Route 2: Verifying Software Versions

On the classroom help page there is a troubleshooting pdf.  It says: 

Technical Requirements:  We require Firefox 40.0 (or newer), Adobe Flash 19 (or higher), and Java 8 (or higher).

Verifying the technical requirements is easy.  Just:

• Compare installed programs
• Open Control Panel >> Programs >> Uninstall Programs 
• Verify version numbers
• Check Firefox's plug-ins
• Navigate to about:plugins
• Verify version numbers

Here are my version numbers for comparison.

Firefox            43.0.2
Adobe Flash        20.0.0.235
Java               8.0.660.18
Cisco Anyconnect   3.1.12020

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Despite my version numbers seeming OK, I revert to a lack of trust for computers.  Just because the troubleshooting.pdf says 'or higher', doesn't mean that newer versions have been verified to work.  Lets un-install all our required software, search the Internet for those exact versions, and try them!

Firefox 40.0, released November 8, 2015

• Download old version
• https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/40.0/win32/en-US/Firefox%20Setup%2040.0.exe
• Run installer
• Use custom(advanced) install.
• Turn off Maintenance Service (automatic updates).

Adobe Flash 19, released November 10, 2015

• Download from
• http://labsdownload.adobe.com/pub/labs/flashruntimes/flashplayer/flashplayer19_install_win_pi.exe
• Run installer.
• Select  'Never check for updates.'
• Restart Browser

Java 8 build 66, released November 16, 2015

 Today's version is 8 build 66.  It was released on November 16, 2015.  That matches the above time frame:

• Download from
• http://javadl.sun.com/webapps/download/AutoDL?BundleId=113219
• Run installer
• Restart Browser

It's also possible we need an earlier build.  Older versions could be found at  

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/java-archive-javase8-2177648.html.  

If you use older versions, you'll need to create a free Oracle account.  I didn't find benefit after trying a few older versions, but you may have better luck.

Cisco AnyConnect 3.1

• Navigate to the schoolhouse site
• Login using your user credentials
• Run installer

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After all that work, I noticed that Firefox checks and disables outdated plug-ins. We need to disable the disabling.

• Navigate to about:config
• Accept the warning
• Search for extensions.blocklist.enabled
• Set to false
• Restart browser

At this point, I check my VM status and find out that they are still not working.  Downgrading all that software made me vulnerable to web attacks and I didn't get any improvements.  Time to revert back to the updated versions.

Poo.

-dh