Newsletter Archives

• Preparing for 24H2

  Posted on October 7, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Don’t roll out Windows 11 24H2 yet. Defer. Delay. Wait.

  Most importantly, I always say wait, even if it’s just about monthly patches. But this is about what even Microsoft says is a major release, a complete OS overwrite. That makes 24H2 even more dangerous. Let other, more venturesome, souls take the slings and arrows, and use the lessons learned.

  Those lessons may be coming fast. Within the AskWoody community, forum posts associated with last week’s MS-DEFCON 2 Alert demonstrated that some brave testers ran into problems. Other sources have reported glitches, including BSODs. I’m still collecting data and beginning my own testing.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.41.0, 2024-10-07).

  Patch Watch CUPS, CVE-2024-47076, CVE-2024-47175, CVE-2024-47176, CVE-2024-47177, iOS 18, Linux Printing, Microsoft Surface, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Port 631, Recall, Snapdragon X Elite, Windows 11 24H2, Windows Hello

• Windows 11 22H2 — one month left

  Posted on September 16, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  On October 8, 2024, Microsoft will release the last round of security updates for Windows 11 version 22H2.

  So right now, go to Settings | System | About to check your version of Windows 11. If your version is 22H2 and your edition is Home or Pro, security updates will cease less than a month from now.

  Here’s what Microsoft had to say about this via the Windows Admin portal.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.38.0, 2024-09-16).

  Patch Watch CVE-2024-38014, CVE-2024-38217, CVE-2024-38226, CVE-2024-43461, CVE-2024-43491, KB5041578, KB5041582, KB5043050, KB5043076, KB5043083, Newsletters, Office 2024, Patch Lady Posts, RDP, Remote Desktop Connection, Server 2016, Widgets, Windows 11 22H2, Windows Widgets

• Threats to businesses

  Posted on August 19, 2024 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.34 • 2024-08-19

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  This month’s updates include fewer vulnerabilities than normal. What is not normal is that some of the bugs have already been exploited.

  I’m not changing my stance about it being wise to wait to see whether there are side effects, but I will review that decision should the need arise. For now, review the special alert.

  There are six bugs under active attack.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.34.0, 2024-08-19).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Patch Watch Adobe Acrobat, CVE-2024-38063, CVE-2024-38143, CVE-2024-38173, CVE-2024-38213, KB5020276, KB5040430, KB5040437, Line Printer, Mark of the Web, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Remote Code Execution, Remote Desktop, Secure Boot

• No break from vulnerabilities

  Posted on July 15, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Microsoft is releasing updates for a large number of vulnerabilities this month.

  Meanwhile, Apple is busy working on iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, tvOS 18, HomePod software 18, and watchOS 11. Currently, the updates are released for developers and will soon be coming to the public for beta testing. The Mac OS preview for Sequoia will bring artificial intelligence to Mac models with Apple silicon.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.29.0, 2024-07-15).

  Patch Watch BitLocker, CVE-2024-38072, CVE-2024-38073, CVE-2024-38078, CVE-2024-38080, CVE-2024-38099, CVE-2024-38112, KB5035434, KB5039302, KB5040427, KB5040936, KB5040939, KB5040940, KB5040942, KB5040944, KB5040946, KB5040986, Newsletters, Outlook, Outlook (classic), Outlook (new), Patch Lady Posts

• Don’t patch while traveling

  Posted on June 17, 2024 at 02:41 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Recently, a Plus member asked whether they should patch before leaving for vacation or could patch while on vacation.

  Then a coworker let me know about their own imminent multiweek vacation and wanted to know the same thing.

  Both requests reminded me of my stance on updating machines right before, during, or just after travel. Don’t.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.25.0, 2024-06-17).

  Patch Watch AuthLite, Azure, CVE-2024-30078, CVE-2024-30103, KB5002600, KB5039211, KB5039212, KB5039214, KB5039217, KB5039227, Master Patch List, Newsletters, NTLM, Patch Lady Posts, Travel

• Should you trust that tech info?

  Posted on June 10, 2024 at 02:43 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Microsoft’s lack of guidance introduces risk.

  Getting help with technology has always been a bit difficult. Lately, it’s becoming a bit dangerous.

  Once upon a time, vendor support was more obvious and easier to find, and it provided more documentation. I’d argue that Apple still has the best consumer support for its products. But when it comes to business support, neither Microsoft nor Apple provides its customers with appropriate, high-quality, and affordable support.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.24.0, 2024-06-10).

