Kerkia

Background

As time goes and as you install more and more software on your computer, you do need to update them, if not for new features at least for security reasons. Knowing what to update and when can be difficult however but there are solutions out there that can detect for you what software on your system does need an update.

Recommendations

Our first recommendation is for the FileHippo.com Update Checker. This tool scans your computer and tells you what software tools can be updated, including to beta versions if you are interested. The program database is simply the database of FileHippo.com which, while not all that comprehensive, is actually pretty large and will suit most users. FileHippo.com is a web site that provides tons of freeware, and is actually quite nice and includes a good quality database.

A very similar alternative is CNET’s TechTracker. CNET is a database of freeware and shareware tools, where Kerkia’s own tools are referenced by the way, and TechTracker can scan your computer to detect the list of software that can be updated. The software database is probably a bit larger than FileHippo’s but the support for beta versions is not proposed. It however provides nice links to the CNET web site, in case you’re interested.

Our second recommendation is for F-Secure Health Check. This is a web-based tool that you can launch from the site using a supported browser (not Chrome unfortunately but IE and Firefox are supported) and which will launch a Java app that will scan your system and display the results. This tool does not contain a large database of programs and instead focuses only on security-sensitive and major software tools and components such as the Java runtime, web browsers, etc.. We find that it complements FileHippo and TechTracker decently.

Web links

FileHippo.com Update Checker

Web site: http://www.filehippo.com/

Download: http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/

CNET TechTracker

Web site: http://download.cnet.com/CNET-TechTracker-app/3000-18513_4-10912909.html

Download: http://download.cnet.com/CNET-TechTracker-app/3000-18513_4-10912909.html

F-Secure Health Check

Web site: http://www.f-secure.com/en_EMEA/security/security-center/health-check/

Download: http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php