FileHippo Update Checker Keeps Your PC Software Updated

filehippo update checker How many of your program files on your PC are out of date?

What do you mean you don’t know?

Hmmm….maybe you didn’t know that older versions of software are potential security risks? A lot of the time software is updated exclusively to plug a hole or stop a certain exploit. So by running older outdated software releases you might be doing more damage than you know! Thus make sure to keep your software up to date.

Luckily your friendly neighborhood admin has found a little 153KB application that will use FileHippo’s wonderful software update checker to go out and find the latest and greatest version information for each installed app. It then compares it to what is on your system giving you a list with clickable links to download the updated software.

I browsed on over to here and clicked on the following link:

Update Checker v1.030
FHSetup.exe (153kb)
Download now

Note: If you wish to download the standalone version without an installer then click here.

I installed it and ran it. It took all of 3 minutes for it to install and run to completion. I didn’t check or change any options and this was what I got back:

filehippo free download

And that’s not all – it shows us BETA updates as well:

filehippo - keep software up to date

Wow who would have thought it? I am out of date on a bunch of applications! Shame on me! But as you can see those nifty green arrows on the right of each program will allow you to DIRECTLY download the installable exe file to update your software. Below is a shot of what popped up on my screen when I clicked the green down arrow next to VLC Media Player 0.9.8.a

filehippo 2

filehippo 3

That’s right – no hunting for software or the right version! FileHippo does it for you!

I have been using their website for a while now to find version information or track down an older version of something.

This is PC only and works on the following setups:

The Update Checker works on any Windows PC running Vista, XP, 2003, 2000, ME or 98.
It requires that the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 is installed, which you may download directly from here, or the installer will prompt and download it automatically.

Most importantly FileHippo has a privacy policy that states clearly that they will not send ANY of your personal info back to their servers. It seems like they make money from Adsense advertisements on their page.

Here is their privacy policy for those of you that are interested:

The Update Checker will not send any personal information back to FileHippo.com. The only information collected is a list of programs and their versions, along with the operating system details to help with processing. Additionally none of this is linked to your IP address and the logs are deleted after processing.

The settings are pretty limited but they give you the option to run this app on startup and specify other directories to look for installed applications (My Program Files is used by default)

How do you keep your Windows Program files updated? Share your methods with our readers in the comments!

Tagged: software updater • update

Karl L. Gechlik

Karl L. Gechlik here from AskTheAdmin.com doing a weekly guest blogging spot for our new found friends at MakeUseOf.com. I run my own consulting company, manage AskTheAdmin.com and work a full 9 to 5 job on Wall street as a System Administrator.

Jakob

Their RSS feed is enough.
http://jamulhills91935.blogspot.com/ Bob Clay

You can further automate matters: Use Ketarin (http://ketarin.canneverbe.com/) with filehippo and start it with a a daily windows scheduled job that downloads updates automatically into a dropbox (https://www.getdropbox.com/home) folder, and then sends an Email update message using blat (http://www.blat.net/194/).
Regine

Thank your for this useful info.
http://www.lostintechnology.com Kyle Judkins

Maybe now I’ll finally keep my software up to date.
Emil Sekula

There is discuss forum about Update Checker: http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/showthread.php?t=84.
Manolo

I download it but each time i check for updates it said ERROR DEFINITIONS.Cant use it.Any help.

emil.sekula

Go to this forum for help: http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/showthread.php?t=84.

Ronald

very useful tool. i only install updates required
emil.sekula

The problem is it doesn’t detect next programs:
1. NOD32 Antivirus
2. XnView
3. Feedreader
4. foobar2000
jon

Hmmm…. updated defraggler to an OLDER version than the one i had installed. looks like a piece of junk to me.

I’m sticking with Radarsync
Emil Sekula

Update Checker it is not perfect because it doesn’t recognize some programs correctly and it is limited to filehippo.com page. I have used Radarsync and just after 10 minutes uninstalled it. What a error !
http://photoshop-car-mods.blogspot.com photoshop-car-mods

Thanks, the update checker is very useful.
sourabh gupta

hey that so interesting n very easy to handle……Thanks provide me information
Emil

But still has errors.
http://www.filerex.com perse adrian

Alternative you can use Filerex Update Checker from FileREX
Emil

Filerex doesn’t work correctly. It detects 4 times the same program on my computer: http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/5308/filerex.png and the name of program is not complete.
http://www.shoutmeloud.com Harsh Agrawal

This is one of those program which I install at the time of my system installation.. very helpful to keep track of all latest updates…
Emil

Try Update Notifier: http://cleansofts.org/view/update-notifier.html For me is much better than Update Checker.
Joseph

The idea of having a simple program to check for ‘updates’ is of some value. I say it this way as some updates are solely for an individual having something unique to their computer or software that has NOTHING to do with YOUR computer… so you are performing updates, adding to your ‘REGISTRY’ item that are UNNECESSARY!
Additionally and most important of all – there are MANY programs I have that I would like to see an update – verifying the REASON for the ‘update’ of course BUT this program does not DETECT my programs. Many of them are common to thousands of folks. Sooo – the value is quite minimal!