IObit Software Updater
Description
Outdated software is one of the more reliable attack vectors for malware: applications with known unpatched vulnerabilities accept exploit code that newer versions have closed. Most Windows applications check for updates on their own schedules — some daily, some weekly, some only when the user manually triggers a check — and the aggregate result is a system in which a dozen applications sit behind their current versions at any given time, each potentially carrying a vulnerability that its developer already fixed. IObit Software Updater scans the installed applications against a database of current versions and detects the outdated programs and takes care of downloading and installing the available updates.
IObit created the tool as part of an overall Windows optimization and security product range. The free one covers scanning and updating most common applications. The Pro tier includes one-click updates without individual confirmation prompts, automatic background updates, update scheduling, and access to a larger database of applications.
FEATURES
Installed Software Scan
IObit Software Updater checks the Windows system for installed applications by reading the registry, common installation directories, and the Programs and Features list. The scan compares the versions of the detected applications to the database of IObit’s cloud of current release versions. The results list displays each detected application and the installed version, the available updated version as well as a status indicator — Up to Date, Update Available or Major Update Available in the case of applications for which the newer version is a significant revision rather than a patch.
One-Click Updates
Selecting applications from the obsolete list and clicking Update downloads and installs the newer application versions in sequence. Each update executes the application’s own installer / updater, silent in the background where supported by the application, or shows the standard installation wizard for applications that need user interaction. The progress indicator displays download percentage and installation status of each application. Pro users can force all the pending updates with a single action without having to select applications one by one.
Software Library and Installation
Beyond updating existing applications, IObit Software Updater contains a software library of commonly used applications — browsers, media players, utilities, communication tools — that users can install directly from the tool without having to visit each application’s website. The library is used as an alternative download source with version tracking built in from installation.
Automatic Update Scheduling
The Pro tier has automatic schedule for update scan and installation at specified time — daily, weekly or monthly. Scheduled updates occur when the PC is not in use, so the update does not interfere with the active use of the PC. The schedule is set up to run updates silently without any user intervention, keeping the applications updated without any manual intervention.
Update History and Logs
The history of the updates contains all the information about each scan and update operation, with a time stamp, the application updated, the version installed, and the result – successful, failed, or skipped. The log is helpful in tracking when a particular application was last updated and finding applications that are consistently not updating, possibly signaling installation permission problems or application conflicts.
Ignore List
Applications that should not update — older versions retained for compatibility purposes, applications licensed to a particular version, or tools where the update process is known to break a workflow — add to an ignore list. Ignored applications don’t show in the results of future updates, so that you don’t accidentally update software that the user intentionally wants to keep at a certain version.
Browser Extension Updates
IObit Software Updater Pro searches for updates for installed browser extensions in supported browsers in addition to updates for desktop applications. Extension updates cover the same security issue as application updates — extensions with known vulnerabilities are patched in newer versions that may not be automatically patched by the browser’s own update process.
Portable Software Support
The Pro version detects and updates portable applications — software that runs without installation, stored in user-chosen folders — in addition to traditionally installed programs, expanding the coverage of the portion of a user’s software library that is not detected by traditional software inventories.
