Newsletter Archives

• MS-DEFCON 2: April sprinkles

  Posted on April 4, 2024 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.14.1 • 2024-04-04

  

  By Susan Bradley

  In honor of spring (and the recent weather in my home state of California), let’s avoid my usual term. Updates are being “sprinkled” this month, not “dribbled.”

  It’s just terminology, though. Either way, I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2. Defer updates for both Windows 10 and 11.

  Meanwhile, I’ll put on my CPA hat for all you late filers out there. Don’t defer any longer — get those US income tax returns in! (Isn’t that aggravating enough?)

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.14.1, 2024-04-04).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, KB5035853, KB5035855, KB5035857, KB5035885, KB5037422, KB5037423, KB5037426, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10 ESU

• MS-DEFCON 3: Consumers get a break

  Posted on March 27, 2024 at 16:36 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.13.1 • 2024-03-27

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Business patchers take heed.

  Usually, monthly updates have the same impact on both business and consumer PCs. This month, applying patches to consumer machines is generally safe, which would have earned a MS-DEFCON level of 4. But business machines are another matter; I’ve lowered the level to 3.

  For the most part, I think the business issues are resolved as of the publication of this alert. But we’re experiencing one of those media frenzies which is vastly overstating the occurrence of blue screens of death (BSOD).

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.13.1, 2024-03-27).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, KB5035853, KB5035855, KB5035857, KB5035885, KB5037422, KB5037423, KB5037426, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 3, Patch Lady Posts