Notification of web page changes

[Shrek]

Is there software out there that notifies of web page changes?

For example, it would be useful to know if some new firmware had been added to a page.

 

[Bill_Bright]

There used to be programs that did that but if you think about for a sec, do you really want that? This program would have to know about 1000s and 1000s or millions and millions of sites and programs and hardware. Do you really want a program on your system running and periodically checking all those sites? I sure don't.

Better to have your favorite programs check when you tell them too, or when starting. Then ONLY the programs and hardware you have installed is checking and only when you allow them.

 

[Shrek]

I meant I tell it which page (or pages) interest me, and have it notify me if any of those pages had changed.

 

[Bill_Bright]

And why do you need a 3rd party solution doing that when essentially every program on your computer is already capable of doing just that, without consuming extra overhead?

 

[Shrek]

For example, my computer is running an alpha BIOS and so I anticipate a new version soon.

Sure, I could keep checking each morning, but it would be nice if I didn't need to.

 

[Visible Noise]

Yes. It’s called email. Vendors will push a message to you when you ask them to notify you of updates.

Look for things that say “sign up here to receive updates” or something similar.

 

[Solaris17]

For example, my computer is running an alpha BIOS and so I anticipate a new version soon.

Sure, I could keep checking each morning, but it would be nice if I didn't need to.

Maybe rss?

I used to live on rss feeds

 

[Visible Noise]

Maybe rss?

I used to live on rss feeds

Long dead. I don’t know anyone who has them anymore. Does TPU?

 

[Solaris17]

Long dead. I don’t know anyone who has them anymore. Does TPU?

Yeah we do and I see them from time to time but you’re right it’s not something to assume anymore.

 

[Space Lynx]

Is there software out there that notifies of web page changes?

For example, it would be useful to know if some new firmware had been added to a page.

techpowerup has an email feature that I use, so I will get an email everytime @W1zzard updates a page. this is an excellent feature.

go to the downloads page, there are many downloads you can select, i do it for chipset, gpu, and visual C++ but W1zz has several to choose from, little yellow thingy in bottom right hand corner as you can see from the below screenshot

I know this probably doesn't answer your question for other websites, but maybe if you have a look around in the downloads section it will still solve some of your problems

 

[Visible Noise]

Yeah we do and I see them from time to time but you’re right it’s not something to assume anymore.

View attachment 408741

Cool, thanks.

 

[W1zzard]

Is there software out there that notifies of web page changes?

There are some web services that provide such a feature, not sure if anything decent is free, also not sure how much manual work you need to put in, so that it understands the site structure and what information you are looking for in the change monitor.

 

[Mindweaver]

You could automate this process using Python. You could write a script that regularly webscrapes the page – ideally daily – and then sends you an email notification whenever a new bio is added. However, it’s really important to be mindful of the website's traffic and avoid sending too many requests, which could potentially get your IP address blocked or, worse, cause issues for the site itself.

EDIT: If you want something a little more simple then just use Google alerts. https://www.google.com/alerts or Distill.io - https://distill.io/ is a browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Opera) that has a free tier that would probably do this as well.

 

[Bill_Bright]

For example, my computer is running an alpha BIOS and so I anticipate a new version soon.

Sure, I could keep checking each morning, but it would be nice if I didn't need to.

Alpha? As in pre-beta testing? If so, I have never seen alpha code released to the public and would find that odd. Alpha code is typically WAY TOO premature to leave in-house testing.

That said, why are you so desperate to update the BIOS firmware that you feel you need to check daily? Are you referring to the Gigabyte B460M DS3H AC-Y1 in your system specs? I can find the B460M DS3H AC but not a B460M DS3H AC-Y1. I note the warning at the bottom of the B460M DS3H AC page that says,

Warning:
Because BIOS flashing is potentially risky, if you do not encounter problems using the current version of BIOS, it is recommended that you not flash the BIOS. To flash the BIOS, do it with caution. Inadequate BIOS flashing may result in system malfunction.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" That is a philosophy I was taught in tech school and practiced for over 5 decades and counting.

So, are you encountering problems with your currently installed firmware?

Also, if you are referring to the "a" in Gigabyte's BIOS version "F8a" (the latest for that board), that does not mean "alpha", as in premature "alpha code". That is just how Gigabyte refers to the first revision of the F8 firmware. It simply indicates they made a minor change that did not warrant a full version number change to F9. They could have just fixed a typo!

***

Yesterday when I posted above, I could not remember the name of the software I used to use that did what you want (sorta). This morning, its name, "Secunia PSI" popped into my head. Some other old farts around here may remember it as it was pretty popular for awhile, back in the day.

Secunia PSI 3.0 is a free computer security solution that identifies vulnerabilities in non-Microsoft (third-party) programs which can expose PCs to attacks. Simply put, it is scanning software which identifies programs in need of security updates to safeguard the data on your PC against cybercriminals. It then supplies your computer with the necessary software security updates to keep it safe.

HOWEVER, "As of April 20, 2018 Secunia will no longer support PSI."

