Originally posted on January 9, 2007 @ 10:50 am

Well it’s upon us, Microsoft’s patch Tuesday.

Most users have their Windows machines set to automatically download updates as they become available.

For me, I like to do it manually so I can pick and choose what I want installed on my machines.

Be sure to grab the latest patches and updates from Microsoft to keep your Windows install running smooth and secure…well as secure as Microsoft will allow anyway.

So what can you expect from Microsoft’s Security updates this morning?

One Microsoft Security Bulletin affecting Microsoft Windows.

• The highest Maximum Severity rating for these is Critical. These updates will be detectable using the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and the Enterprise Scan Tool. Some of these updates will require a restart.

Three Microsoft Security Bulletins affecting Microsoft Office.

• The highest Maximum Severity rating for these is Critical. These updates will be detectable using the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. These updates may require a restart.

The basics of these very important updates: They fix two “critical” security flaws, one in Windows and another in the Outlook e-mail client and Exchange mail server.

Both vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to gain complete control over vulnerable PCs or servers running the Microsoft software.

Usually you can grab the updates from Microsoft around 10:00 AM PST but your mileage may very. I was able to get them a couple hours ago.

I hope Microsoft makes some good progress for a more secure Windows Operating System in 2007.

We shall see, it’s only nine days into the new year.

Originally posted on December 11, 2006 @ 2:39 pm

Tomorrow is Microsoft’s patch Tuesday so get ready for some needed fixes.

According to Microsoft, users should expect to see the following security updates released tomorrow:

• Five Microsoft Security Bulletins affecting Microsoft Windows. The highest Maximum Severity rating for these is Critical. These updates will be detectable using the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and the Enterprise Scan Tool. Some of these updates will require a restart.

• One Microsoft Security Bulletins affecting Microsoft Visual Studio. The highest Maximum Severity rating for these is Critical. These updates will be detectable using the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and the Enterprise Scan Tool. These updates may require a restart.

Microsoft also says that the following Non-security High Priority updates on MU, WU, WSUS and SUS will be released as well:

• Four NON-SECURITY High-Priority Updates for Windows on Windows Update (WU) and Software Update Services (SUS).

• 10 NON-SECURITY High-Priority Updates on Microsoft Update (MU) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).

As always, Microsoft will shoot for a 10 am PDT roll-out of the fixes. Your mileage may very.

Hopefully this will be the last round of patches for 2006 from Microsoft. We shall see.