Patch control

We all know that most software comes with bugs these days and we’re all expected to be paying guinea pigs while the patches are sorted out.

But apparently some apps are worse than others in regard to the havoc they can cause if left to run riot on your corporate network.

The interestingly named Bit9 security outfit recently released a list of the worst offenders.

First on their list was Firefox, but very old versions, so no need to panic too much about that one. Just hit update.

The rest of the list ran as, Skype 1.4, Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.02, Sun Java Run-Time Environment (JRE) 50, Update 3, JRE 1.4.2_.08, Macromedia Flash 7, WinZip 8.1 SR-1, AOL Instant Messenger 5.5, Microsoft Windows/MSN Messenger 5.0, Yahoo Instant Messenger 6.0, Sony/First4 Internet DRM rootkit and uninstaller, BitDefender 9, Kazaa 2.0.2, RealPlayer 10 and ICQ 2003a.

Is it just me or doesn’t that list describe some of the most downright annoying programs of all time regardless of versions or vulnerabilites?

Hands up if you’ve been dropped mid-call by Skype, rebooted rather than waited for Acrobat to load, rebuilt your PC after a Java-gone-wrong session, only ever clicked on the “skip” option in Flash, regard instant messaging as instantly annoying, you’re totally over Kazaa, will never take this fantastic opportunity to upgrade to the full version of Real Player and stopped using ICQ at least ten years ago.

That should just about cover everyone. No wonder this software is full of bugs. Their entire modus operandi is suspect in the first place.