23.10 Helper Apps and Plug ins

Sometimes you will get an email, or be using a web resource, and it will prompt you to download (or perhaps update) a program in order to view a file. The most common programs this will happen with are Adobe Acrobat Reader, Flash, Quicktime, Windows Media Player, and Shockwave. In an ideal world staff computers get these downloads (like our operating system and Office) automatically overnight. But if you’re using these at home, or haven’t gotten the upgrade automatically, panic not. Just follow the on-screen directions and the required programs will almost always download/update just fine. Watch out at the end of all these, they tend to want to install Yahoo or Google Toolbars. Just say no (unless you are at home, not the office, and know you really want these toolbars, which are, to some degree, spyware).