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Topic: Security

Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

Summary: Microsoft plans to ship 7 bulletins, one rated "critical," Microsoft's highest severity rating.

Ryan Naraine

By for Zero Day |

Microsoft's first batch of patches for 2012 will include fixes for security vulnerabilities in the Windows operating system and Microsoft Developer Tools and Software.

In all, Microsoft plans to ship 7 bulletins, one rated "critical," Microsoft's highest severity rating. A critical bulletin typically deals with security holes that allow remote code execution attacks with minimal user action.follow Ryan Naraine on twitter

The Windows vulnerabilities will apply to all versions of Microsoft's flagship OS, including the newest Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Microsoft also announced that one of the bulletins will fix an issue described as a "Security Feature Bypass."  It is the first time Microsoft has used this label on a security update.

The patches will be released next Tuesday (Jan 10, 2012) at approximately 1:00 PM EST.

Topic: Security

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33 comments
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  • Very proactive start to the new year. Well done MS.

    Thanks for looking out for your end users and providing a level of service for other tech companies to aspire to.
    Johnny Vegas
    Reply Vote

    • Let's see

      The .NET patches released out of cycle last week that were what? 8 years too late?

      lol... :D
      ScorpioBlue
      Reply Vote

    • dsfsdf

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      jywhy888
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

    Do 'we' know exactly what a 'Security Feature Bypass, is?
    whatagenda
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

      @whatagenda fix non original activation software wen the app shows "0" wen the os is used
      vinilmaniacs
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

    Good for them!
    eargasm
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

    SO glad I use Linux on all my machines.....
    Steve I.
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

      @Steve I.
      Do you think Linux does not need security fixes?
      Apple thought the same way.
      Ignorant.
      Check this website. http://www.reallylinux.com/docs/security.shtml
      cmshepard
      Reply Vote

      • Well here's the dirty list

        https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Linuxvirus

        @cmshepard

        Most of these are years old and are longer a threat. You can count them on a couple of hands.

        Now if there's something you know about that the good folks over at Canonical don't know, then please drop them a line. I'm sure they'll be glad to hear from ya.

        ;)
        ScorpioBlue
        Reply Vote

      • Linux security fixes

        @cmshepard Linux ships out security fixes as they become available, not once a month. At least the majors do.

        Paul
        pfyearwood
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

      @Steve I. <br>I'd love to have just a once a month update cycle as a Linux User! The constant updates are <b><u>extremely annoying</b></u> and a detraction from getting my work done.<br><br>My group of patches yesterday was 51 <b>in band</b>changes including a Kernel of which, I have to manually choose at next boot and then have to edit GRUB to tell it to use it all the time. - And when the boot list of unused Kernel gets to annoying, I have to edit GRUB again and tell it not to display the Kernels I no longer need which!, is all of them! And one can boot from any of them so they occupy disk space and they're active! What's up wit that?!<br><br>I do like the thought of having the most current last Kernel as a safe boot option but hey Linux, <b><u>GET RID OF THE UNUSED CRAP!!!!!</b></u><br><br><b>I MUCH PREFER PATCH TUESDAY</b> to the excessively annoying Linux Patch EVERYDAY System!
      The Rifleman
      Reply Vote

      • Curious

        @The Rifleman I had annoying issues with grub also, until I modified the header file to make the changes semi-permanent<br><br> [i]gksudo gedit /etc/grub.d/00_header<br>sudo update-grub[/i]<br><br>hth
        m0o0o0o0o
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

        @The Rifleman
        Maybe you should switch distros. I get updates, plenty of them, but mine all install pretty much silently, in the background, while I continue my work.
        tmsbrdrs
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

        @The Rifleman
        Maybe you should switch distros. I get updates, plenty of them, but mine all install pretty much silently, in the background, while I continue my work.
        tmsbrdrs
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

      @Steve I. Standard reply to any criticism of Linux. Oh, those were old. So what?

      OK, try this one.
      https://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/kernelorg-site-compromised-083111
      There are many if you want to look for them. It does not matter if the break-in got anything useful, they managed to break in, and it took a long time to be discovered.
      Microsoft does updates every week. That seems to me be a reasonable schedule. Unlike constantly, or monthly, or every six months.

      Linux is just another operating system. A clone of Unix created by Torvalds so he did not have to pay for real Unix while he was studying Computer Science. Unix that runs on X86. I admit that was a tremendous accomplishment, but it is not immune from attack. Neither is Unix.

      If you really want to help Linux take over the world, you might consider changing your attitude. It appears that Ubuntu developers are the only ones that understand what they must do to accomplish that goal, but most Linux afficianados are opposing the Unity GUI. Why? Because you hate Windows and Microsoft? Not smart, in my opinion. You are not being helpful.
      cmshepard
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

      @Steve I.
      I would suggest you go read up on the fixes awaiting installation in your 'nix; there are a lot of them available. Why something with less than 1% market share is a target for these bottom feeders I don't know, but their IQ must about equate to yours.
      tom@...
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

      @Steve I.

      So... What, you have update notifications turned off in your Linux? I ask because at least once a week there are updates notifications for my Linux systems.

      Just saying, don't be blowing your own horn, you might break your back bending over forward that far.
      PollyProteus
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

    It would be nice if they fixed their hotmail service. In trying to file a problem report, I eventually wound up in a forum where 1000s of people have the same problem I have and many of those are months old.
    WATKINS12@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Patch Tuesday heads-up: Windows security holes

    It would be nice if they fixed their hotmail service. In trying to file a problem report, I eventually wound up in a forum where 1000s of people have the same problem I have and many of those are months old.
    WATKINS12@...
    Reply Vote

  • MS patch Tuesday

    Sort of gives you confidence that all is normal, dunnit?
    geum
    Reply Vote
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