Newsletter Archives

  • MS-DEFCON 5. Again. Get all Microsoft patches applied

    They did it again.

    I’ve been posting MS-DEFCON warnings for seven (eight?) years, and I can’t recall having two MS-DEFCON 5 months in a row. Now we have three in a row.  Hard to believe.

    If you don’t mind having a Windows 10 advertisement stuck in your system tray — it won’t jump up and bite you — just go ahead and install everything that’s offered. If the thought of an obnoxious Microsoft ad on your machine bothers you, skip KB 3035583 and KB 3022345.

     There are a few minor problems with SQL Server 2005, mentioned in my InfoWorld article, but for most of you it’s clear sailing.

    For the third month in a row, I’m moving all the way down to MS-DEFCON 5: All’s clear. Patch while it’s safe.

    The usual admonition applies: Use Windows Update, DON’T CHECK ANY BOXES THAT AREN’T CHECKED, reboot after you patch, and then run Windows Update one more time to see if there’s anything lurking. When you’re done, make sure you have Automatic Update turned off. I always install Windows Defender/Microsoft Security Essentials updates as soon as they’re available – same with spam filter updates. I never install drivers from Windows Update (in the rare case where I can actually see a problem with a driver, I go to the manufacturer’s web site and download it from the original source).

  • MS-DECFON 2: Make sure Automatic Update is turned off

    Tomorrow’s the second Tuesday of the month. It’s gone from Patch Tuesday to Update Tuesday to Black Tuesday to We Dunno Tuesday — there may or may not be any patches tomorrow.

    Nonetheless, now’s a good time to make sure Windows Automatic Update is turned off. See the tab above about Automatic Update, if you’re unsure of the steps.

    We’re moving to MS-DEFCON 2: Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don’t do it.

    Maybe I’m being overly trusting, but I wonder if MS can pull off a third month in a row with minimal problems? If they can, maybe Microsoft’s changed its spots (and/or its staff): Maybe getting automatic updates with Win10 won’t be so bad. Maybe.