SIA Alert - Microsoft Patch Release - 8/9/11

Microsoft for August patched 22 problems, the most important related to Internet Explorer with 7 fixes. Second ranked was a DNS patch to Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 which is a must apply, since most servers run DNS.

Please insure that your patches go through, especially those of you that have current servers, since they normally don't have auto updating set.

Gregg Keizer of Computerworld summarized the release as follows:

Microsoft today issued 13 security updates that patched 22 vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, Windows, Office and other software, including one that harked back two decades to something dubbed "Ping of Death."

Of Tuesday's 13 updates, called "bulletins" by Microsoft, two were labeled "critical" -- the most-serious rating in the company's four-step score -- nine were marked "important," the next-most-dangerous category, and two were pegged as "moderate."

Three of the 22 individual vulnerabilities patched today in the baker's dozen of bulletins were rated critical. The remainder were split -- 15 and four, respectively -- between important and moderate.

His complete article can be found at: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9219022


Quotes of the Month (on the subject of security):

"Distrust and caution are the parents of security." -- Benjamin Franklin

"Securing an environment of Windows platforms from abuse - external or internal - is akin to trying to install sprinklers in a fireworks factory where smoking on the job is permitted." -- Gene Spafford

Microsoft Update Link:

If you don't already have a link set or updates set to Auto, Microsoft Update site can be found at: http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us