I will note that I stopped using it well before 2018 but I don't remember why. It might have been useful back in XP days when layer upon layer upon layer of security was thought to make us safer. W7 changed all that so maybe I just didn't install it with W7? I don't remember.

Wait until tomorrow morning, then maybe the reason for that will pop back into my head too!

Anyway, at the bottom of that Secunia PSI page there are links to two alternatives, "Patch My PC" and "SUMo". I note Patch My PC's description says nothing about drivers. SUMo does but says you must also install a sister program, DUMo.

None, however, mention anything about BIOS firmware updates so that would require further information and perhaps testing.

But again, at least for me, I don't need (or want!) yet another program running full time and regularly scanning my systems, then phoning home with information about my systems. No thanks.

 

[Shrek]

Way GIGABYTE does things F8a comes before F8.

I was motivated by

Four UEFI Flaws in GIGABYTE Motherboards Expose 240+ Models to Persistent Bootkits

Firmware security firm Binarly disclosed that four serious vulnerabilities in GIGABYTE's UEFI firmware put more than 240 different motherboard models at risk of undetectable, reinstall-proof bootkits. Each of the flaws, tracked as CVE‑2025‑7029 through CVE‑2025‑7026, carries a high severity...

www.techpowerup.com

• This BIOS update addresses critical security vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-7026, CVE-2025-7027, CVE-2025-7029) identified by BRLY.
• GIGABYTE strongly recommends all users update their system BIOS immediately to protect against potential security risks.

The latest

• B460M DS3H AC-Y1

BIOS is F4 and equivalent to

• B460M DS3H AC

BIOS F6 and I recently took a risk and found a way to force the motherboard to B460M DS3H AC so I could get the F8a fix.


In this case I'd say "If it ain't broke, open it up and fix it"

I would NOT recommend doing this, but this is the reason I am watching the update page.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Okay, but hold on! First, where do you see B460 motherboards listed? I don't see it on that Tom's link, or on Gigabyte's page.

According to Tom's ,

GIGABYTE claims only the following Intel-based motherboards are affected: H110, Z170, H170, B150, Q170, Z270, H270, B250, Q270, Z370, B365, Z390, H310, B360, Q370, C246, Z490, H470, H410, W480, Z590, B560, H510, and Q570.

You see B460 in there? I don't.

Second, I see no reason to panic. As that article reports,

An attacker with administrator privileges, whether local or remote, could exploit these issues

How is an attacker going to access your system? Is your WiFi passphrase your house number? Have you granted remote access to anyone? Is your router password "admin"? Do you not run anti-malware security on your computer?

Do actual family member or visitors to your home (people who can sit down in front of your computer) know your Windows password? Do they have administrator privileges?

I appreciate your concern and I see by that link that my board is one of the affected ones too. But my board has reached EOL so I am out of luck for getting an update. But that does not concern me because a bad guy would have to get through all my other security defenses before they could even reach my computer. Or the bad guy would have to break into my home and steal my computer - and if that happens, I think I would have bigger issues to worry about.

Way GIGABYTE does things F8a comes before F8.

Not in my experience and I've been using Gigabyte boards almost exclusively for 20 years or more. But even so, that "a" does not suggest premature "alpha" code.

 

[Shrek]

https://www.gigabyte.com/Support/Security/2302

"Affected platforms include (but are not limited to)"

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/B460M-DS3H-rev-10/support#support-dl-bios

"This BIOS update addresses critical security vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-7026, CVE-2025-7027, CVE-2025-7029) identified by BRLY."
"GIGABYTE strongly recommends all users update their system BIOS immediately to protect against potential security risks."

Driver downloads: iBUYPOWER®

Build your dream gaming PC with iBUYPOWER. High performance computers at a low price. Click to customize by processor,graphics card, and more!

www.ibuypower.com

has

• B460MDS3HACY1_F4a

which has a build date earlier than F4, however they have the F4 version hidden

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

How is an attacker going to access your system?

I have been known to download files, but if you think I should not be concerned by
"GIGABYTE strongly recommends all users update their system BIOS immediately to protect against potential security risks."

you are entitled to your opinion

 

[Bill_Bright]

I understand. So do you have a B460M DS3H AC board or a B460M DS3H AC-Y1 board?

Either way, if you are now saying that B460M DS3H AC firmware update addresses your Y1 board too, then you should be good to go for this security issue - assuming you already installed it and it booted fine.

So then back to your update software question, and back to my response above. All I can suggest is those two Secunia PSI alternatives, "Patch My PC" and "SUMo". And since BIOS firmware updates don't typically come very often (the previous for that board was Jan 2024), not sure how important looking for them would be. But again, that's me.

Good luck.

 

[Shrek]

It was a

• B460M DS3H AC-Y1 board

and is now a

• B460M DS3H AC board

I forced it across; the board itself is labelled as B460M DS3H AC (no Y1)

The B460M DS3H AC-Y1 BIOS does not have as many updates as the B460M DS3H AC BIOS


I use Patch My PC and used to use SUMo (which I believe is now obsolete); neither covers BIOS.