These tips have been adopted from Aaron Schmidt’s “Smart Computing at Your Library” presentation at the Internet Librarian 2005 conference in Monterey, California on October 24. You can view Aaron’s original presentation at his web site. These tips apply to public access computers (PAC) running any version of the Microsoft Windows operating system. The goal of these tips is to help you keep those PACs up-to-date with the latest critical software releases. In some cases these tips recommend alternative software packages that differ from the default applications found on most Windows PACs. The following substitutions are specifically recommended: · Use Mozilla Firefox as the default web browser in place of Internet Explorer. · Replace the default version of RealPlayer with the spyware-free “BBC version.” · Replace the Microsoft Virtual Machine (VM) with the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). Beyond the obvious implications for computer security, keeping software applications up-to-date can prevent annoying update messages appearing while patrons are using the PACs. In most cases, patrons will not have the correct operating system permissions to take action on prompted updates, so if library staff take the time to perform these update tasks periodically, it will help to ensure “smooth sailing” for your PAC users. Many of the resources in the last column of the table below lead to web pages from which you can download updated software versions. It’s a good idea to check what version of a particular product you are currently using before visiting the relevant download page – if you already have the latest version installed, there’s no need to download a new version. You can determine the version of any installed program by opening the program, and going to the Help / About (product name) menu option. In general, it is recommended that you have library staff perform these tasks outside regular business hours, when the PACs are not in use by patrons. Performing these tasks regularly on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis will keep help keep your PACs fully functional and (hopefully) trouble-free. Product Notes Resources Windows operating system. The most recent versions of the Windows operating system include a Windows Update feature that enables you to check for any updates or security patches to the operating system. Consider downloading and installing updates and patches automatically via the Automatic Updates feature. Mozilla Firefox. The Mozilla Firefox web browser is an attractive alternative to the more common Internet Explorer (IE). For information on the benefits of Firefox, see WebJunction’s 10 Reasons Why Your Library Should Be Using Firefox article. Although it is not possible to uninstall IE, it is possible to make Firefox the default web browser, following instructions from mozillaZine. Anti-virus software. New viruses and other types of malware are being created daily, so it’s essential to keep anti-virus definition files current on any computer connected to the Internet. The specifics of keeping anti-virus software up-to-date will vary depending on which specific product you are using; check the relevant vendor web site or product documentation for instructions. Spyware protection software. As with anti-virus software, there are any number of programs that can be used to detect and remove spyware (aka adware) from Windows computers. Popular products include Ad-Aware, Spybot, and the Windows Defender program from Microsoft. Java Runtime Environment (JRE). Newer versions of Windows products from Microsoft do not ship with the Microsoft VM, following a legal settlement between Microsoft and Sun Microsystems. Because of this settlement, Microsoft no longer provides any support for this product – not even security fixes. Therefore, it is a good idea to remove the Microsoft VM from computers where it is installed, and install Sun’s version of the JRE instead. Flash Player. The Flash Player from Macromedia can be used to view animations on web sites. Macromedia Flash Player Download Center Shockwave Player. Like the Flash Player, the Shockwave Player from Macromedia is used to display web animations, although Shockwave is often used with more complex applications, such as web-based computer games. Adobe Acrobat Reader. The ubiquitous Adobe Acrobat Reader is used to view portable document format (PDF) files. QuickTime. QuickTime is a multimedia application from Apple Computer often installed as a web browser plug-in. RealPlayer. The RealPlayer from RealNetworks is another popular web browser plug-in for multimedia applications, especially streaming audio and video. The default version of RealPlayer supplied by RealNetworks includes spyware links, so an alternate solution is to use the “BBC version” of RealPlayer. The BBC version excludes the spyware links native to the default version of the program. Windows Media Player. The Windows Media Player is Microsoft’s alternative to multimedia applications such as QuickTime and RealPlayer. Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA). If your computers have Microsoft Office products installed, such as Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, the MBSA is an excellent free tool that will scan a computer and notify you of missing updates and patches for these products, as well as for the Internet Explorer web browser and the Windows operating system itself. The MSBA will also report on security vulnerabilities that it detects, including problems with user accounts, software configuration, etc.
You should also note that any public access or shared computer security system, such as Centurion Guard, Deep Freeze, Fortres 101, or the Microsoft SteadyState, will probably need to be disabled or bypassed to perform these updates. How this will need to be done will depend on the particular security system. It could mean logging in as an administrator, unlocking via a password, or even using a physical key.
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| Keeping Software Up-to-date on Public Access Computers |
Following a presentation by Aaron Schmidt at the Internet Librarian 2005 conference, this article presents tips for keeping critical software components on public access computers (PACs) up-to-date. The tips are specifically designed for PACs running versions of the Windows operating system.
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