Microsoft security alert

[petermcleland]

I just installed the update and it does not seem to interfere with anything...All seems stable and as it was

[ianhind]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/960714

The IT professionals link allows you to download the patch and apply as required.

[Quixoticish]

As to whether to get the update or not, I think everyone should get it because even if you change to Firefox, there are still websites (Windows Update being one) that require IE6 or 7 and you will need to use IE if you want to access those sites. I know Firefox has an addon or plugin to access those sites, but I have read that you are still exposed to all the flaws in Internet Explorer when you do use that Firefox feature.

Microsoft websites for windows updates are by and large the only websites still floating around that only work with IE and not Firefox. Updates can be easily gotten from a variety of other sources;

http://www.autopatcher.com/

http://www.heise.de/ct/projekte/offlineupdate/

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Autopatcher is probably the best, and you can rest assured the downloads are coming straight from Microsoft as well so no security issues. I use it as I choose to use Firefox and find Microsoft only allowing IE to access the Windows update sites rather unethical. I also disable automatic updates as that seems to be quite a bit security hole in itself and I'm surprised more people don't disable it. It has happened in the past that patches pushed out have broken something, I'd sooner not have that automatically install itself and do it myself a day or two later unless it's an absolutely critical security update.

[Nigel H-J]

Thanks for the link Ian, been looking all over the Microsoft site for the update but could not for the life of me find it!! :doho:

Was not even in the automatic updates.

Regards
Nigel.

[DaveB]

Nigel..

If you have autoupdates on.. it WILL be with you. I had one pc on all day yesterday and it didn't flag even though I restarted it. I turned on another pc yesterday and it was there waiting. Turned the other one back on again today (this one) and it was there waiting ;-) As has been mentioned.. if you keep your nose clean and don't go to dodgy sites, you already minimise the risk of getting hit so I wouldn't worry too much.. unless of course you DO go to dodgy sites

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Nigel H-J]

if you keep your nose clean and don't go to dodgy sites, you already minimise the risk of getting hit so I wouldn't worry too much.. unless of course you DO go to dodgy sites

No way Dave, just happy to browse my usual haunts.

Regards
Nigel.

[nigelb]

Just read a column by Susan Bradley in Windows Secrets and in the last paragraph she says:

"Give this fix the highest priority — even if you use Firefox — because core components of Windows itself may be vulnerable to this exploit even if you're not using IE as your default browser."

So everyone should get the patch issued 18/12/09 (or 12/18/09 on this side of the pond.)

http://windowssecrets.com/links/d9z73co ... n%3Dpatch0

Nigel²