Newsletter Archives

• 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

• MS-DEFCON 4: Beware of clickbait

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

  

  ISSUE 22.08.1 • 2025-02-25

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Don’t be taken in by ‘The sky is falling!’ headlines.

  It’s been my experience that what is purported to be news is often based on a limited number of users, not everyone on the planet. Based on my own research and testing, I’m comfortable in lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  As a small case study, consider that Will Fastie and I each have several Windows 11 PCs. During the month, we compare and contrast the news with what we are seeing on our own equipment. For the most part, we don’t see the effects described by those headlines.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.08.1, 2025-02-25).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, CVE-2025-21420, HP printer, KB5014754, KB5050021, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Patch Lady Posts, USB Audio, Windows 11 24H2

• MS-DEFCON 4: Microsoft begins a strong push for 24H2

  Posted on January 28, 2025 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.04.1 • 2025-01-28

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Last week, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 24H2 is now “broadly available.”

  This notice was contained in the Microsoft Learn post Windows 11, version 24H2 known issues and notifications.

  Except for my continuing recommendation not to install 24H2, I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4. There are some problems, but they are manageable. Go ahead and patch.

  Microsoft’s language in the Learn post was more direct than usual and included Windows 10 in the mix.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.04.1, 2025-01-28).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Fortinet, KB5049235, KB5049981, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Networking, Patch Lady Posts, SQL Server, SQL Server 2019, Windows 10 22H2, Windows 11, Windows 11 24H2

• MS-DEFCON 2: Kicking off the new year

  Posted on January 9, 2025 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.01.1 • 2025-01-09

  

  By Susan Bradley

  We’re less than a week away from the first round of updates for 2025, not just for Windows but for all our devices.

  Although things have been relatively quiet at the end of the year, especially because many of Microsoft’s developers take extended time off over the holidays, we’ll soon be in the thick of patching. That’s why I strongly recommend deferring updates until we have time to study and test them. Therefore, I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (22.01.1, 2025-01-09).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Center Stage, InControl, KB5014754, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, SMB Signing, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 11 24H2

• MS-DEFCON 4: The gift of patching

  Posted on December 24, 2024 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.52.1 • 2024-12-24

  

  By Susan Bradley • Comment about this alert

  ’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house and office, not a creature was stirring — except yours truly, because I was checking my systems to see whether they were all fully up to date.

  Seriously, I always find that the time around the holidays is a good moment to do your patching. After the holiday dinner has been served and everyone is in their holiday ham or turkey coma, I can sneak away to review my technology. The end of the year is just a week away, and as I always say, you should start the new year with everything polished and shiny. Therefore, I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.52.1, 2024-12-24).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Crowdstrike, CVE-2024-49112, CVE-2024-49138, iOS 18, iOS 18.2, KB4484305, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Outlook (new), Patch Lady Posts

• MS-DEFCON 2: Closing out the year

  Posted on December 5, 2024 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.49.1 • 2024-12-05

  

  By Susan Bradley

  As we close the year of patching, I’m surprised to see that our vendors are facing many of the same issues they faced years ago — governments looking over their actions.

  But this time, instead of scrutinizing monopolies for on-premises software, they are looking at how Microsoft is making monopolizing cloud services as well as coercing governments to use more of their services. Recently, a ProPublica investigation questioned how much Microsoft’s free government outreach to enhance the security of its products was designed to lock government customers into these subscription services.

  Then the Department of Justice asked a judge to break up Google and force it to sell off the Chrome browser and restrict their use of artificial intelligence and the Android mobile operating system. I still remember the lengthy monopoly trials against Microsoft. It seems like the more things change, the more things in technology stay the same. We constantly have a push-pull relationship with our vendors.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.49.1, 2024-12-05).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AI, AirPods Pro 2, Alerts, Antitrust, Apple, Google, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Scanners, Windows 11 23H2, Windows 11 24H2

• MS-DEFCON 4: Holiday patching

  Posted on November 26, 2024 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.48.1 • 2024-11-26

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Thanksgiving in America is a mere two days away. I often use the holiday to multitask while the turkey is roasting.

  One task for you is applying updates. I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4; other than my recommendation to avoid Windows 11 24H2 for now, patching should be safe.

  Thanksgiving signals the approaching end of year. For both home and office, it’s a great time to reflect on the challenges of the past year and develop a technology plan for the upcoming year. In my case, I’ll be looking at retiring some devices that I no longer need or use, upgrading some existing equipment, replacing aging devices with new ones, and looking for simplifications wherever I can find them.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.48.1, 2024-11-26).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Copilot+ PCs, CVE-2024-44308, CVE-2024-44309, Email, iOS, KB5046613, KB5046633, KB5046714, macOS Sequoia, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Outlook (new), Patch Lady Posts, Recall, Windows Server 2022

• MS-DEFCON 2: ESU plans announced for Windows 10

  Posted on November 7, 2024 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.45.1 • 2024-11-07

  

  By Susan Bradley

  In the midst of Microsoft’s pushing Windows 11 24H2 and updates for Windows 10, caution is in order.

  As a result, I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2. Keep 24H2 at bay, and give me a few weeks to understand and fully vet next week’s updates.

  We’ve known for some time that Extended Security Update (ESU) plans would be offered for Windows 10 in October 2025, when regular support ends. What we did not know until recently was the cost for consumers. Last week, on Halloween, Microsoft gave us a treat by announcing a price of $30 for one year. Exact details about obtaining these ESU plans will be disclosed later next year.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.45.1, 2024-11-07).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, CVE-2024-38094, iOS 18, KB5002606, KB5002615, KB5002618, macOS Sequoia, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10, Windows 10 ESU, Windows 11 24H2, Windows Server 2025
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