It is tempting to take a quote from
that famous film - "The Dirty Dozen" but I won't...
Microsoft have released one of the biggest
security updates for more than a year - TWELVE in all to fix 12
known software flaws in Windows and Office software...
At least one of the loopholes being patched is
already being actively exploited by malicious hackers.
Microsoft issues its security patches on the
second Tuesday of every month and the June 2006 update will be the
biggest for more than a year!
This is because Microsoft is not only tackling security problems but
also the fallout of a legal case that the software maker lost - See
my article KB912945
- Before now, users could choose to apply this change to their
browser, but this June 2006 update makes it mandatory...
One of the security problems being tackled in Office was found in
Microsoft's Word software and the virus created to exploit it has
been dubbed
Backdoor.Ginwui. The virus and loophole were first discovered in
mid-May.
The virus travels in an e-mail bearing a Word document that purports
to summarise the results of a US-Asia summit - never open it!
Windows 98 and ME
Security Updates
Microsoft have now stated that it will not be able to patch Windows
98 and ME against a loophole discovered in April 2006.
Fixing this bug in the ageing software would require a major
re-write of the Windows Explorer program used in these old copies of
the operating system.
Microsoft is not going to undertake this level of work, given that
all Microsoft support for Windows 98 and ME ends on 11 July 2006.
What Are The Security Updates?
...below is a list of the 12 security updates
for the June 2006 patch "Tuesday"..
• MS06-011 - is a re-release, addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft
Windows XP and Windows 2003 only, and has a maximum severity rating
of important
• MS06-021 - addresses several newly discovered vulnerabilities in
Internet Explorer and has a maximum severity rating of critical
• MS06-022 - addresses a newly discovered vulnerability in Internet
Explorer and has a maximum severity rating of critical
• MS06-023 - addresses a newly discovered vulnerability in Microsoft
Windows and has a maximum severity rating of critical
• MS06-024 - addresses a newly discovered vulnerability in Windows
Media Player and has a maximum severity rating of critical
• MS06-025 - addresses two newly discovered vulnerabilities in
Microsoft Windows and has a maximum severity rating of critical
• MS06-026 - addresses a newly discovered vulnerability in Microsoft
Windows and has a maximum severity rating of critical
• MS06-027 - addresses a newly discovered vulnerability in Microsoft
Word and has a maximum severity rating of critical
• MS06-028 - addresses a newly discovered vulnerability in Microsoft
PowerPoint and has a maximum severity rating of critical
• MS06-030 - addresses two newly discovered vulnerabilities in
Microsoft Windows and has a maximum severity rating of important
• MS06-031 - addresses a newly discovered vulnerability in Microsoft
Windows 2000 SP4 only and has a maximum severity rating of moderate
• MS06-032 - addresses a newly discovered vulnerability in Microsoft
Windows and has a maximum severity rating of important
PLEASE NOTE that not ALL of these security updates are going
to be needed for every user...
What Do I Do Now?
1) If you have automatic updates turned
ON then do nothing. Windows XP will download the updates and
either install them automatically or prompt you to take action via a
small yellow shield icon in the status tray.
2) If you do not have automatic updates
turned on then you can visit the Microsoft Update website and
manually check your computer for any security updates it urgently
requires...
NB - This is the newer Microsoft update
website that checks for ALL Microsoft software on your computer. You
may need to install a small program before using it for the first
time for which you will be prompted to do so automatically by
Microsoft when you visit the website.
You can always visit the older updates websites
if you wish:
...it will appear on this page AFTER the 14th
June 2006
The
Windows Media Player DVD XPack
The DVD XPack instantly adds DVD playback to
Windows Media Player 9 & 10. It Installs the
same theatre-quality video and audio decoders
proven by over 45 million users of WinDVD -
the world's leading software DVD player.
Why Use It? BECAUSE:
It's FAST, cheap, no-fuss use and Microsoft approved!
Marc Liron -
Bio
Microsoft Digital Media MVP
Your Guide to using Windows XP
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The views on this website are
my own and
NOT that of Microsoft!
I am not responsible for the content of any sites linked to.
ALL Trademarks are freely acknowledged
ALL information is provided "As
Is"
