Advice Request Do you allow auto updates of your installed software?

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ParaXY

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Mar 14, 2017
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I'm curious, how do forum members manage the updating of their installed applications in Windows:

Do you allow the software to auto update itself?

Do you manually update software?

Do you use the (Windows) Firewall to control what can and can't access the internet for updates?

Currently I have firewall rules to allow most applications to check for updates obline but I'm wondering if this is good/bad/etc or if I should rather do this manually?
 
F

ForgottenSeer 58943

I do not allow auto-updates unless it's from repositories. (Like Heimdal)

Otherwise, auto-updating is disabled, every so often I run through update, and restart everything. Most stuff doesn't need updating much, and I also run a lot of portable apps and don't even have update processes running. I think I am a year back on Bleachbit for example, works fine!
 

WinXPert

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Jan 9, 2013
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I never allow them (lesson learned), I update manually.

Cons:
  • Drivers: Windows 10 have a habit of updating my video driver which causes blue screen
  • Windows Update: I've experienced boot loops because of a faulty (as usual) Windows patch
  • Software: Sometimes I prefer older version of program specially if the update is buggy
For security software, I update them manually. I allow auto-updating of signatures
 

HarborFront

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Actually, if you can ensure your VPN has started running and then allow your OS/software to perform auto update then it'll be safer. This is especially true if you are a on-the-go user and surfing at public wifi hotspots to avoid MITM attacks. Or you can manually perform the update after your VPN has started running.

As for update causing system issue this is something you cannot avoid unless you are being made aware in the first place. So auto update or manual update is immaterial if you are ignorant of the issue that the update will cause to your system
 

AtlBo

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I also run a lot of portable apps

PortableApps is great for this. The application itself updates the portables. There is a wide variety of supported software including Revo and CCleaner and even Inkscape, LibreOffice, Eraser, TreeSizeFree and on and on. Great for a flash drive or backup drive...

I don't upgrade installed apps automatically. I usually wait to hear news of a version that contains significant improvements. Since I use many of the portable apps it hasn't been a problem for me. Just block all outbound app requests with Comodo and update the portables manually via the container. Most of the other apps I have are not age dependent, like Paragon backup and restore. It works with W7, so no problem. A good many of them were really good and there isn't even such a thing as an update for them. I like finding those type of apps such as SmartPower or VirtualClone or WinMerge (last updated 2013)...
 

WinXPert

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PortableApps is great for this. The application itself updates the portables. There is a wide variety of supported software including Revo and CCleaner and even Inkscape, LibreOffice, Eraser, TreeSizeFree and on and on. Great for a flash drive or backup drive...

I don't upgrade installed apps automatically. I usually wait to hear news of a version that contains significant improvements. Since I use many of the portable apps it hasn't been a problem for me. Just block all outbound app requests with Comodo and update the portables manually via the container. Most of the other apps I have are not age dependent, like Paragon backup and restore. It works with W7, so no problem. A good many of them were really good and there isn't even such a thing as an update for them. I like finding those type of apps such as SmartPower or VirtualClone or WinMerge (last updated 2013)...

Same here. My solution is to zip PortableAppsUpdater.exe (backup) then delete PortableAppsUpdater.exe.
 

jackuars

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Jul 2, 2014
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I use SUMo to check for updates for the installed software on my system, once a week. Their database is amazing and is the most extensive.

After checking for updates I individually go to the site to download the update. I don't do auto-updates. I want to know what's going on my system with the changelog.
 
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ParaXY

Level 6
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Mar 14, 2017
273
Thanks for all the great feedback. What I have done is to start using SUMo to centrally manage updating of my installed apps. I have disabled autoupdating where possible in my installed apps but I have also disabled almost half of my Windows Firewall rules to prevent the apps from doing an auto update. The only rule I have to monitor/update my installed apps is for SUMo.
 
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