Newsletter Archives

• MS-DEFCON 5: Get all of your Microsoft patches applied

  Posted on September 24, 2014 at 21:06 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  After last month’s monstrous Black Tuesday debacle, the September Black Tuesday patches had a couple of problems, but they’re resolved now. The two fourth-Tuesday patches are innocuous. It’s time to get caught up on patches, and it would be a good idea to advise your friends to get caught up, too.

  September saw two pulled patches, and both have been re-issued with fixes.

  It’s time to get caught up on all outstanding Microsoft patches. I’m setting the dial at MS-DEFCON 5: All’s clear. Patch while it’s safe. That doesn’t happen very often.

  I’m still ambivalent about installing Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 7.

  Get the patches installed by October 13 – October 14 is the next Black Tuesday, and I’m not expecting any significant patches to appear in the interim. (Although I may be surprised.)

  And the usual fine print:

  For those of you who are new to this game, keep in mind that… You should always use Windows Update to install patches; downloading and installing individual patches is a clear sign of impending insanity. 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). I almost never install “Recommended” patches (reader Marty suggests that you uncheck the Windows Update box that says “Give me the recommended updates the same way I receive important updates”). If Windows Update has a patch but the box isn’t checked, DON’T CHECK THE BOX. It’s like spitting in the wind. I use Chrome and Firefox, and only pull out IE when I feel very inclined — but even if you don’t use IE, you need to keep up with its patches.

  Windows Patches/Security MS-DEFCON 5, September 2014 Black Tuesday

• Why Microsoft pulling KB 2889866 OneDrive for Business patch is actually good news

  Posted on September 11, 2014 at 10:45 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Yep, it’s another botched September Black Tuesday patch – but this one’s different.

  InfoWorld Tech Watch

  Windows Patches/Security KB 2889866, September 2014 Black Tuesday

• Microsoft’s new Update Tuesday looks a whole lot like the old Black Tuesday

  Posted on September 11, 2014 at 06:52 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Although there were two feature improvements.

  But if anybody tells you that this month’s Black Tuesday was a “small” collection, or that it was “light” — they’re just swallowing the Microsoft Kool-Aid. September’s Black Tuesday crop is huge.

  InfoWorld Tech Watch.

  Windows Patches/Security September 2014 Black Tuesday