  Patch Watch KB5034441, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, SMB Signing, Support, updates, V

• The good and bad of 24H2

  Posted on June 3, 2024 at 02:41 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  We’re getting closer to the next round of Microsoft’s feature releases, this time in the form of Windows 11 24H2.

  Microsoft took advantage of its recent developer conference, BUILD, to talk about what 24H2 will include. But unless you have access to Entra ID, many of the features are ho-hum at best. And if you are a consumer, you’ll skip most of the enhancements.

  Unless you like living on the edge, prepare your system now to hold back 24H2.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.23.0, 2024-06-03).

  Patch Watch ARM, Newsletters, NTLM, Patch Lady Posts, Qualcomm, Recall, Snapdragon X Elite, Surface, Windows 11, Windows 11 24H2

• Patch Apple, defer Windows

  Posted on May 20, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Apple often seems to get its foot in the door first, and last week’s patch release was no different.

  One day before Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday, Apple released its security and feature updates. (Just as I advise for Microsoft, ensure your backups are up to date on any platform that receives updates.)

  For Apple, go into Settings and search for Backup. Given the capacities of phones these days, I recommend backing up to Apple’s cloud and purchasing an iCloud+ subscription to obtain enough capacity. You’ll thank me for it later.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.21.0, 2024-05-20).

  Patch Watch CVE-2023-24932, CVE-2024-30040, KB5025885, KB5034441, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Windows Lock Screen, WUShowHide

• The Windows 11 disconnect

  Posted on May 6, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Despite my being a CPA, earnings calls are not usually a part of my technology coverage for Patch Watch.

  I’m making an exception. I read the transcript of the Microsoft Fiscal Year 2024 Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call and found myself concerned with CEO Satya Nadella’s remarks. In the call, Nadella addressed recent problems Microsoft had encountered with security — from the company itself being hacked due to its own lack of attention to OAuth, to attackers breaking through using various other means.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.19.0, 2024-05-06).

  Patch Watch KB5036979, KB5036980, Microsoft, Microsoft earnings, Newsletters, OAuth, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 11 24H2

• Time for 23H2

  Posted on April 29, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  The Professional and Home editions of Windows 11 22H2 reach end of life on October 14, 2024.

  Between now and then, those of you on Windows 11 22H2 should begin the process of moving to 23H2. For users with Windows 11 Education and Enterprise editions, their demise arrives a year later, on October 14, 2025.

  If you run Windows 10 22H2, you don’t have to worry about upgrading — Windows 10 will no longer receive feature releases, even though Microsoft is still dribbling out changes to that platform.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.18.0, 2024-04-29).

  Patch Watch Enablement Package, Graphics Cards, Hardware drivers, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, tiny11builder, Windows 11 23H2

• A deluge of vulnerabilities for April

  Posted on April 15, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  It’s raining CVEs.

  There are definitely going to be two groups of patchers this month. One will say, “Issues? What issues? My computer updated without issues.”

  The other group will complain about needing a BitLocker recovery key, or that their updates took a long time, or that they were offered a confusing SQL update for a database they didn’t realize they had on their home PC. I’m certainly part of this group — my Windows 10 PC at home took a long time to come back up.

  Let me remind you of some of my standard recommendations, even if you decide to sit on the sidelines and just watch the fun.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.16.0, 2024-04-15).

  Patch Watch Antitrust, BitLocker, BlackLotus, KB5025885, KB5034441, Moment Updates, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Privacy, Secure Boot, UCPD

• Controlling the Moments

  Posted on April 8, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Microsoft releases more changes to Windows 10 and 11.

  Last year, Microsoft announced that 22H2 would be the last version of Windows 10 and hinted that no more changes would be rolled out. The reality is vastly different.

  Included in the preview updates for Windows 10 22H2, and therefore in the April updates, are the following changes for Windows 10.

  • Windows Spotlight is added to your desktop background.
  • More content is added to your lock screen, such as weather, sports, traffic, and finance.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.15.0, 2024-04-08).

  Patch Watch Copilot, Copilot app, KB5035942, Kerberos, Lock screen, Moment Updates, Newsletters, NTLM, Patch Lady Posts, SMB Signing, Windows Server 2025, Windows Spotlight
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