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Microsoft Ices Windows XP SP1

Originally posted on October 12, 2006 @ 10:18 am

As of October 11, 2006, Microsoft will no longer support Windows XP SP1 and SP1a with security updates, although the day before it issued patches for multiple vulnerabilities affecting the operating system, 2 of which were judged “critical.”

Under Microsoft’s current lifecycle policy, it promises to support Service Packs with security updates for 12-24 months after the release of a succeeding Service Pack. Windows XP as a whole will age out of support only after two years have passed from the time Windows Vista is officially released.

Windows XP SP2, the free-of-charge update first issued in 2004, can be downloaded from the Microsoft Web site.

Microsoft Security Updates For October

Originally posted on October 10, 2006 @ 8:35 am

Microsoft is planning to release the following security updates today:

  • Six 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. Some of these updates will require a restart.
  • Four 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.
  • One Microsoft Security Bulletin affecting Microsoft .NET Framework. The highest Maximum Severity rating for this is Moderate. These updates will be detectable using the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and the Enterprise Scan Tool. These updates may require a restart.

As always, keep in mind that Microsoft doesn’t anticipate any changes to the above list but the number of bulletins, products affected, restart information and severities are subject to change until officially released today.

Mozilla Releases Firefox 1.5.0.7

Originally posted on September 14, 2006 @ 10:01 pm

Get FirefoxMozilla updated its Firefox browser earlier today to patch 7 vulnerabilities which included at least 4 marked “critical” by the Mountain View, California open-source developer.

The other 3 are minor improvements to product stability.

Firefox 1.5.0.7 is a security update that is part of Mozilla’s ongoing program to provide a safe Internet experience for their customers.

Mozilla recommends that all Firefox users upgrade to this latest version, so if you use Firefox, which you should be, go grab the latest update.

Visit the Official Firefox download page for more information.

Microsoft Security Updates For September

Originally posted on September 12, 2006 @ 10:03 am

Microsoft is planning to release the following security updates today:

  • Two Microsoft Security Bulletins affecting Microsoft Windows. The highest Maximum Severity rating for these is Important. These updates will be detectable using the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. Some of these updates will require a restart.
  • One Microsoft Security Bulletin 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.

They will also be releasing a few Non-security High Priority updates which cover the following:

  • Microsoft will release Two NON-SECURITY High-Priority Updates for Windows on Windows Update (WU) and Software Update Services (SUS).
  • Microsoft will release three NON-SECURITY High-Priority Updates on Microsoft Update (MU) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).

Keep in mind that Microsoft doesn’t anticipate any changes to the above list but as always, the number of bulletins, products affected, restart information and severities are subject to change until officially released today.

Seven More Microsoft Patches Are Coming

Originally posted on July 6, 2006 @ 4:47 pm

Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft will follow last month’s record patch day with another major roll-out next Tuesday, July 11, 2006.

Microsoft says on their Security Bulletin Advance Notification site Windows users should expect to see 7 security updates: 4 will cover Windows and 3 will affect Office, the company’s industry-leading application suite. At least 2 of the 7 will be tagged as “critical,” the highest warning rank used by Microsoft.

Microsoft doesn’t disclose the exact components, services or applications to be patched prior to update delivery but both Excel and Internet Explorer have been in the news of late with multiple security vulnerabilities reported in both the spreadsheet and browser.