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Chances are, if you stick around PaulTech long enough, you’ll eventually come across a headline about a security vulnerability or potential serious bug. If you’ve seen one of those headlines, you also probably saw the name Secunia. Well, Secunia is-in my opinion-a very solid vulnerability checking and reporting website; I’ve found information on everything from Trillian to Firefox to Microsoft Excel to PDF exploits. As I was poking around the Secunia site today, I noticed something called “PSI“, otherwise known as the “Personal Software Inspector“. What this PSI does is it analyzes the software on your computer and compares it to a database to determine if the software is Insecure, End-of-Life, or Up-to-Date. This allows the busy and novice computer users, alike, to focus their attention on programs that need support or security updates. The only other feature this software needs is the ability to give me 8 hours of sleep so I can finish my Internet business, but I’m not complaining!
Now, from all of my dealings with Secunia, I can say they are a pretty solid group; when I saw “analyzes your computer”, I immediately thought SpamBot, but their reputation is something I can bank on. Also, the numerous extra aspects of PSI makes it a valuable addition regardless of how updated all your software is. By utilizing the extensive Secunia database of advisories, it can quickly figure out what needs what and where that what needs it!
While it’s still in a BETA test, I would go check it out; though, Secunia will be marketing it as a free product when it “goes gold”. You also don’t need to worry about it forwarding and personal information; it merely looks at software, not the more sensitive parts of your computer. Even with the stigma of a Beta tag hanging over it’s head, the PSI field testing seems to have gone over excellently, meaning good things for you and your computer. You can find a link to the beta page here.
Specs list is as follows, but there’s more there than what is listed:
- Secunia PSI will be free of charge. NSI will not be.
- Calculates your unique Secunia System Score.
- Automatically scans your computer.
- Enables you to update Insecure/End-of-Life software.
- Provides Direct Download Links to security updates & patches.
- Detects and advises on more than 4,200 applications.
- Direct correlation between thousands of Secunia Advisories and your specific system and software.
- Secure SSL encrypted connection to Secunia.
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Picture courtesy of: Secunia;
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