacks Tech News

EDIT: For those who are worried of the enforced add-on signing ( which will be placed permanently in Firefox v44), there's a guide click-link in the said reference source to avoid conflicts

EDIT 2: ( 01/26/16 ) New info has been added to the GHacks tech blog -- according to recent updates, the Enforced Add-On Signing process has been moved to v46 instead, and will be delayed on v44 -- this means users will ( hopefully ) be able to continue using their add-ons

Head's up -- Software Updates

Piriform has now released CCleaner v5.14.5493 for Windows and Mac; for those that wish to have the Portable version of this, it is now available at the Publisher's Downloading Build section

Mozilla has now released Firefox v44.0; the new installer, along with the local regional variants are now available at the main publisher's site for all OS -- most downloading hubs will be offering the EN-US installer

Reference source -- Firefox — Notes (44.0) — Mozilla

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EDIT: The small notable change seen with Firefox v44.0 is the addition of a Notifications menu in the Options section; one can toggle this to "Do Not Disturb Me" if they don't want to see ( or hear ) any pop-ups

Head's up -- Tech news update

Recently on the GHacks tech blog, they are reviewing the news that Oracle will soon have plans to depreciate JAVA -- since that browsers today are slowly ending support for NPAPI ( in view for HTML5 and other components )

Full details of the review can be seen at:
Reference source -- Wave Goodbye to the Java Plugin (if you have not already) - gHacks Tech News

Head's up -- Tech News update

For those who have Microsoft Windows, make sure that you have your Windows Update settings set to Check for Updates but let me choose... ( also known as a Manual update ), and that the Give me Recommended Updates is unchecked -- according to the GHack tech blog, within this month ( no date set ) that Microsoft will be releasing Windows 10 as a Recommended update

What does this mean? It means if your system is configured to accept updates automatically, it ( the Win10 Upgrade ) will be installed without your consent

Details of the news is seen at:
Reference source -- Windows 10 is a recommended update now - gHacks Tech News

EDIT: Minor typo

Head's up

1 -- Software Updates

RarSoft has now released WinRAR v5.31; the shareware program -- which is free to use for a limited time -- is available at most reputable downloadng hubs

ALWIL Softwares has now released AVAST Free Anti-virus v11.1.2253 and AVAST Clear Uninstall Utility v11.1.2253.1653

Sidenote: For members that are experiencing issues in regards to the new AVAST update release, please do visit the AVAST Forums

Google has now released Chrome v48.0.2564.103

Chronium has released the new fork of the popular Google Chrome browser -- Chronium v50.0.2640.0

Moonchild Productions has released Pale Moon v26.0.2 -- a fork of the Mozilla Firefox browser

All updates are available at the main publishers sites, and most downloading reputable hubs; please do avoid downloading any offline installers from P2P and/or Filesharing hubs

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2 -- Tech News Update

Microsoft is now pushing to even more aggressive means to offer the Windows 10 to all Win7/8/8-1 users. In the latest Windows Update for this month, Optional Windows Updates kb2952664, kb3135445, and kb3123862 were re-offered;

kb2952664 -- prepares the user's system for the upgrading process
kb3135445 -- serves as a platform for the update for Win10
kb3123862 -- designates the aggressive ad campaign advertiser onto the system

Details of this can be seens at the Microsoft Technet Forums:
Reference source -- Unknown patches KB3135445 & KB3123862[/color]

Head's up -- Software Updates

Sun Microsystems has now released Java Runtime Environment ( JRE ) v8u74; this new update comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit for all OS -- one can now get the offline installers at the main publisher's site and at most reputable downloading hubs

Moonchild Productions has released Pale Moon v26.0.3; this is a fork of the Mozilla Firefox browser, available at the main publisher's site as well at reputable mirror sites

VideoLAN has now released VLC Media Player v2.2.2; the new offline installer can be applied over the previous version v2.2.1 -- it comes in 32-bit and 64-bit variants, available at the main publisher's secure downloading ( in HTTPS ), as well at most mirror downloading hubs

Piriform has released CCleaner Slim v5.14.5493; this offline version is released one week after the Stable version, and it's installer doesn't come with the optional Google Chrome ( which users can opt out ) -- it's available only at the main publishers site for all OS

