14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft today rolled out this month's Patch Tuesday fixes, addressing a number of 29 different vulnerabilities found in Windows and Internet Explorer. As announced last week, two of these bulletins are rated as critical, while three are considered to be important. Only one has been flagged as moderate.
As far as Windows is concerned, which is most likely the most important patch for most users out there, the company says that Patch Tuesday comes to address a privately-reported vulnerability that could allow an attacker to run malicious code on your system, and thus compromise data, using an infected Windows Journal file.
“It’s worth noting that Windows Server versions do not have Windows Journal installed by default. That’s by design. You are always at less risk when you have fewer applications installed, so server systems ship with many optional components disabled,” Dustin Childs, group manager, Response Communications, Microsoft Trustworthy Computing, said today.
“If you haven’t reviewed the applications installed on your server recently, now is a good time to do so. Reducing the attack surface will have a positive impact on the overall security of the server.”
Internet Explorer has also been patched this month, with Microsoft saying that a total of 24 different vulnerabilities have been addressed with the released bulletins. No attacks have been recorded, the company adds, explaining that even though its browser was vulnerable to attacks, users remained secure the whole time.
Of course, the company didn't miss the occasion to invite users to upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer, explaining that build 11 comes with the most advanced technologies that can keep you on the safe side.
Microsoft obviously also recommends users to prioritize these two bulletins, explaining that it's essential for both consumers and IT administrators to patch their systems in order to remain secure.
As you could easily guess, Windows XP was left out of Patch Tuesday, so in case you're still running it, chances are that the operating system has just become a little bit more vulnerable to attacks. Some of the flaws patched today affect all Windows versions, including Windows XP, but the 13-year-old system is the only version that didn't get the fixes, so users whose computers are still powered by it can be easily hijacked.
As usual, all patches are being delivered via Windows Update, so it's enough to keep your computer connected to the Internet to get the fixes. IT administrators will also receive Windows patches as part of an ISO image later today.