Newsletter Archives

• MS-DEFCON 4: Mixed bag for March

  Posted on March 25, 2025 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.12.1 • 2025-03-25

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Although CISA has given businesses who follow its guidance until early April to install updates released in March, I’m urging you to do so now.

  Accordingly, I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4. You can find CISA’s deadlines in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.

  Note that my recommendations for businesses include some possible exceptions.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.12.1, 2025-03-25).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Chrome, Edge, Microsoft marketing, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, NVIDIA, OneDrive, Patch Lady Posts, RDP, Remote Desktop Connection, Windows 10 22H2, Windows Update

• Planning ahead for migration

  Posted on March 24, 2025 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  TAME YOUR TECH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  March 20, last Thursday, was the spring equinox. For me, that means I start planning ahead for gardening season.

  I’ll review seed catalogs and study how things worked out last year. Making a plan well ahead of turning that first bit of soil is essential for me, and I put it all on paper. From determining how much fertilizer and mulch I need to computing compost density and selecting the best seeds for this year, I want that plan.

  Okay, I know that as Will was editing this column, he was asking himself, “What the heck is she talking about? This is a tech newsletter!” I’ll explain.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.12.0, 2025-03-24).

  Tame Your Tech Apple, Business insurance, Cyber insurance, Linux, Migration, Mint, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, PC Upgrades, Windows 10, Windows 10 ESU, Windows 11

• Businesses in the crosshairs

  Posted on March 17, 2025 at 02:41 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  But first, a personal note.

  As you know by now, the founder of this site, Gregory Forrest “Woody” Leonhard, passed away unexpectedly on March 8, 2025.

  When Woody retired from freelance writing in 2020, he reached out to ask whether I wanted to take over the AskWoody.com site. He wanted to spend more time with his family and pursue other, personal interests. I didn’t hesitate for a second.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.11.0, 2025-03-17).

  Patch Watch Apple, CVE-2025-24984, CVE-2025-24991, CVE-2025-24993, CVE-2025-26633, Internet Printing Protocol, iOS, IPP, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Remote Code Execution, SQL Server 2019, USB Printers, Web Browsers, Windows 11 24H2

• Gregory Forrest “Woody” Leonhard (1951-2025)

  Posted on March 11, 2025 at 19:38 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  Photo by Andy Leonhard

  All of us here extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Woody’s entire family, and we look forward to carrying on his legacy.

  Commentary In Memoriam, Woody Leonhard

• March 2025 updates are out

  Posted on March 11, 2025 at 12:26 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  March is here and it’s the second Tuesday of the month. That means Windows updates.

  For Windows 10 22H2, it’s KB5053606 –  Note that the bug with System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker Service is still not fixed.”The Windows Event Viewer might display an error related to SgrmBroker.exe, on devices that have installed Windows updates released January 14, 2025 or later. This error can be found under Windows Logs > System as Event 7023, with text similar to ‘The System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker service terminated with the following error: %%3489660935’.  This error is only observable if the Windows Event Viewer is monitored closely. It is otherwise silent and does not appear as a dialog box or notification. ”

  Windows 11 24H2 – KB5053598 – in addition to security fixes it has bug fixes that were included in the late Feb preview release.

  If you used OpenSSH this issue is now fixed: [Open Secure Shell (OpenSSH) (known issue)] Fixed: The service fails to start, which stops SSH connections. There is no detailed logging, and you must run the sshd.exe process manually.

  For Windows 11 23H2 look for KB5053602

  Adobe Acrobat and Reader have security releases today.

  Remember at this time we are in test mode only.

  Dustin Childs has a write up on the vulnerabilities, I’ll be following up on any side effects or concerns in Monday’s newsletter.

   

  Windows Security Patch Lady Posts

• Planning for the unexpected

  Posted on March 10, 2025 at 02:41 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  We all have a tendency to take many things for granted.

  We take utilities, such as electricity and water, for granted. We assume fuel will be there on demand. We expect our computers and other devices to turn on every time. We assume that our software will run properly the next time we use it. Then comes the day when one or more of these things are impacted. Are you prepared? What can you do without?

  I’m going to discuss several items of technology that I rely on that suddenly failed last week. For some, I had ready backups. For others, I was reminded that I need to take better steps to have a Plan B.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.10.0, 2025-03-10).

  On Security Battery Backup, Disaster Planning, Electricity, Email, Internet, Microsoft 365, Newsletters, Outages, Password management, Patch Lady Posts

• Not you too Bro?

  Posted on March 7, 2025 at 03:00 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  Remember when I said be careful about printer firmware updates? For years, Brother was the go-to brand that many in the small biz tech industry would recommend as affordable and reliable. Those of us who remote into offices and (gasp) want to remote print, Brother printers would — and still do — easily connect and easily handle remote printing.

  There was a report on Tuesday by YouTube personality Louis Rossmann (see Brother turns heel & becomes anti-consumer printer company) who claimed that Brother was blocking the use of third-party printer cartridges after an update. Now, Brother denies it’s them.

  With another printer vendor, Lexmark, I have seen some generics not properly labeled to match the printer. When you fit them into the slot, the printer doesn’t recognize them as valid. But this wasn’t as a result of an update, rather it’s the imported printer cartridges that are not being marked appropriately. Bottom line, and once again, wait on those clickbait headlines.

  I find the “printer divide” interesting. If you are an older geek, you probably have a printer. The youth? Not so much. It’s understandable — you can almost get away with not having a printer. But I said “almost.” Sometimes, governments and financial institutions will want that piece of paper with a “wet” signature. You know, signed with one of those old-fashioned ink pens.

  Hardware

• MS-DEFCON 2: March Madness is upon us

  Posted on March 6, 2025 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.09.1 • 2025-03-03

  

  By Susan Bradley

  As usual, I recommend caution just before Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday and thus have raised the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Let others (aka me) take the slings and arrows. There’s simply no way that those interested in headlines just as clickbait can assess the implications of any Patch Tuesday in just a few hours. I do some testing on my assorted PCs, follow other experts closely, separate fact from fiction, and aggregate what I learn into a Patch Watch column you can trust.

  And so, relax and use your favorite method to forestall updates.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.09.1, 2025-03-06).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, AutoCAD, Daylight Saving Time, KB5052077, KB5052093, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, OneDrive, Patch Lady Posts, Windows Updates
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