Most computer users are probably aware that Microsoft periodically releases security patches and software updates.
These patches/updates need to be installed on your PC to correct problems with Microsoft’s various products (usually of a security nature), or to add new functionality.
Less well known is the fact that Microsoft has established a schedule for release of patches/updates.
“Patch Tuesday”, as it has become known, is the second Tuesday of each month, and for the most part Microsoft sticks to a schedule of one-set-of-patches-per-month on that day. However, in cases of pressing urgency, a security patch may be released out-of-cycle, but this is something that occurs usually not more than a few times per year.
Patch Tuesday for this month was December 9, 2008, and it saw the release of eight security patches which between them are designed to fix a total of 28 vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer.
MOST OF THOSE PATCHES WERE CLASSIFIED AS “CRITICAL”!
If you do not have “automatic updates” enabled in Windows XP or Vista you should drop everything, go immediately to the Microsoft Update Web site, and proceed with the Patch process:
Hackers Nightmare members will find a detailed coverage of patching and updating in “Section 4 Other Threats and Tactics” under the following chapters:
Chapter 18: Patches & Updates 1: Overview
Chapter 19: Patches & Updates 2: Microsoft Products
Chapter 20: Patches & Updates 3: Other Products
From this point on I’ll post a Patch Tuesday reminder each month here on this Blog. Subscribe to this Blog (see top right of this page) to ensure you don’t miss that and other important notifications.
Finally, for your Mac using friends, some rare but refreshing honesty from Apple.
