14 DAY TRIAL // Concomitantly with the release of the security bulletins as a part of its monthly patch cycle, Microsoft also made available an update affecting the core of 64-bit Vista. More specifically, the feature is designed to stop third party code from altering the operating system's kernel integrity. "An update is available for Kernel Patch Protection included with x64-based Windows operating systems. Kernel Patch Protection protects code and critical structures in the Windows kernel from modification by unknown code or data. This update adds additional checks to this protection for increased reliability, performance, and resiliency of Windows," Microsoft revealed.
The Kernel Patch Protection technology is nothing new to the 64-bit editions of Windows Vista. Microsoft's latest operating system is just the latest in a series of Windows platforms to feature PatchGuard, a security mitigation designed to protect the kernel of 64-bit Windows operating systems. In this context, both Windows XP x64 and Windows Server 2003 x64 feature Kernel Patch Protection. And in fact, the update Microsoft delivered for Patch Guard on August 14, covers not only Windows Vista but also XP and Windows Server 2003.
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition, Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista x64 Edition are all the platforms impacted by the PatchGuard update. The Kernel Patch Protection technology in x64 Vista was the source of a comprehensive amount of controversy because it completely isolates the operating system's core, locking security solutions out. Symantec and McAfee have been among the most outspoken critics of the security mitigation as their products rely on patching the kernel in order to offer protection. Microsoft instead made no discrimination between security developers and attackers, and PatchGuard safeguards the 64-bit Vista core from both malicious or genuine code.
Below are the links that will permit you to manually update your copy of 64-bit Windows:
- Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems - Update for Windows XP x64 Edition - Update for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition