Microsoft pulls 'critical' Windows update

Next week's "Patch Tuesday" was already going to be quiet, with an update only for Windows. On Friday, Microsoft pulled that update, saying more testing is needed.

"Late in the testing process, Microsoft encountered a quality issue that necessitated the update to go through additional testing and development before it is released," the software maker said in a statement on its Web site.

The last-minute recall comes a day after Microsoft announced that it would release on Tuesday one security bulletin that addresses an unspecified number of flaws in Windows. The bulletin was deemed "critical," meaning that users would be at risk of a malicious Internet worm attack that could spread without any user action. Critical is Microsoft's highest risk rating.

Microsoft releases patches every second Tuesday of the month so that people can anticipate the patches. The company provides some information in advance on the Thursday before each Patch Tuesday to give an additional heads-up to users.

Microsoft has not specified the security bugs its planned Windows update would fix. Over the last few weeks, several security researchers have come forward with flaws in Internet Explorer, the Web browser of Windows. Some of these vulnerabilities could let an attacker gain control of a user's PC.

In August, Microsoft released six security bulletins, including three deemed "critical" for Windows. Last month's Patch Tuesday also included a critical alert for Windows flaws. One of the flaws was exploited days later by the Zotob worm that wreaked havoc on Windows 2000 systems worldwide.

The postponed Windows patches are now likely to be released next month because Microsoft typically sticks to its monthly cycle. However, if deemed necessary to protect Windows users against attacks, the patch might be released sooner.

[cjohn17]

Woof! Bill, woof!

MS screws up so much it's like kicking a bad dog. After awhile it
gets kinda old.

[Scott W]

quality control??

since when did MS have quality control?? i bet bill isn't happy about this.

[OneWithTech]

Careful Microsoft Releases Crappy Patch

You can?t put a band-aid on an open wound and expect it to stop bleeding. For every patch and fix Microsoft release's there is a good chance that the fix will break something else in the OS.

There is nothing careful about Microsoft. Reckless and Greedy are the words you should be using.

Reckless: because they are the richest company in the world with the smartest people working for them, yet they can't produce a secure operating system let alone a secure browser.

Greedy: because they have created many monopolies in the tech market, leaving no chance for viable competition from anybody else. That in turn has lead to the riches received by Microsoft over the last decade.

Being the richest company in the world has allowed Microsoft to sick the lawyers on any technology they believe to be there's.


Microsoft has a management problem; they obviously can?t manage to keep the PC society secure.

Think about it:
Security companies are helping Microsoft everyday of the week trying to ensure a safe and secure operating system. Yet they shun off the security experts in lieu of maintaining their pristine image.

When Microsoft release's a patch it's on a Tuesday at the beginning of the month. Unfortunately we as a PC society suffer adverse damage to our machines because the patch that's released in Novembers Tuesday fixes a bug that could be six to 12 months old.

Is that truly being careful?

With those smart people can't you find your own bugs?

Why would you shun off security experts that are showing you viable security threats?

Don't you want to have a secure operating system so you don't have your company dismantled on sites like CNET News.com?

Careful and Microsoft are two words that will never fit in the same sentence!

~Justin

[technewsjunkie]

A quality issue with MS software? I'm shocked.

Shocked, shocked I say.