Windows users should prepare themselves for some substantial updates next week as Microsoft plan on fixing 57 security vulnerabilities in one go.
Patch Tuesday is coming. That is – for those that do not know – the second Tuesday of every month where you always get those prompts to install important Windows updates. It’s the day Microsoft release all their security updates for all of their products, including Internet Explorer, Windows Server, MS Exchange and Windows itself.
And Patch Tuesday for February is going to be one of the biggest with 57 vulnerabilities covered through 12 updates, of which 5 are critical. And it does not matter which version of Windows you run, it covers them all, including Windows 8.
Of course it is always recommended to keep your software updated to help keep your computer secure, but installing these updates next Tuesday is vital.
This is because when Microsoft release patches to fix security holes, they unavoidably give malware scammers an inside look into what vulnerabilities Microsoft have found and fixed by analysing the patches themselves. With that information scammers can look to infect computers that have not yet applied the security patches.
This typically happens the day after Patch Tuesday, or as many in the security field have dubbed it, “exploit Wednesday”. And with this many vulnerabilities being fixed, exploit scammers are going to be busy.
So remember to get these updates installed straight away. If you have automatic updates enabled then the critical updates will install as soon as your computer is connected to the Internet. However it is also recommended to tell Windows to install all updates as soon as possible.
Remember, keeping your operating system and all of your programs up-to-date is an important process to making sure you keep your computer and information safe.
And there is another thing you can do to help keep your computer safe too, make sure you are running run up-to-date, reliable security software too!
Also see… Patch Tuesday – On CNET.