Head's up -- Software updates

Mozilla has released a update patch; Firefox v44.0.1 is ready on your browsers system updates ( manually check if the update has been applied ). The offline installers is available at the main publisher's downloading section for all OS, as well as the local regional variants -- most reputable downloading hubs will be offering the EN-US offline installer

Sidenote: Due to the update, the Release Notes at Mozilla are not yet publicly available

Reference source -- Firefox — Notes (44.0.1) — Mozilla

Brightfort ( formerly Javacool ) has released new signatures for SpywareBlaster v5.2; there are now 17378 Unique Security Signatures into the program database; for Free users, manually check for the new system update, while Paid users will have the update automatically

EDIT: Release Notes are now available

Head's up -- Software updates

In view of the upcoming Microsoft Security Update release on every 2nd week of the month ( collectively known as Patch Tuesdays ), that Adobe has released new updates:

Adobe Flash Player for both IE and Non-IE browsers are now at v20.0.0.306, and Adobe AIR is now at v20.0.0.260; these new software updates are available only at the main publishers site, while most reputable downloading hubs will be offering a redirect-link

Head's up -- Software Updates

As of a few hours ago, Mozilla has released a patch update; to date, Firefox is now on v44.0.2 -- the patch update can be accessed through the browser's updater, and the offline installers for all variants are now available at the main publisher's downloading section ( most reputable downloading hubs will be offering the offline EN-US installer )

Reference source -- Firefox — Notes (44.0.2) — Mozilla

The Document Foundation has now released LibreOffice Productivity Suite v5.1.0 in 32- and 64-bit versions; for those seeking to install on a USB, LibreOffice Portable is available on v5.0.4 -- the new update is available at the main publisher's hub, and most downloading hubs

Head's up -- Software Updates

As of yesterday, Microsoft has released at least no less than 20+ Optional Non-Security updates ( depending on region / country ) for Windows 7 and 8/8.1 users

Since the said updates that will appear on the Windows Updater are Non-Security related, make sure to manually check each one ( by their kb numbers, either at the Microsoft main downloading hub, or using your search engines ) and decide if you need them

You can visit some tech forum sites* that are now looking up to these new Non-security Windows Updates to know what to, and what not to install

* Sorry, can't list them -- though, a quick search engine search will do

Head's up -- Tech News Update

According to the GHacks Tech Blog, it's been mentioned that Linux Mint has been compromised -- as of yesterday, Linux Mint v17.3 ISO was compromised in what was a hack to their main site; though the torrent files are unaffected, the Linux Mint Team advices that users of the said version must change their passwords immediately

Details of the news can be seen at the GHacks Tech blog link below:

Reference source -- Linux Mint hacked, ISO images compromised - gHacks Tech News

( Sidenote: like most blogs, please don't forget to read through the responses from the Blog readers; some can offer some little tidbits of info and tips )

Wow Linux Mint website hacked....

I was wondering, so those people who used the corrupted file will maybe never know

charez wrote: Wow Linux Mint website hacked....

I was wondering, so those people who used the corrupted file will maybe never know

Either they go re-download a fresh copy, as indicated on the Linux Mint blog and check the SHA codes to ensure it's integrity -- or pull-back to a previous variant; a minor headache indeed

Head's up

Software updates

Piriform has now released CCleaner v5.15.5513; the new update is available as a Standard offline installer* ( which comes with a Chrome wrap-in installer, for those who don't have Chrome installed in their gear ) and as a Portable variant -- the installers are available at the main publisher's downloading hub, and most reputable downloading hubs

* For those that with to have the offline installer without the Chrome wrap-in installer, CCleaner Slim will be available at least one week after the Standard variant's release, and will be offered only at the main publisher's site

Tech news update

Just recently, the SCMagazine has reported that Comodo Internet Security software has a major security flaw; known as the second significant security flaw discovered this month -- when a user installs Comodo in its default configuration, it adds a tech support application called GeekBuddy that installs a VNC server using an insecure default password -- basically putting local privilege escalation available to unprivileged users

Details of this was initially spotted at the MajorGeeks downloading hub, with reference links to the main SCMagazine blog:
Reference source -- Comodo Internet Security Removed From MajorGeeks Downloads - MajorGeeks

