Version 3.0 of Secunia’s Personal Software Inspector (PSI) for Windows has just been released, see here. I’ve just upgraded to it and run a scan, and reckon that the improvements are well and truly worthwhile.
Secunia PSI 3.0 is a free computer security solution for Windows PCs that identifies vulnerabilities in non-Microsoft (third-party) programs which can expose the PCs to attacks.
If you don’t already have it or use it, I’d strongly suggest that at the very least you should evaluate it. It’s a very valuable additional weapon in your armory against malware attacks.
It extends (rather than replaces) the protection offered by anti-virus and firewall software, which are still essential. I’ve been using Windows 7 built-in firewall plus Microsoft Security Essentials, and find them very competent. I also use Spybot Search & Destroy, and regularly run the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. I’m striving to not personally suffer from malware attacks, and to not pass on malware to family, friends and clients. I have a few spare CPU cycles left to do real work too, in case you wondered~
There’s a nice, fresh user interface in Versions 3.0. displaying icons for all the software products that it detects. Here’s part of the results from my first Secunia PSI scan:
At last I’ve gotten back to a 100% Secunia system score, because there was one program that has reached its “end of life” -- not being updated any longer. The previous version of PSI always complained about this, and reduced my score to just below 100% which annoyed me (because I was confident that the program’s developer was trustworthy).
Now in Version 3.0, as illustrated in the circled area, you can right-click on a product’s icon and tell PSI not to warn any more (include in system score) for such an end-of-life product. Hooray!
Other enhancements include automatic updating of software products that are scanned and determined to be “insecure” – which means out of date, not at the latest software level. I’d say this really should be termed “potentially insecure” or “possibly insecure” (but that’s not quite as easy to rattle off the lips).
Once again, you can get Secunia PSI version 3.0 and find out more here.