Head's up -- Software updates

Google has released Chrome Cleanup Tool v6.44.4; this tool is designed to ensure clean out any remaining components left after uninstalling Chrome ( for preparing a clean re-install ) -- this small tool at 4Mb, is available at the main publisher's downloading hub, and most reputable downloading sites

PeaZip has released PeaZip v6.0.0; this Freeware compression tool does the same function as the Shareware program WinZIP / WinRAR and another Freeware program 7Zip -- it comes in as an offline installer, and a portable variant. Both are offered at the main publisher's site, and the offline installer is available at most reputable downloading hubs

Head's up -- Software update

Mozilla has now released the Review Notes in regards to Firefox v45.0; though that the Add-on Signature is still enforced, it can still be negated for the ClixSense add-on ( please refer to Fire Fox version 43 has disabled the ClixAddon! | ClixSense Forum )

The offline installer, as well as the browser update, should be available within the next 12-24hrs of this post date; the offline installers for localized regional dialects is only available at the main publisher's site, while most downloading hubs will be offering the EN-US offline installer

Reference source -- Firefox — Notes (45.0) — Mozilla

EDIT: Firefox is now available for download at the main site, and most reputable downloading hubs

Head's up -- Tech Updates

In view to Micorsoft Patch Tuesdays ( which is the collective security updating of Windows every 2nd week of a new month ), the new security updates are now available -- but be very cautious of what you're going to install

According to some Tech Forums; for those who have not chose to have Win10 updates, may be concerned of the security updates released this month -- kb 3139929 has been analyzed as "adds functionality to Internet Explorer 11 on some computers that lets users learn about Windows 10 or start an upgrade to Windows 10", but upon installing the said update, will prompt the installation of kb 3146449 which serves as a Win10 Ad Generator

Details of this can be seen at the Tech Blog article at Infoworld:
Reference source -- Windows patch KB 3139929: When a security update is not a security update | InfoWorld

As a good practice for Windows machines, regardless of OS version -- always choose to manually install any update from Microsoft; change the settings in the Windows Update settings to "Check for Updates but let me choose whether to download and install them" and check over the Web in reagrds to the actual description of the said security update

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UPDATE EDIT: For those that wish to see the listing of Microsoft Security updates for March 2016, it can be seen at the GHack tech blog:

Reference source -- Microsoft Security Bulletins For March 2016 - gHacks Tech News

Head's up -- Software updates

Adobe has released the following: AIR is now on v21.0.0.176, Flash Player for IE and Non-IE browsers are both on v21.0.0.182

The Document Foundation has released LibreOffice Productivity Suite v5.1.1

Dropbox has released Dropbox v3.14.8

Google has released Chrome v49.0.2623.87; there is a Portable variant available as well

All software are available at their respective publisher's downloading sections, and at most reputable downloading hubs

Head's up -- Software Updates

In view of talks that Microsoft may be ditching the concept of Patch Tuesdays, they have started to release a large batch of Optional Non-Security Updates; as an unwritten advice: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" ( or on a case: if there's nothing wrong with your gear, don't install it )

Right now, two Tech blogs are reviewing the said Updates -- each have a list detailing the said updates:

Reference source:
1) Big batch of patches just dropped @ AskWoody
2) Windows Updates vom 15.3.2016 | Borns IT- und Windows-Blog -- German site, requires online translator

Do make sure that your Windows machines are set to Manual, so you can have the chance to review the said updates without worries of it being installed into your system without your knowledge

Head's up -- Software updates

Malwarebytes has released MBAM ( Malwarebytes Anti-Malware ) v2.21.1043

Mozilla has released Firefox v45.0.1; the patch update is available by manually checking your browser's updater -- the offline installers will be officially available ( for EN-US and other regional translated variants ) shortly

Reference source -- Firefox — Notes (45.0.1) — Mozilla

Chronium, has now released Chronium v51.0.2683.0, an official fork based from the Google Chrome engine

8pecxStudios has now released Cyberfox v45.0.2, a fork based on the Firefox browser engine

All software updates are available at each publisher's respective downloading sections, as well as at reputable downloading hubs